Pathophysiology of Gastric Acid Stimulation and Production

The digestive fluids that are secreted by the stomach glands aimed at breaking down solid food and to kill bacteria in the stomach are referred to as gastric juices. Gastric acid is produced by the gastric parietal cell located on the walls of the stomach. The region where the gastric juices are secreted into the lumen is the most acidic environment in the human body and is known as the secretory canaliculus (Schubert & Peura, 2008). The secretion of the gastric acid into the lumen occurs in response to a variety of messages from the paracrine, hormonal, and neurocrine inputs. Gastrin, produced by the G cells that are located in the pyloric mucosa of the stomach is the primary hormonal stimulation for gastric acid production. There are various inputs that will stimulate the parietal cells in order for them to secrete hydrogen ions that will flow into the gastric lumen, have varied functional importance. However, the Histamine 2 receptors are thought to be the primary stimulus for gastric acid secretion. The G cells will release gastrin in response to a meal, where it binds to cholecystokinin (CCK) receptors on both the ECL and parietal cells. The combination of gastrin and the parietal cells will result in the discharge of intracellular calcium and the eventual translocation followed by the activation of the proton pump. When gastrin and ECL cells will promote the formation and creation of histamine which will then bind to H2 receptors on the parietal cell to increase the production of the cyclic AMP (Schubert & Peura, 2008), that is followed by the translocation and activation of the proton pump at the canalicular membrane.

During GERD, PUD, and gastritis disorders, there are some changes that occur in the stimulation and production of gastric acid. GERD disorder causes the increase in the stimulation and production of gastric acid, which therefore increases the GERD condition because of the defective lower esophageal increases the volume of gastric acid that is refluxed into the esophagus. In gastritis disorder, the stomach mucosa will undergo inflammation causing the erosion of the secretory glands. Therefore, gastric acid stimulation and production will reduce due to the absence of gastric glands. Peptic Ulcer Disease (PUD) refers to the disturbance of the integrity of the mucosal in the stomach. This disturbance is mostly caused by inflammation that eventually leads to a mucosal defect. PUD results in excessive secretion of gastric acid.

There might be extensive research conducted in the field of GERD, but there is limited data regarding the features of GERD in women and men. There has been a small margin result in women as compared to men from research carried out in the recent past to establish the features in women who experience chest pain, regurgitation, and heartburn. Therefore, GERD is familiar to women as is regular in men, since women tend to experience more severe and frequent symptoms of GERD (Nasseri-Moghaddam et al., 2012).

PUD is similar to GERD because most women have been reported to fall victim to this disorder more frequently than men. The main reason offered by Wen et al. (2014) is that women secrete less hormonal gastric acid because other functions of their bodies especially when they are expectant. Gastritis has been found to be more common in men than in women. The reason is that men tend to consume more alcohol than women and this results in the irritation in the stomach. On the other hand, women will get gastritis from the drugs they take like aspirin and other anti-inflammatory drugs.

In the case of women, it is recommended that they take precaution by undergoing screening for GERD condition in a health center (Rao, Micic, & Kim, 2016). This way they can safely manage the symptoms if they are discovered. PUD diagnosis involves taking an acid-blocking medication to check if the PUD symptoms will improve. In case the ulcers are extensive, the individual should change their lifestyle, medication, or undergo surgery. Diagnosis of gastritis is mostly done through a review of one's family background, physical evaluation, a blood test, stool test, or upper endoscopy. Treatment for gastritis involves taking antacids to reduce stomach acids, elimination of irritating foods, antibiotics in case of pylori infection, and vitamin B12 shots if gastritis is caused by pernicious anemia (Park et al., 2015).