by What is Gastritis?
Gastritis is not a single disease, but several different conditions that all have inflammation of the stomach lining. It means that white blood cells move into the wall of the stomach as a response to some type of injury. Gastritis can be caused by drinking too much alcohol, prolonged use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin or ibuprofen, or infection with bacteria such as Helicobacter pylori ( H. pylori ). Sometimes gastritis develops after major surgery, traumatic injury, burns, or severe infections. Certain diseases, such as pernicious anemia, autoimmune disorders, and chronic bile reflux, can cause gastritis as well.
In some cases, gastritis can lead to ulcers and an increased risk of stomach cancer. For most people, however, gastritis isn’t serious and improves quickly with treatment.
What are the causes of Gastritis?
Some of the causes of Gastritis are-
- Food poisoning.
- Anemia.
- Autoimmune digestive disorders.
- Major surgery.
- Traumatic injury.
- Burns.
- Severe infections.
- Alcohol.
- Over-eating.
- Eating spicy food.
- Smoking.
What are the symptoms of Gastritis?
The signs and symptoms of gastritis, which are often relatively mild and short-lived, include:
- A gnawing or burning ache or pain (indigestion) in your upper abdomen that may become either worse or better when you eat.
- Nausea.
- Vomiting.
- Loss of appetite.
- Belching or bloating.
- A feeling of fullness in your upper abdomen after eating.
- Weight loss.
What treatment can be done for Gastritis?
Your physician may prescribe one of the following treatment options:
- Antibiotics and bismuth compounds.
- Drugs to reduce acid secretions within the stomach.
Implications of antibiotic therapy:
- Discuss with your doctor and pharmacist the precautions you should take while on antibody therapy. For example, as with all antibiotic treatments, birth control pills may become less effective.
- Avoid excessive sun exposure because some antibodies may increase the skin’s sensitivity to the sun.
- Avoid irritants that promote stomach inflammation, such as aspirin, alcohol,
anti-inflammatory drugs and smoking. - Ask your physician for dietary information and nutritional counseling.
