Achlorhydria

/ˌeɪklɔːrˈhaɪdriə/ noun

Definition

A medical condition in which the stomach produces little or no hydrochloric acid, affecting digestion.

Etymology

From Greek 'a-' (without) + 'chlor-' (chlorine) + 'hydro-' (water) + '-ia' (condition). Named in 19th-century medicine when scientists understood stomach acid's chemical composition.

Kelly Says

Achlorhydria can be dangerous because stomach acid isn't just for digestion—it kills bacteria and parasites, so people without it become vulnerable to infections other people easily fight off!

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