The Role of Hydrochloric Acid in Protecting the Body from Disease - Essay Example

Number Discuss the role of hydrochloric acid in protecting the body from disease. Explain signs and symptoms associated with low gastric acidity Hydrochloric acid is one of the constituents of the digestion in the gastrointestinal intestinal tract. It not only plays a crucial role in digestion but also helps in the protection of the body against some organism that may cause disease. it is a powerful gastric secretion which enables the body to digest proteins, activate other digestive enzymes and prevent against bacterial overgrowth in the gut. Absence of hydrochloric acid or low acid content in the gastrointestinal tract causes common digestive problems. Low stomach acidity may cause symptoms such as indigestion, bloating and heartburn. Moreover, chronic conditions such as asthma, allergies and gallstones have been implicated in the reduced acid secretion (Ahmed 34). Most common age related factors, that causes impaired digestion, is the decline in the hydrochloric acid production in the stomach. This thus shows that hydrochloric acid plays a crucial role in the gastrointestinal tract. Digestion of food substances starts when food enters the mouth and progresses as the food is passed to the stomach, small and large intestines. When food reaches the stomach, gastric secretions are released which consist of; HCL, pepsinogen and a mucus layer that acts as a protective layer. The amount of HCL increases as digestion of food progresses. The ph of the stomach is maintained by HCL at 1 and 2.Apart from the digestion, the HCL helps in protection of the body against diseases (Barney 78). HCL plays a vital role in the protection of the body from pathogens. It does so by maintaining a sterile environment in the stomach, this is through protection against pathogens that are ingested during food intake. Pathogens cannot achieve overgrowth in the small intestines due to the action of this acid hence the gastrointestinal tract remains free of pathogens. Research has also shown that a common pathogen in the stomach, E coli is inactivated in the stomach when acidity is high at 1.5to 4.Inactivation of this organism thus eliminates possible E coli infection (Forleo 125). Low acidity of the stomach leads to fast invasion of microorganisms from the colon and bacterial colonization and overgrowth of bacteria hence leading to infection. Thus, hydrochloric acid is vital in body defense. Researchers have also found out that reduced levels of hydrochloric acid leads to infection by H. pylori which is one of the most common pathogen that cause chronic bacterial infection. It also causes gastritis, gastric carcinoma, gastric ulcers and B-cell gastric carcinoma. This acid also helps in protection against any ingested food poisons or rather reduces the severity of the ingested food poisons. Moreover, hydrochloric acid creates ph of 1-2 which is deleterious to most microbes; thus interference with this ph levels lead to increase in the risk of water or food-borne diseases. Treatment of gastric ulcers with drugs that decrease gastric acid secretion reduces the protective function of hydrochloric acid hence leads to susceptibility to infections. In contrast if antibiotics are used in treatment of ulcers caused by H. pylori the need for using drugs that reduce acid secretion is reduced hence reducing the susceptibility to pathogens such as E. coli, S.typhy, and H. pylori (Hupl 441). Signs and symptoms that occur due to reduced levels of gastric acid include nausea or feeling sluggish after meals especially when one takes large portion of meat. This occurs because HCL facilitates the breakdown of proteins and hence when its levels are lower than the expected ones then there is reduced ability to digest proteins. Such a problem can be dealt with by giving such patients supplements of betaine HCL, and encouraging them to restore their desire to eat meat. The patient can also be encouraged to eat other types of food that helps in the digestion of proteins by increasing the acid levels in the stomach. Secondly, people with low acid levels are likely to experience acid reflux after eating. The stomach acid that reaches the unprotected areas of the esophagus brings about a burning sensation causing burning pain. One can feel relieved if antacids are ingested. Hence most people come up with a conclusion that they have high acid levels which is usually the opposite of the later. Gastric acid reflux can be explained through a theory of GERD which states that low amounts of stomach acid leads to increased Intra abdominal pressure which in turn pushes against the lower esophageal Sphincter. When this Sphincter opens, even extremely small amounts of acids bring about a burning sensation. This is because of the unprotected nature of the esophagus. Heartburn and acid reflux can be acutely painful and distracting. In addition, there is bloating, farting or burping shortly after meals. The patient experiences gas 1 to 2hrs after eating. There is also bloating that lasts for a few hours and a heavy feeling in the stomach as if food just sits and ferments in the stomach. These in other words mean that the digestive system is experiencing problems. In such a situation, the food taken is fermented by bacteria, and its by-product is a gas. This gas ruminates that of the food taken, and this is a clear indicator that the food is still in the stomach when it is expected in the small intestines. Low acid levels do not allow food passage into the small intestines. Farting and bloating is explained by several reasons. One is the overgrowth of bacteria in the stomach or upper intestines. This slows down the digestion of leading to prolonged length of time that bacteria can get access to food (Panda 76). Many researches are still being undertaken to explain the occurrence of these signs and the science behind each of them. Other problems that are associated with hyperchlorhydria are reduced ability to digest and absorb nutrients, vitamin B 12 deficiency, anemia, skin conditions and autoimmune disease. Hence it is noteworthy that these conditions are diagnosed and managed in time appropriately. Patients should also be counseled on the type of diet to take to avoid heartburn or suppress these signs and symptoms. They should also eliminate mistaking theories on low gastric acid to be able to take the right regiments (Roth and Townsend 176). Hence in conclusion hydrochloric acid is not only crucial in digestion but also in body defense against pathogens. Patients with low acid levels should be managed appropriately to avoid complications occurring from the same. Work cited Ahmed, Nessar. Biology Of Disease. Taylor & Francis, 2009. Barney, Paul. Doctors Guide to Natural Medicine: The Complete and Easy-To-Use Natural Health Reference from a Medical Doctors Perspective. Woodland Publishing, 2010. Forleo, James. Health Is Simple, Disease Is Complicated. North Atlantic Books, 2008. Hupli, Hannu. Best Life & Health. Hannu Hupli, 2010. Panda. Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment. Jaypee Brothers Publishers, 2009. Remington, Joseph. Remington: The Science And Practice Of Pharmacy. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2006. Roth, Ruth and Carolynn Townsend. Nutrition Diet Therapy. Cengage Learning, 2003. Read More