10/23/2024
Gastritis is the inflammation of the stomach lining that causes symptoms like abdominal pain, nausea, and indigestion. The condition may be temporary, but left untreated, it can become chronic or exacerbate with time. Knowing the possible causes, symptoms, and available treatments for gastritis can help in maintaining digestive health as well as in preventing complications.
Symptoms of Gastritis
Gastritis can present various symptoms depending on its severity. The most common symptoms are the following:
- Abdominal pain or discomfort: The pain is always described as a burning or gnawing sensation in the upper abdomen, sometimes mistaken for indigestion or heartburn.
- Nausea and vomiting: Nausea and vomiting are common in acute cases of gastritis. Vomiting may also cause a sour taste in the mouth.
- Indigestion and heartburn: Indigestion or discomfort after eating occurs frequently and is the hallmark sign of gastritis. The patient may have bloated, burped, or felt their upper abdomen was full.
- Loss of appetite: Most patients with gastritis will lose interest in food due to the discomfort and pain.
- Weight loss: This is often unintentional; people suffering from gastritis may realize over time that their intake of food has decreased, and therefore they experience weight loss.
- Dark, tarry stools or blood in vomit: While dark tarry stools or blood in vomit denotes more severe forms of gastritis and often indicate bleeding from the stomach lining, the patient should see a doctor right away.
Seek medical attention once you have a prolonged experience of such conditions or there is internal bleeding, manifesting in dark stools, or vomiting blood.
Causes of Gastritis
There are diverse causes of gastritis, and understanding the cause allows for effective treatment. Some of the causes include:
- Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is the most common cause of gastritis. It destroys the stomach lining. This type of infection is rampant worldwide and is often contracted in childhood. Untreated H. pylori infections can lead to chronic gastritis or ulcers.
- Anti-inflammatory drugs: While on drugs containing ibuprofen or aspirin, after long-term use, this may irritate the stomach lining. These drugs will reduce the mucus covering of the stomach, increasing its susceptibility to the action of acids.
- Autoimmune disorders: Autoimmune disorders occur when the immune system mistakenly attacks the stomach's inner lining which leads to a medical condition known as autoimmune gastritis. This may impair the stomach's ability to absorb vital nutrients and lead to secondary problems such as vitamin B12 deficiency and pernicious anemia.
- Alcoholism: Excessive alcohol consumption is a significant irritant of the inner stomach lining. Chronic abuse of alcohol can cause damage to the stomach tissue coupled with inflammation and might lead to gastritis.
- Stress: Prolonged physical or emotional stress may cause gastritis as a result of increased production of stomach acid that irritates the lining of the stomach. It often occurs with critically ill patients or those who have had surgery.
- Smoking: Smoking increases stomach acid production and weakens its protective lining. This puts smokers at a risk of developing gastritis.
- Bile reflux: Bile reflux occurs when bile from the small intestine flows back into the stomach, irritating its lining and may lead to gastritis.
Types of Gastritis
There are three main types of gastritis. These include all different reasons for the condition and each has a unique feature.
- Acute Gastritis: It is a sudden onset; This condition is typically caused by bacterial infection, excessive alcohol consumption, or irritation from drugs like NSAIDs. The symptoms can be severe but are more easily treated with treatment.
- Chronic Gastritis: This develops gradually over months or even years and is the most common form if left untreated. The most common causes are H. pylori infection, autoimmune disorder, and long-term use of irritants such as alcohol or NSAIDs. Chronic gastritis may eventually lead to chronic mucosal damage to the gastric lining increasing the risk for ulcers or stomach cancer.
- Erosive Gastritis: It is more severe and results in erosion within the stomach lining which, if left untreated, can cause bleeding. It is most often caused by the long-term use of NSAIDs, alcoholism, or physical stress.
Diagnosis of Gastritis
Your doctor will first start questioning you on the symptoms you are experiencing and ask for your previous medical history. He may also give you a physical examination in search of tenderness within the abdomen. Additional tests may include:
- Endoscopy: A flexible tube with a camera is inserted through the mouth and guided into the esophagus, stomach, and part of the small intestine so that the physician would be able to visualize signs of inflammation or erosion in the gastric lining.
- Blood tests: Blood tests can be useful in diagnosing anemia if caused by bleeding from gastritis, and to determine the presence of H. pylori infection or other autoimmune causes of gastritis.
- Breath test: A breath test can diagnose the bacterial presence of H. pylori. Under this test, you will be given to drink a solution containing urea, and if H. pylori is there, then it breaks the urea and produces carbon dioxide that can be detected in your breath.
Treatment for Gastritis
Gastritis treatment varies on the cause of the problem. Some of the common treatments include the following:
- Antacids: These reverse the acid in the stomach and provide immediate relief for pain and discomfort. However, they do not treat gastritis.
- Proton Pump Inhibitors: This is a prescription medication that inhibits the formation of stomach acid. It is used for more severe or ulcerated cases of gastritis.
- Antibiotics: If the cause of gastritis is infection by H. pylori, a combination of antibiotics and PPIs will destroy the bacteria and will inhibit acid release.
In addition to the medicines, lifestyle changes are good ways for the treatment and prevention of gastritis. Some of them include:
- Avoiding irritants: Stay away from spicy foods, alcohol, caffeine, and acidic foods or drinks that are known to irritate the stomach.
- Stress management: Through relaxation techniques, exercise, and mindfulness, one can reduce stress and possibly avoid flare-ups.
- Quitting smoking: Cigarette smoke irritates the stomach and hampers the healing process. Quitting smoking can greatly minimize your chances of developing gastritis.
- Refrain from frequent use of NSAIDS: If you experience frequent use of NSAIDs, you need to communicate with your physician about alternatives or use protective drugs to reduce the chance of developing gastritis.
- Surgery might be necessary to remove damaged parts of the stomach or to treat complications like bleeding in severe cases.
Preventing Gastritis
Gastritis can't always be prevented; however, there are several methods to reduce your risk of developing the condition:
- A healthy diet: Ensures that you eat properly with adequate fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to ensure that your stomach lining is intact and active. Avoid excessive consumption of spicy or acidic foods.
- Avoid irritants: Avoid those food, drinks, and medications that can damage the stomach lining. Abstain from alcohol use or consume it moderately. Use alternatives for NSAIDs.
- Manage your stress: Chances are that chronic stress will exaggerate the symptoms of gastritis, so do find healthy ways to manage stress like regular exercise, deep breathing, and meditation.
- Quit smoking: Smoking makes you prone to gastritis and other gastrointestinal disorders. Quitting can improve not only your stomach but also your overall health.
- Wise use of medications: Drugs, for example, that may increase your vulnerability to developing gastritis, may include anti-inflammatory agents such as NSAIDs. Consider taking drugs under the right instructions from your doctor. Such drugs should also be applied with food and avoiding alcohol to minimize irritation.
Following these tips and seeking the doctor when necessary, you help protect your stomach lining to protect you from gastritis development or worsening.