Chips to Cherries:Super men with Acidity

Hey Men!
I know you are all superman wannabes. All of you want to do that and be there.It is tough to satisfy the needs of society,family and work at the same time.And now this whole thing is taking a toll on your health.It is reported that 7 out of 10 Indian men suffer from acidity or gastritis. It is branded as a lifestyle disease now.A condition can ruin the quality of life.The symptoms,causes and prevention of this condition is very confusion that a lay persons tends take a wrong step many a times. Mr.Shyam is all of 40 ,has a highly successful career and a good family.He is indeed a  'Super Man'.
                              But his sedentary and stress-filled life was unknowingly affecting his problem in a bad way. But has been suffering from acidity for 2 years Though initially the attacks were mild and sporadic but now it is  slowly turning into a GERD problem.When he came to me the attacks have become severe and chronic. We had to really look at the case in various angles.The first job was to control the symptoms and then was to address the root cause.If not treated immediately with present symptoms his body might pose a risk factor for oesophageal cancer .

What happens during acidity?
When excess acids are produced in the stomach  for some reason or other they start leaking into oesophagus and throat regions leading to heart burns .In  normal digestion, the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) opens to allow food to pass into the stomach and closes to prevent food and acidic stomach juices from flowing back into the esophagus. Gastroesophageal reflux occurs when the LES is weak or relaxes inappropriately, allowing the stomach's contents to flow up into the esophagus. The acid flow can considerably disrupt the lives of the suffer by causing an irritating and uneasy feeling.This happens while they eat or drink and also affects their sleep badly.The burning sensation can be which can be mild/sporadic and severe or chronic heart burns are usually the symptoms of other diseases too that are related to stomach and gut like Peptic Ulcer,Gastritis and GERD. The severity of heartburn also depends on LES dysfunction as well as the type and amount of fluid brought up from the stomach and the neutralizing effect of saliva.

What were the causes of Mr.Shyam's acidity issues?

• He was always busy in his thirties that he had been eating irregular meals always.
• He did try a few days of physical exercise but at most time never flexed a muscle or did any physical activity.
• Increasing responsibilities at home and office did give him a lot of stress yet he could never figure out a way to de-stress .
• He never fell sick much but whenever something happened it  lead to regular intake of antibiotics which ultimately gave rise to acidity in the long term
• Most times he had to eat out with little control over spices and oil used.
• Since the attacks were mild and sporadic he had overlooked the problem by just controlling the symptoms and not addressing the root cause.
• Too many teas and coffees in his younger day.

Identify the condition earlier,it is better.But how to identify it so that you don't become Mr.Shyam?

• A sudden increase in appetite
• A mild pain in the chest portion
• Feeling of burns in the guts immediately before and after you eat anything.
• Feeling of uneasiness in the upper abdomen and irritation in the throat.

What should have Mr.Shyam done in his earlier years.Some pointers:

• Eat proper 2 big meals and 2 small meals daily. Create time you will have great choices of food are available ,just search for them.Eat them.
• Take small and frequent meals. Always carry some ready foods like Bananas,apples or soft cookies handy if you are travelling.
• Daily exercises are a must even walking fro 30 minutes would do.
• Have lots of water a little more than what you usually have to ease out the bad feeling in the gut.
• Do quit your habits like alcohol and smoking immediately.Make a slow and a conscious change.
• A light walk after your dinner will be greatly helpful to avoid the nightmarish heart burns that disrupt your sleep.
• For severe cases of heart burns it is better to take help from antacid drugs.A course or two is greatly helpful till put your food style and lifestyle in place.
• Eat lots of fibre and specific fruits and vegetables are good in alleviating the symptoms.
• Once you get your very first attack ,always take pre-cautionary antacids whenever you are on antibiotic courses.
• Let your doctor know about this whenever you for any treatment.Now you will be called hyper acidic.
• Always go on a detox diet when you have been travelling for long ad eating non-veg foods.
• Do Pranayamam and meditation to release your stress.
• Avoid caffeine completely.

What should one do while suffering with acidity to fight the symptoms?
Once acidity attacks you a need to have  two thronged solution needs to be addressed:
One to fight the symptoms and other to address the root cause:

1. Keep some raw ginger juice and consume a tsp whenever you get the bouts.
2. Take a tsp of Jeera seeds with water that can ease out the digestion causing lesser acid secretion at a given time.
3. Also try eating an apple after big meals .The carbs in apple can ease the digestion.
4. Have lots of water intermittently between your meals
5. Aloe Vera juice and fennel tea also helps curing short term heart burns.
6. Having chilled milk whenever you get slightest symptoms help a lot.
7. In case of severe heart burns go in for antacid courses ,never suffer with symptoms for long.
8. But simultaneously work on a better food style and life style change.
9. stick to cooked and half—boiled foods and avoiding eating raw. Once the symptoms reduce you could eat any raw fruit and vegetable.
10. Eat frequently .Foods have to be bland,cooked and not raw or spicy.Avoid baked products too.Curd ,milk,rice ,dals are great healers.

Mr.Shyam  did make some bad choices early in his life.But today he has changed his food style and life style.He is a badminton player ,does Yoga regularly and eating right wherever he is.He is happy and healthy. Continues be a Super Man too.(Mr.Shyam-name changed for privacy purposes.)