Is Acidity Troubling You As You Age? Here's Everything You Need To Know

Blogs08 Aug 2024

Relishing on heavy and delicious meals is always fun until you face acidity. You might notice this after a filling meal, or when you lay down right after a meal, eating some particular foods or snacking too close to your bedtime. Acidity or acid reflux can cause a burning sensation in your chest, also known as heartburn. Though all age groups can face acidity, as we grow older, it can trouble us even more. Why does this happen and how can you manage it? Read along to find out!

What is Acidity

Acidity or acid reflux is when the acid in your stomach comes up to your oesophagus and throat. This gives you a burning sensation in your chest, all the way to the throat and can be quite uncomfortable. Acid reflux occurs when the lower oesophagal sphincter (LES) doesn’t close up fully. The lower oesophagal sphincter (LES) is a valve which closes off the stomach from the oesophagus once food passes into it. Sometimes, when the valve doesn’t close fully or remains open, the acid present in the stomach can flow up, cause heartburn and leave a bitter, acidic taste in your mouth. This is known as acid reflux or acidity. If you find yourself with troubling hyperacidity two or more times a week, you may have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and it’s time to check with your physician.

Some other symptoms of acid reflux are bloating, burping, hiccups, nausea, the feeling of food being stuck in your throat, bloody stools or vomit, and chest pain, to name a few. Sometimes, one may also face an acid reflux-induced cough. This happens when the stomach acid reaches the throat and triggers inflammation causing a dry cough, chest congestion and phlegm. Typically, standing up, having slow and small sips of water, wearing loose clothes and taking an antacid can help.

How Ageing Affects Acidity

Your age affects your body in more ways than one, and so is the case with the occurrence of acidity too. Here are a few ways in which ageing is connected to acidity

1. Aged muscles: As we grow, our muscles naturally weaken. The lower esophageal sphincter too can weaken with age and cause stomach acid to come up and give you heartburn.
2. Excess weight: Poor lifestyle, diet and health issues may often lead to excess weight gain in adults. This increase in Body Mass Index (BMI), especially fat accumulation in the abdomen area can cause pressure on the stomach and push the food and acid back up from it.
3. Medication: Going through midlife and beyond can mean that you may face some health issues and this may require you to have certain medications. In some cases, these medications can relax the esophageal sphincter in our stomach which can lead to acid flowing up and causing acidity and heartburn.

Managing Acidity in Adults

While acidity can be uncomfortable, and when faced for longer, it can translate into GERD, there are a few ways to avoid it or manage it.

• Diet

Eating a varied and nutritious diet filled with whole grains, root vegetables and green vegetables can help you avoid heartburn. Some foods like citrus fruits, tomatoes, pineapples etc., can trigger an acidic reaction in our bodies. You should be wary of spicy or fatty foods as they may cause acidity. The same is the case for carbonated or caffeinated drinks as well. Additionally, remember to not overeat as an overfull stomach is more likely to cause acidity and heartburn.

• Maintain a healthy weight

Shedding a few kilos and getting rid of the stubborn fat around your belly can help relieve pressure on the stomach and prevent acidity.

• Walking after meals

Laying down right after a meal can cause the food and acid to come up, meanwhile sitting up or walking helps gravity hold things down

• Manage stress levels

It’s also important to manage your stress levels and regularly enjoy activities like yoga and meditation to reduce stress and improve mental health. Science has found that those with chronic stress or who regularly face various stressors in life may be more likely to have hyperacidity and GERD. So engage in activities that calm your mind to help fight acidity too!

Conclusion

Acidity is a common digestive problem that affects all age groups, but the chances of facing it become higher as we grow. This can be due to weakened muscles, medications and poor dietary habits. Nonetheless, there are ways of fighting or preventing you from feeling this burning and uncomfortable sensation in your throat and chest. By following a healthy and nutritious diet and staying away from very fatty and spicy foods, by staying fit and shedding belly fat and managing stress levels, you can help prevent facing acidity troubles in the future. If you are someone who regularly has trouble with acidity, try these tips and see a difference soon!

For more such information on health, nutrition and ageing, explore Right Shift. We offer a range of blog articles on a host of important topics that can help you expand your knowledge. They can empower you to make changes in your life and prioritise your health. Furthermore, we also have two free tools that you can take advantage of if you are serious about your health. One is our free health score calculator, which gives you a realistic picture of your current health and the second is a free meal plan creator which can help give you the best set of meals to have to reach your health goals. Try these now and make the right shift today!