Symptom 2: Frequent Heartburn or Acid Reflux
Heartburn – that burning sensation rising up from the depths of your stomach, scalding its way through your esophagus and making a fiery exit at the base of your throat. It’s not pleasant. In fact, it’s downright uncomfortable. Now, the common assumption is that heartburn is a direct result of too much stomach acid. The logic is simple: too much acid = burning. But, as is often the case in medicine, things aren’t always that straightforward.
Dive deeper into the mechanics of digestion, and a nuanced picture emerges. The stomach, when functioning optimally, maintains a delicate balance of acid. This acid not only aids digestion but also prevents the fermentation of food. When acid levels drop – a condition known as hypochlorhydria – food begins to ferment. Picture an apple cider vat, with bubbles rising to the surface. A similar process occurs in the stomach.
This fermentation produces gas. As gas accumulates, it increases the pressure within the stomach. Think of it like a balloon being inflated. Eventually, this internal pressure starts pushing the stomach’s contents upwards, into the esophagus. Given that even low acid can irritate the delicate esophageal lining, we experience that all-too-familiar burn called heartburn.
Here’s the twist: because the symptoms of both high and low stomach acid are so similar, misdiagnosis is common. It’s easy to label it as hyperacidity and prescribe acid-reducing drugs. But for someone with hypochlorhydria, this approach further reduces acid levels, exacerbating the problem.(2)
