What Is the Purpose of Stomach Acid?
Our stomachs secrete acid for a variety of purposes. Stomach acid is helpful in the digestion of foods and in keeping harmful bacteria from causing damage. While stomach acid is helpful, overproduction of it leads to health problems that are often very painful.
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Digestion
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Stomach acid is important in digestion in that it helps to break down the chemical bonds between the proteins that are ingested. Stomach acid by itself cannot digest much. There are also peptide enzymes that break the bonds between the proteins into their most basic building blocks, called amino acids, so that they can be absorbed by the body when the digested food enters the small and large intestines.
Defense from Bacteria
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Stomach acid is composed of an extremely strong acid, hydrochloric acid. The pH level of the hydrochloric acid found in the stomach is between one and two. The pH scale measures how acidic or how basic a solution is, with 0 being the most acidic and 14 being the most basic. The extreme acidity of the stomach acid is able to kill most harmful bacteria that are ingested, and thus prevents the body from becoming infected.
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Self Protection from Acid
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Within the stomach, there are many different types of cells. Parietal cells produce the hydrochloric acid. The production of hydrochloric acid is regulated by the hormone gastrin, which is produced by g-cells. A third type of cell, epithelial, produces thick, basic mucus that coats the inside of the stomach. The basic mucus neutralizes the acid and just produces water with that reaction. When the self regulating mechanisms within the stomach do not function properly, health risks arise.
Ulcers
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While stomach acid is a strong acid that has many uses, it can also cause pain and gastrointestinal conditions. Ulcers, now known to also be caused by the bacteria Helicobacter pylori, are open sores in the stomach which are further irritated by the strong stomach acid. The bacteria disrupt the mucous lining that protects the stomach from its own acid. The ulcer is called a gastric ulcer when it occurs inside the stomach.
Heartburn
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Stomach acid also can cause problems if it does not stay in the stomach. Heartburn and acid reflux are caused when stomach acid rises up into the esophagus and burns the tissue there. Heartburn occurs when the muscle controlling the opening and closing of the connection between the stomach and esophagus relaxes when it is not supposed to, which allows the acid to rise up. Antacids can be used to help treat heartburn, but if severe enough, medication can be taken to control the production of stomach acid.
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