Contents
What is Gastritis?
Gastritis is a serious condition that inflames the protective stomach lining called (mucosa), causing bloating, nausea, indigestion, and belly pain. Gastritis can be sudden (acute) or gradual (chronic). Short-term gastritis is severe inflammation of the stomach lining, while long-term gastritis involves inflammation that lasts for years when not treated well or left untreated.
Worldwide, H. pylori bacteria are the main common cause of gastritis. In some cases, excessive use of alcohol or long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs can cause this condition. It is an important public health concern as it is linked with complications such as stomach cancer and stomach ulcers.
However, with good dietary changes and medications, stomach acid can be reduced and ease the symptoms of gastritis.
What are the Symptoms of Gastritis?
It is important to note that gastritis doesn’t cause noticeable symptoms in everyone. One person may have no noticeable symptoms, while another one can have severe symptoms.
The most common symptoms of gastritis include:
- Vomit containing blood
- Stabbing, sharp, or burning stomach pain
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Indigestion
- Feeling full in the upper abdomen after eating
You need to seek immediate medical attention if you notice these symptoms. They include:
- Excessive sweating
- Vomit that contains blood
- Rapid heartbeat
- Shortness of breath
- Black or blood stool
- Dizziness
- Abdominal pain.
What are the Causes of Gastritis?
This condition happens when the protective stomach lining is damaged or weakened. Some the things that can make the stomach weaken include:
H. pylori bacteria
H. pylori bacteria are the most common cause of gastritis. This is a bacterium that infects the stomach lining, causing it to weaken. It can be passed from one person to another, or it can be transmitted through food and water.
There are other certain conditions and that increase your risk of gastritis, including:
- Cocaine use
- Excess alcohol consumption
- Use of tobacco
- Frequent use of NSAIDs like aspirin and ibuprofen
- The older you get, the stomach lining thins naturally
- Autoimmune conditions
- Physical stress
- Bile reflux
- Fungal infections
- Allergic reactions
- Food poisoning
- Radiation.
How is Gastritis Diagnosed?
When you go for a test, your doctor will have a physical exam, ask about your family history, ask about symptoms, and check your medical history. Your doctor can perform the following tests and procedures to diagnose gastritis.
- Performing endoscopy
- Conduct a physical examination
- Performing electrocardiography
- Checking for H. pylori presence using breath, blood, or stool testing
Sometimes, a doctor can diagnose gastritis with X-rays of the esophagus, small intestine, and stomach. Furthermore, a doctor can request:
- Pregnancy tests
- A test for anemia
- Evaluations of liver and kidney functions
- Pancreas and gallbladder function tests
If all the tests above don’t provide enough details, your doctor can perform an upper endoscopy to check for inflammation in the stomach, esophagus, or duodenum. An upper endoscopy involves inserting a flexible, illuminated tube into the stomach through the mouth and throat.
What are the Complications of Gastritis?
If your gastritis is not well treated or left untreated, it can lead to some complications. These complications include:
- Bleeding in the stomach,
- Peptic ulcers
- Perforation inside the stomach
- Anemia
- Deficiencies in Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, folic acid, zinc, magnesium, and calcium
- Chronic atrophic gastritis
- Stomach cancer.
How is Gastritis Treated?
The best way to treat gastritis depends on the cause and whether it is acute or chronic. If the condition is being caused by NSAIDs or other medications, you have to avoid the drugs to relieve the symptoms. However, if the medication is causing gastritis, you should talk to your doctor before stopping or modifying the dosage.
Treatment for gastritis involves a range of medications, including:
- Antacids that neutralize the stomach acid
- Proton pump inhibitors that block the production of acid
- H2 blockers that decrease acid production
- Antibiotics that help treat H. pylori
- Antinausea medications
- Probiotics
With a combination of the right medications and dietary changes, gastritis can easily be relieved.
Gastritis Prevention
The prevention strategies will depend on your health and the conditions that put you at risk of gastritis. More research is needed to conclude what causes gastritis. Without knowing what the clear cause is, it can be hard to prevent gastritis.
Luckily, you can reduce the risk of gastritis by doing the following:
- Maintain good hygiene habits by washing hands. This will reduce the risk of H. pylori infection
- Quit smoking
- Limit or avoid alcohol consumption
- Avoid taking medications that can irritate your stomach
- Eat well-cooked and hygienic foods
- Avoid or limit salty, fried, sugary, or spicy foods because they can trigger the symptoms of gastritis
- Normalize eating your meals slowly.
Foods that Can Help Relieve Gastritis Symptoms
Nutritionists suggest that eating smaller meals and avoiding spicy, acidic, fatty, or fried foods can help reduce symptoms. Still, you have to take care of your mental health. There are essential foods that can help stop H. pylori growth and relieve symptoms. These foods include:
- Peppermint
- Yogurt
- Green and white tea
- Coconut water
- Carrot juice
- Wheat bran
- Green leafy vegetables
- Garlic
- Onions
- Vegetables
- Apples
- Fruits with low acidity level
- Cranbelly juice
- Legumes
- Soy foods.
Conclusion
Whether your gastritis is acute or chronic, the treatment may involve antibiotics, prescription medications, and good dietary changes. For instance, if gastritis is being caused by H. pylori infection, it can be treated with two rounds of antibiotics. If it is not treated, gastritis can lead to vitamin deficiencies, stomach ulcers, and it increases your risk of stomach cancer. Therefore, if you notice you have the symptoms of gastritis, it is important to seek immediate medical attention.