The key difference between achlorhydria and hypochlorhydria is that achlorhydria occurs in the absence of HCl acid in the stomach, while hypochlorhydria occurs due to a deficiency in stomach acids.
Achlorhydria and hypochlorhydria are two medical conditions that are due to the absence or low amount of acids in the stomach. Both these conditions can impair the digestive process and damage the gastrointestinal tract. Without stomach acids, complex molecules like proteins cannot be digested properly. These conditions can also make people more susceptible to gastrointestinal infections.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Achlorhydria
3. What is Hypochlorhydria
4. Similarities – Achlorhydria and Hypochlorhydria
5. Achlorhydria vs Hypochlorhydria in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Achlorhydria vs Hypochlorhydria
What is Achlorhydria?
Achlorhydria is a medical condition that occurs when there is no hydrochloric acid in the stomach. HCl acid normally breaks down the food people eat and activates digestive enzymes that dissolve proteins and other nutrients. HCl also helps to kill the microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites in the stomach. Basically, HCl acid protects people from infections and diseases.
If left untreated, achlorhydria can have life-threatening consequences. The symptoms of this condition may include iron deficiency anemia, abdominal bloating, nausea, indigestion, acid reflux, digestive issues, diarrhoea, weak, brittle nails, hair loss, undigested food in stool, weakness in arms and legs, tingling in fingers or toes, memory loss, vision changes, and hallucinations. The causes of achlorhydria include hypothyroidism, medications (antacids and proton pump inhibitors), surgery (weight loss surgery), Helicobacter pyroli infection, and autoimmune disorders.
Achlorhydria can be diagnosed through medical history and tests for measuring the pH of the stomach blood, such as complete blood count (CBC). Furthermore, treatment options for achlorhydria may include antibiotics to treat infections, stopping medications such as proton pump inhibitors, which trigger achlorhydria, and managing underlying conditions.
What is Hypochlorhydria?
Hypochlorhydria is a medical condition that occurs when there is a deficiency of stomach acids. If people do not have enough stomach acids, food cannot be digested, or nutrients cannot be absorbed properly. This leads to indigestion, malnutrition, and bacterial overgrowth. The symptoms of hypochlorhydria include abdominal pain, bloating, gas, diarrhoea, constipation, undigested food in stool, reflux, heartburn, brittle fingernails, hair loss, paleness in the skin, weakness or fatigue, numbness in the hands and feet, memory loss, and headaches. Moreover, hypochlorhydria can be caused by atrophic gastritis, Helicobacter pyroli infection, and chronic use of acid-reducing medications like antacids, H2 receptor blockers, and proton pump inhibitors.
Hypochlorhydria can be diagnosed through health history, physical examination, baking soda test, Heidelberg pH test, SmartPill test, and gastric string test. Furthermore, treatment options for hypochlorhydria include addressing underlying causes (adjusting medical prescriptions, treating an underline health condition, and treating a bacterial infection with antibiotics) that trigger hypochlorhydria, HCl acid supplements, and supplements for nutritional deficiencies (iron, calcium, vitamin B12, etc.).
What are the Similarities Between Achlorhydria and Hypochlorhydria?
- Achlorhydria and hypochlorhydria are two medical conditions that are due to the absence or low amount of acids in the stomach.
- Both conditions may have similar symptoms, such as abdominal pain, bloating, gas, and undigested food in stools.
- These conditions can impair the digestive process, damage the gastrointestinal tract, and cause life-threatening complications.
- Both conditions can be caused by Helicobacter pyroli infection and chronic use of acid-reducing medications.
- These conditions can be diagnosed through medical history, physical examination, and pH tests.
What is the Difference Between Achlorhydria and Hypochlorhydria?
Achlorhydria is a medical condition that occurs when there is an absence of HCl acid in the stomach, while hypochlorhydria is a medical condition that occurs when there is a deficiency of stomach acids. Thus, this is the key difference between achlorhydria and hypochlorhydria. Furthermore, achlorhydria is a more severe condition, while hypochlorhydria is a less severe condition.
The below infographic presents the differences between achlorhydria and hypochlorhydria in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.
Summary – Achlorhydria vs Hypochlorhydria
Achlorhydria and hypochlorhydria are two medical conditions that are due to the absence or low amount of acids in the stomach. Both these conditions can impair the digestive process, lead to damage in the gastrointestinal tract, and ultimately cause life-threatening complications. Achlorhydria is a medical condition that occurs when there is an absence of HCl acid in the stomach, while hypochlorhydria is a medical condition that occurs when there is a deficiency of stomach acids. So, this is the key difference between achlorhydria and hypochlorhydria.
Reference:
1. Anthony, Kiara. “Achlorhydria: Symptoms, Causes, and Diagnostic Tests.” Healthline, Healthline Media.
2. “Hypochlorhydria: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, and More.” WebMD.
Image Courtesy:
1. “3D Medical Animation Stomach Structure” By Scientific Animations – (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia