Xiao Zhang is a young white-collar worker who is busy with work and often works overtime and stays up late. In recent months, every time he wakes up in the morning, he feels bitter in his mouth, and at first he doesn't take it to heart, just thinking that it may be due to work pressure or irregular diet. Until one day, he suddenly felt like a big stone pressing on his chest, and he was very nauseous, so he hurriedly ran to the hospital for a check-up. The results showed that his liver function had been abnormal, and the culprit was the bitterness in his mouth that he had neglected for a long time.
The doctor told Xiao Zhang that bitterness in the mouth is not a simple minor problem, it may be an early sign of a problem with the internal organs of the body. If left untreated, the problem can worsen or even trigger a serious health crisis. The doctor's words made Xiao Zhang feel scared, and also made him realize that the small signals in his body may indicate a big problem.
Why is it bitter in the mouth?
When you get up in the morning, your mouth is bitter, and you may think that your mouth is not clean or that you have eaten something wrong. However, if this is always the case, there may be something wrong with the body. If you often wake up in the morning feeling bitter in your mouth, then you need to pay attention to the following 4 possible diseases.
1. Hepatobiliary diseases
Bitterness in the mouth can be one of the typical symptoms of hepatobiliary disease. The liver is responsible for metabolizing toxins in the body, and when there is a problem with the function of the liver or gallbladder, there is too much bile in the body, resulting in a bitter taste in the mouth. According to the data, more than 50% of patients with chronic liver disease have similar symptoms, especially those with chronic hepatitis, fatty liver disease, and cholecystitis.
In China, liver disease is a high incidence disease, especially the incidence of fatty liver disease is increasing year by year in young and middle-aged people. Studies have found that almost one in five people will accumulate some degree of fat in their liver at some point in their lives. Therefore, if you feel bitter in your mouth for a long time, it is best to get a liver function test to make sure your liver is healthy.
2. Gastroesophageal reflux disease
Bitterness in the mouth in the morning can also be a sign of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Gastroesophageal reflux is when the contents of the stomach flow backwards into the esophagus and even into the mouth, making people feel sour and bitter. This condition is more common when sleeping at night, because stomach acid is more likely to rise when lying down.
According to the statistics of the World Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Association, about 10%-20% of the population will be affected by this condition to varying degrees, especially people with high stress and irregular diet. Prolonged acid reflux not only causes a bitter taste in the mouth, but can also trigger esophagitis and even increase the risk of esophageal cancer. Therefore, if you often feel bitter in your mouth in the morning, especially accompanied by stomach acidity, it is very important to go to the gastroenterologist for a check-up in time.
3. Oral diseases
Sometimes, the bitterness in the mouth is really due to a problem in the mouth, such as long-term periodontitis, tooth decay, and mouth sores. These problems can cause bacteria to grow wildly in your mouth, releasing some foul-smelling chemicals that can make your mouth taste weird and bitter.
According to our National Oral Health Association, more than sixty percent of adults have periodontitis, but the severity is different. If you don't pay attention to your oral health, it may cause problems in other parts of your body to become more serious. Therefore, regular dental check-ups and maintenance of oral hygiene can effectively prevent bitter taste caused by oral problems.
4. Metabolic diseases
Metabolic diseases like diabetes can also make people feel bitter in the morning. Because people with diabetes do not have normal sugar metabolism, they may feel dry and bitter in the mouth. This is because there is an imbalance in blood sugar levels, which can affect saliva production, which can lead to dry mouth, which further triggers a bitter taste in the mouth.
According to statistics, there are now more than 460 million diabetics in the world, and China is one of the countries with a particularly high number of diabetics. If diabetes is not managed well for a long time, it will cause great damage to all organs in the body, and even oral health will be affected. Therefore, if you have a history of diabetes or poor blood sugar control and have bitter mouth, you should be alarmed.
If you find yourself waking up in the morning with bitter mouths, here are a few things to start with:
Seek medical attention in a timely manner
If bitter mouth persists, especially if accompanied by other symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, dry mouth, etc., it is important to seek medical attention promptly. Your doctor can help you determine the cause with tests.
Lifestyle improvements
Choose something that is light and easy to digest, not too oily and spicy, so that the stomach and liver will not be too tired. Also, try not to stay up late and sleep more, which can also make the body less burdened.
Take regular oral care
Oral problems can also be the cause of bitter mouth, and regular brushing, flossing, and dental check-ups can help prevent oral diseases.
Maintain a good mindset
Many diseases are related to life stress, maintaining a good psychological state and learning to release stress is an effective way to prevent diseases.
Bitterness in the mouth may seem like a minor symptom, but it can be a hidden health problem. Liver and gallbladder problems, acid reflux, oral problems, and metabolic diseases like diabetes can all make you feel uncomfortable. If you have a similar situation, don't take it seriously, you have to go to the hospital as soon as possible, find out the problem early, and solve it as soon as possible.
Health is the most important asset for each of us, and any physical signal deserves our attention and attention. I hope everyone can start with the small details of daily life, pay attention to their body, and have a healthy life.