Sour belching is the spontaneous reflux of low pH stomach contents into the mouth. The symptom can be combined with heartburn, burning behind the sternum and other dyspeptic disorders, usually indicating the presence of organic or functional pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract. To identify the causes of erection, abdominal ultrasound, X-ray methods, endoscopy, gastric secretion, and laboratory tests are used. To reduce discomfort, it is recommended to correct eating habits, take herbal preparations and drugs (antacids, prokinetics).
Causes of sour belching
Physiological acid belching
Sometimes the spontaneous release of gases with a sour taste is observed in healthy people and is associated with certain eating habits or other physiological reasons. In some situations, such an eructation is considered a variant of the norm and is not considered as a symptom of diseases of the digestive tract. Among the causes of non-pathological acid erection are:
- The use of certain foods . Spicy dishes, meat products, rich broths stimulate the production of gastrin in the stomach, which leads to increased secretion of hydrochloric acid. Acid erection, as a rule, occurs 20-3 minutes after ingestion of irritating food and is combined with heartburn, discomfort in the epigastric region. In typical cases, the symptoms disappear on their own and do not require drug therapy.
- Pregnancy . Acid belching in pregnant women is provoked by two main factors: an increase in intra-abdominal pressure and an increase in progesterone activity. As a result, there is a violation of the motility of the gastrointestinal tract, excessive relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter, which is accompanied by frequent reflux of the contents of the stomach into the pharynx and mouth. The condition worsens when the torso is bent, in the supine position.
Acid reflux in esophageal pathology
Throwing acidic chyme into the pharynx, oral cavity with GERD is associated with insufficiency of the obturator apparatus of the esophagus and spontaneous opening of the lower esophageal sphincter. As a result, aggressive gastric contents with a low pH periodically enter the mouth through the esophagus. Belching in patients is often supplemented by other unpleasant symptoms - retrosternal pain, heartburn. The most common causes of a pathological symptom:
- Reflux esophagitis . Acid erection often develops against the background of severe pain along the esophagus and is caused by improper functioning of the esophageal sphincter. Its functioning is normally regulated by the level of gastric acidity - the muscular apparatus closes after food enters the stomach and a significant production of hydrochloric acid. In GERD, the sphincter opens spontaneously and releases acidic chyme.
- Diaphragmatic hernia . The exit of the gastric cardia into the chest cavity through the esophageal opening in the diaphragm is accompanied by a malfunction of the lower esophageal sphincter. Acid belching is often combined with retrosternal and precordial pain, swallowing disorders. Involvement of the autonomic nerves in the pathological process sometimes leads to the development of a clinical picture resembling an angina attack.
- Other diseases of the esophagus . For functional disorders of motility, regurgitation of eaten food or rotten eructation is more characteristic, but sometimes acidic erection of liquid contents occurs. At the initial stage of hypomotor dyskinesia of the esophagus and achalasia of the cardia, discoordinated muscle contractions of the esophagus are observed, which can spread to the smooth muscles of the stomach. At the same time, contractile activity increases, which, in combination with the gaping of the cardia, leads to acidic erection. The condition is aggravated by the addition of retrosternal pain, discomfort after eating.
Belching sour and hyperacid gastroduodenal diseases
Increased production of hydrochloric acid in the antrum of the stomach and a secondary developing violation of the contractile function of the cardiac sphincter provoke erection with a pronounced sour taste. Hypersecretion in the stomach can occur for various reasons, usually it is associated with organic diseases of the gastroduodenal zone, in which there is an increase in the activity of the lining cells of the mucous membrane. Most often, the development of belching leads to diseases such as:
- Antral gastritis . Dyspeptic disorders are the main manifestation of inflammation of the gastric mucosa, which in 95% of cases is caused by H. pylori. As a result of the aggressive action of bacteria, the synthesis of bicarbonates, which have an alkalizing effect, stops, the muscle layer contracts and acidic contents are thrown into the oral cavity. Also, gastritis is characterized by frequent constipation, epigastric pain.
- Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome . Acid erection develops due to the presence of a gastrin-producing benign tumor in the pancreas or duodenum, which causes uncontrolled synthesis of hydrochloric acid. A constant low pH leads to damage to the mucous membrane of the stomach and esophagus, esophagitis. The disease is accompanied by severe abdominal pain, diarrhea and heartburn.
- Gastroduodenal reflux . Throwing the alkaline chyme of the duodenum 12 into the stomach provokes the activation of the production of hydrochloric acid and an increase in pressure inside the organ. As a result, there is a reverse reflux of acidic contents into the esophagus and oral cavity. The condition is accompanied by other signs of dyspepsia: spastic pains 30-4 minutes after eating, constant flatulence, heartburn.
- Functional hypersecretion . An increase in the production of HCl and the associated acidic eructation can be observed with an increase in the tone of the parasympathetic nervous system. Strengthening the influence of the vagus nerve on acid-producing gastric cells leads to uncontrolled release of hydrochloric acid, impaired contractility of the esophageal sphincter. Autonomic symptoms are noted: redness of the face, sweating.
- Taking certain medications . Hyperacid secretion may be the result of long-term use of medications such as acetylsalicylic acid and corticosteroid hormones. These drugs potentiate disruption of gastric defense factors, activate parietal cells, and cause a decrease in gastric pH. Symptoms are similar to the clinical manifestations of acute gastritis: there is nausea, pain in the epigastric region, vomiting.
Belching sour and hypoacid pathology of the stomach
The appearance of acid erection in diseases accompanied by reduced gastric secretion is due to disturbances in the processes of digestion of food and the movement of chyme along the gastrointestinal tract. When the food bolus stagnates, organic acids (lactic, butyric and others) are formed in the stomach. These compounds increase acidity, and the stretching of the walls of the organ causes reflex muscle contraction and the reflux of contents into the oropharynx. In this case, the patient feels a characteristic sour taste. Eructation is most often caused by:
- atrophic gastritis . Atrophy of the gastric mucosa usually occurs with prolonged persistence of Helicobacter pylori infection. A decrease in the number of exocrine glands leads to prolonged stagnation of food and its decomposition. Belching is accompanied by nausea, heaviness in the abdomen, lack of appetite. Due to impaired motility of the digestive tract, the patient may experience severe weakness, pallor, and diarrhea after eating.
- Autoimmune gastritis . With an autoimmune variant of inflammation, which accounts for 1% of all cases of gastritis, the hypoacid state is associated with a primary lesion of the acid-producing glands of the stomach. Acid erection is usually associated with a tendency to constipation, heaviness in the stomach, and weight loss. Autoimmune gastritis is characterized by specific symptoms: burning in the tongue, fatigue, paresthesia, drowsiness.
- Achlorhydria . The absence of HCl in the stomach is accompanied by disturbances in the digestion of food (primarily protein) and an increased formation of organic acids. The condition occurs with concomitant diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, may be the result of endocrine pathology, uremia. In addition to erection, patients are concerned about dull pains and distension in the stomach after eating, bloating, and nausea.
Survey
Diagnostic search for the appearance of acidic belching is aimed at establishing the root cause of the symptom. Patients undergo a comprehensive laboratory and instrumental examination of the digestive system, which is necessary to study the morphological state and functionality of the gastrointestinal tract. The most informative in the diagnostic plan are the following methods:
- Endoscopy . To assess the condition of the upper gastrointestinal tract, gastroscopy (EGDS) is performed. During the study, the mucous membrane of the esophagus and stomach is studied in order to look for signs of inflammatory diseases or ulcerative-destructive lesions. In case of detection of suspicious formations, endoscopic tissue biopsy and histological examination of the material can be performed.
- Intragastric pH-metry . The study is carried out for a detailed study of the acid-producing function of the organ. Measurement of pH during the day is carried out to study all phases of gastric secretion, assess the state of the exocrine cells of the organ. If reflux esophagitis is suspected, intraesophageal pH-metry is prescribed. Additionally, a blood test for the level of gastrin is shown.
- X-ray methods . Contrast radiography allows you to assess the condition of all parts of the digestive tract. A series of radiographs are taken at regular intervals to examine the rate of gastric emptying and the function of the esophageal sphincters. The method is highly informative in diagnosing diaphragmatic hernia.
- Ultrasound . Ultrasound is used as a screening examination, which makes it possible to quickly identify gastroenterological pathology without the use of invasive procedures. The method helps to detect inflammatory changes, volumetric formations, deformation of the walls of the digestive tract. Sonography does not require preparation and is prescribed for express diagnostics.
To assess the contractility of the cardiac sphincter and the motor function of the upper gastrointestinal tract, manometry is performed. Laboratory research methods are used to diagnose Helicobacter pylori infection. Diseases that cause acid belching are often accompanied by changes in feces, so it is advisable to perform a coprogram and bacteriological analysis of feces. The patient is examined by a gastroenterologist, with the exclusion of organic prerequisites for erection, consultations of other specialists are necessary.
A diet for belching sour is based on the exclusion of spicy, spicy, salty foods
Symptomatic therapy
If acid erection is rare and associated with physiological causes, non-drug methods are effective in mitigating the manifestations. To reduce unpleasant symptoms, it is necessary to abandon products that provoke belching, hot spices. It is advisable to eat food in small portions 4-5 times a day, alkalizing foods should be added to the diet - dairy (cottage cheese, sour cream, cheese), eggs, lean boiled meat. It is important to avoid bending forward, uncomfortable postures. To reduce the reflux of stomach contents, it is recommended to sleep on a high pillow.
In most cases, the appearance of sour belching indicates the development of gastrointestinal pathology, so it is necessary to undergo a comprehensive examination by a gastroenterologist. Until an accurate diagnosis is made, herbal teas with mint, heather, and centaury can help reduce the frequency of symptom manifestations. To reduce acid erection and other unpleasant symptoms, enterosorbents, antacids, drugs to improve gastrointestinal motility can be used.