Diseases

An excessive degree of acidity.

Persons most commonly affected: All age groups and both sexes.
Organ or part of body involved: Digestive tract.
Symptoms and indications: A steady pain of short duration in upper abdomen immediately following a large or spicy meal or aspirin ingestion, nausea, vomiting, and loss of desire to eat which may persist for 1-2 days, heartburn or sour belching, vomiting of blood or blood in stools.
Causes and risk factors: Irregular dietary habits, overeating, alcohol and coffee abuse, fried and spicy foods, stress & anxiety, insomnia, excessive secretion of hydrochloric acid, loss of appetite, and prolonged ingestion of aspirin or some antiinflammatory drugs.
Prevention: Avoid fatty, fried and spice foods, tea, coffee, colas, alcohol abuse, smoking and try to avoid tension. Do not go to bed immediately after a meal. Go for a walk or stay awake for 2 to 3 hours before sleeping.

Eat a little less than what you feel like having.
Tips: * Drink coconut water as it soothes gastric irritation.

* Take a teaspoon of freshly grated ginger root and add to a cup of boiling water to it. Stir for 10 minutes and drink it. Ginger helps to relax the muscles that line the walls of the oesophagus, so that the stomach acid does not get pushed upwards.

* Mix half a teaspoon of soda bicarbonate in a few drops of lemon juice added to half a cup of warm water and drink.