Stomach Acid

Stomach acid, is a watery, colorless fluid that’s produced by your stomach’s lining.

It’s highly acidic and helps break down food for easier digestion. This helps your body absorb nutrients more easily as food moves through your digestive tract.

In order to break down everything from meat to tough, fibrous plants, stomach acid has to be highly acidic.

Your body is designed to handle normal levels of stomach acid so it doesn’t cause you any illness or health complications.

Sometimes, however, those systems fail. Having gastric juices with low or high levels of acidity can be problematic.

Keep reading to find out how strong stomach acid is and what happens when your body makes stomach acid that’s too strong or too weak.

What are the symptoms of too much acid in your stomach?

High stomach acid symptoms in the gullet

• heartburn.
• sour taste in your mouth.
• bad breath.
• recurrent cough or hiccups.
• hoarse voice.
• bloating.
• nausea.

What is stomach acid made of?

Stomach acid’s low pH level is largely attributable to one ingredient: hydrochloric acid (HCl).

However, there’s only a very small amount of HCl in stomach acid. Other components include potassium chloride (KCl) and sodium chloride (NaCl).

The cells lining your stomach wall secrete this acidic trio. The cells also release several enzymes and mucus.

This mucus is vitally important to the process. It protects the lining of your stomach so the acid and other gastric juices don’t damage the sensitive organ.

What is bad for stomach acid?

Tomatoes – Also avoid marinara sauce, ketchup and tomato soup – they're all naturally high in acid. Alcohol –This has a double whammy effect. Alcohol relaxes the sphincter valve but it also stimulates acid production in the stomach. Fried foods – These are some of the worst foods for reflux.

What happens if your stomach acid has low levels of hydrochloric acid?

It’s normal for your stomach acid’s acidic level to fluctuate from time to time.

Certain situations, like medication and stress, can interfere with this all-important fluid. That may prevent your body from producing as much HCl.

What happens if your stomach has high levels of hydrochloric acid? 

If the level of acid in your gastric juices is too high, the mucus in your stomach may stop being effective.

High stomach acid levels can lead to a number of complications, including:

• gastric ulcers
• acid reflux
• gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

Symptoms of high HCl levels

The most obvious symptoms of high stomach acid levels include:

• nausea or vomiting
• bloating
• abdominal discomfort that may be worse on an empty stomach
• diarrhea
• heartburn
• decreased appetite
• unexplained weight loss

Treatment for high HCl levels

High stomach acid is most commonly treated with medication. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) work to lower stomach acid. Your doctor may prescribe PPIs by themselves. Sometimes PPIs are prescribed with other medications.

Other treatments will depend on the suspected cause of these high acid levels. These treatments may include:

• antibiotics
• dietary changes
• surgery to remove tumors, part of the stomach (gastrectomy), or vagus nerve (vagotomy)

What causes high or low levels of hydrochloric acid? 

A number of conditions, medications, and lifestyle factors can cause acid level fluctuations. While some fluctuations are normal, not all are.

Additionally, chronically low or high levels of acid can be problematic for your health and well-being. Seeking treatment can prevent long-term complications.

Causes of low HCl levels

Certain conditions increase your risk for low acid levels. These risk factors include:

• premature birth
• being over 65
• having stomach surgery
• experiencing high levels of stress
• nutrient deficiencies, especially zinc
• having an infection caused by H. pylori
• chronic illness

Causes of high HCl levels

Likewise, certain factors can increase your odds of having high stomach acid levels. These include:

• overproduction of certain hormones that are known to trigger stomach acid production
• rebound stomach acid production after stopping medications to lower stomach acid
• an H. pylori infection
• gastric outlet obstruction
• tumors (but this is rare)

If  you’re experiencing symptoms of high or low levels of stomach acid, see your doctor.