What is Gastritis?
Gastritis is the inflammation or irritation of the stomach lining. Some people can have sudden and short lasting episodes of gastritis (acute) or in some people the condition can last for months or years (chronic). Chronic gastritis has different levels of severity depending on the level of damage to the mucosal lining. Initially, the most superficial layer and some glandular parts of the lining is damaged. As the condition progresses deeper, more of the glands are destroyed and lost.What causes gastritis?
- Helicobater pylori – The most common cause of acute gastritis is by an infection of with H. pylori. If left untreated, acute H.pylori gastritis can progress to chronic gastritis.
- NSAIDs – Non- Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory drugs such as Aspirin, Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) or Naproxen Sodium (Aleve, Naprosyn).
- Alcohol
- Chronic vomiting
- Stress
- Autoimmune Disorder – the body’s defense system attacks the stomach lining
What are the symptoms of gastritis?
Symptoms of gastritis vary from person to person and can range from being asymptomatic to being very troublesome.- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Hiccups
- Belching
- Abdominal bloating
- Indigestion
- Upper abdominal pain
- Loss of appetite
- Vomiting blood or coffee ground like substance
- Black, tarry stool
How is Gastritis Diagnosed?
Diagnosis of Gastritis requires the use of an endoscope which is a camera that is guided down to the stomach from the mouth to look at the lining of the stomach. At the same time, your doctor may decide to do a biopsy which is the removal of a small piece of stomach tissue so it may be examined under the microscope.What other tests can I expect?
Tests to check for H. pylori:- breath test
- blood test
- stool test
Blood test to check for anemia
Barium swallow – this allows your doctor to see how things are moving along in your stomach via xray.
How is Gastritis treated?
Avoiding the causes of your gastritis is the first step. (NSAIDs, alcohol, stress, hot or spicy foods, etc)For H. pylori gastritis, a combination of 3 or 4 drugs is prescribed. This combination of drugs include different antibiotics as well as a proton pump inhibitor to decrease acid production.
Other causes of gastritis can be treated by reducing stomach acid with various medications such as:
- Antacids
- Histamine blockers
- Proton pump inhibitors
Who is at Risk for Gastritis?
People whose lifestlyes increase stomach acid are at increased risk for gastritis. Frequently eating fats, oils, citrus, coffee and alcohol can all increase risk for gastritis.How can I prevent gastritis?
You can try to monitor your lifestyle and diet to avoid risk factors for gastritis. Avoidance of trigger foods as well as lowering stress may also help with prevention.References
http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/gastrointestinal-disorders/gastritis-and-peptic-ulcer-disease/helicobacter-pylori-infection#v892052https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases_conditions/hic_Gastritis
http://www-uptodate-com.proxy.westernu.edu/contents/gastritis-the-basics?source=search_result&search=gastritis&selectedTitle=3%7E150
http://www.healthline.com/health/gastritis-chronic#Prevention8