The stomach is the organ where all your food ends up after swallowing it.
It’s main functions are
- Storage of food until it moves into the rest of the bowel
- Protein digestion by acid secretion
- Food is mixed in order to be more easily digested
When the stomach is exposed to excessive acid the mucosal barrier protecting the stomach can be damaged. Symptoms also occurs if the acid is pushed into the oesophagus
This can cause symptoms of
- reflux (where it feels like the food pushes up into your throat)
- nausea
- pain over the upper abdomen
- peptic ulcers with/without bleeding
- heartburn
Factors that can cause this include
- Alcohol
- H. pylori infection
- Smoking
- Chilli food
- Coffee
- A hiatus hernia
- Some medication

The most commonly prescribed medication for “acid” is a PPI (proton pump inhibitor). PPIs are the most potent inhibitors of gastric acid secretion currently available. They block the acid pump by blocking the secretion of acid by cells in the stomach.
There are some other treatment options available in SA as well
They have relatively few side effects and work well. Some of the PPIs have also been shown to inhibit free radicals
They do have a very short half-life. This means that they get broken down quickly. This is one of the reasons your doctor will tell you to take the medication prior to breakfast.
If you have persistant symptoms, please consult with your doctor or dietician