The term “gastritis” refers to a group of conditions that are characterized by inflammation of the gastric mucosa. Stomach inflammation is often the result of an infection caused by the same H. pylori bacterium, which is responsible for most cases of stomach ulcers. However, gastritis can occur under the influence of other damaging factors, such as the systematic use of painkillers or alcoholism. Causes of gastritis – more information gastritinfo.com.
Causes of gastritis
Gastritis can occur suddenly (acute gastritis) or develop gradually (chronic gastritis). Gastritis may be accompanied by increased acidity of gastric juice (hyperacid) or low acidity (hypoacid). In some cases, gastritis leads to peptic ulcer.
This disease is also associated with a high risk of stomach cancer (especially atrophic gastritis). But in most people, gastritis does not lead to serious consequences if it is treated correctly and in a timely manner. Gastritis usually develops when the gastric mucosa loses its protective properties. This constantly updated mucous barrier protects the walls of our stomach from aggressive digestive juices.
Weakening of the protective properties leads to the fact that the mucosa becomes inflamed. There are many diseases that can weaken the protective properties of the gastric mucosa. The same thing happens with regular use of pain medications such as ibuprofen, indomethacin, ketorolac or diclofenac.
Gastritis is an inflammation of the gastric mucosa, which is described according to histological criteria, that is, even if the diagnosis is suggested by clinical signs or symptoms, radiological or endoscopic, the final confirmation should be made only by microscopic examination. It often happens that during an endoscopy the signs are so lush that a histological examination (biopsy) canceled for the second stage of processing control.
It is a term used to describe a group of diseases that in general inflammation of the stomach is often the result of infection with the same bacteria that cause stomach ulcers – Helicobacter Pylori.
What are the types of gastritis
Erosive gastritis can be, rather than erosive acute or chronic. Differentiation in acute or chronic gastritis is carried out by microscopic imaging with the presence of specific cells that identify the presence of acute or chronic inflammation.
Gastritis may occur suddenly (acute gastritis) or develop slowly (chronic gastritis). In some cases, gastritis may be associated with a stomach ulcer and increases the risk of developing stomach cancer. However, for most people, this is not a serious problem, and it improves quickly with treatment.
Manifestations of gastritis
The intensity of gastritis manifestations does not always indicate the severity of the inflammatory process in the gastric or duodenal mucosa. The most common manifestation of gastritis and duodenitis is pain in the epigastric region or a feeling of discomfort.
- Usually, with gastritis, the pain is in the center of the epigastrium, or to the left, whereas with duodenitis, the pain is more marked to the right.
- There is a burning sensation in the epigastric region after eating (with gastritis) or on an empty stomach (with duodenitis).
- There may be heartburn, belching, rumbling in the abdomen with the addition of enterocolitis.
Other symptoms of gastritis and duodenitis include:
- Vomiting and nausea, which can relieve abdominal pain. Vomiting of “coffee grounds” indicates gastric bleeding.
- Bloating.
- Feeling of fullness and heaviness in the epigastrium after eating.
In more severe cases of gastritis, bleeding may occur. It can manifest itself in the following symptoms:
- Pallor, sweating and palpitations.
- Shortness of breath.
- Chest pain.
- Vomiting the color of coffee grounds or scarlet blood.
- Black tar-like stool.
All these symptoms occur suddenly when bleeding.
What are the causes of gastritis
The mucosal barrier protects the lining of the stomach from the aggression of acid produced by the stomach itself to help digest food. The weakening of this barrier allows digestive juices to develop to harm and ignites the lining of the stomach, which causes gastritis, as indicated in this reference to gastritis.
This can cause several factors, for example:
- Bacterial infection
- Helicobacter pylori is an infection that can more often cause chronic gastritis. Half of the world’s population can be infected with these bacteria. Most of those infected have no complications. In some people, H. pylori can disrupt the protective barrier of the stomach, causing changes in the mucous membrane of this organ. This vulnerability to bacteria can be hereditary or acquired.
Regular use of anti-inflammatory drugs
Anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and naproxen or aspirin can cause acute or chronic gastritis. These substances reduce the production of a key substance that helps protect the protective device of the stomach. Stomach problems are less common when these medications are used only occasionally.
Excess alcohol
Alcohol can irritate the lining of the stomach, making the stomach more vulnerable to digestive juices. Excessive alcohol consumption can cause acute gastritis.
Stress – stress associated with major surgery, trauma, burns or severe infections can cause acute gastritis. There is no scientific evidence of a direct link between the development of gastritis and psychological stress.
Bilateral reflux
Liquid bile, which helps digest fats, is produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder. The gatekeeper prevents bile reflux from the intestine to the stomach, but if this valve does not work well or needs to be surgically removed, the bile can return to the stomach and cause inflammation and chronic gastritis, the body itself attacks the stomach cells and is called autoimmune gastritis. It is more common in people with other immune system disorders, such as Hashimoto’s disease, Addison’s disease and type 1 diabetes, and may also be associated with vitamin B12 deficiency.
Other diseases and conditions
Gastritis may be associated with other diseases such as HIV/AIDS, Crohn’s disease, parasitic infections, connective tissue diseases, kidney failure or liver failure.
Aging
Aging can increase the risk of gastritis, for example, the lining of the stomach, which becomes thinner over time, the so-called “atrophic gastritis”. Older people are more likely to have Helicobacter pylori infection and autoimmune diseases than younger people.
Gastritis risk factors
Factors that increase the risk of gastritis include:
- Bacterial infection. People infected with Helicobacter pylori may suffer from gastritis, and more often from chronic gastritis. About half of the world’s population are carriers of this bacterium, which is transmitted from person to person. But most of them do not suffer from complications of H. pylori infection. In some H. pylori can disrupt the protective lining of the stomach, causing changes in it. The reason why only in some people infection with this bacterium causes a complication remains unknown. However, doctors believe that vulnerability to bacteria X. pylori can be both hereditary and associated with certain factors, for example, smoking or high stress levels.
- Regular use of painkillers. Common painkillers, such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, etc.) and naproxen (Aleve, Anaprox), can cause both acute and chronic gastritis. Regular or excessive use of these drugs can lower the key substance that helps maintain the protective layer of the stomach.
- Advanced age. Older people have a higher risk of developing gastritis, because the lining of the stomach becomes thinner with age, and also because older people have a higher chance of being infected with H. pylori bacteria or suffering from an autoimmune disease than young people.
- Alcohol abuse. Alcohol can irritate and destroy the lining of the stomach and make it more vulnerable to digestive acids. Alcohol abuse most often causes acute gastritis.
- Stress. Severe stress as a result of serious surgery, injury, burn or infection can cause acute gastritis.
- Biliary reflux. Bile — a substance that helps to break down fats — is produced in the liver and stored in the gallbladder. When leaving it, bile enters the small intestine. As a rule, the annular sphincter (pyloric valve) prevents bile from entering the stomach from the small intestine. But if this valve does not work properly, or it was removed during surgery, bile can enter the stomach, provoking gastritis.
- Attack of the stomach by the body. Called autoimmune gastritis, this type of gastritis appears when the body attacks the cells of the stomach lining. This can lead to its thinning. Autoimmune gastritis is most common among people with autoimmune diseases, including Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and type 1 diabetes. Autoimmune gastritis can also be caused by a lack of vitamin B-12.
- Other diseases. Gastritis can accompany diseases such as/AIDS, Crohn’s disease and parasitic infections.
What are the symptoms of gastritis
Signs and symptoms include:
- Burning sensation, pain or upset stomach in the upper abdomen that can improve or worsen food
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Feeling full after eating
- gas or increased bloating in the abdomen
The most common symptoms of acute gastritis are nausea, burning or discomfort in the upper abdomen. In chronic gastritis, the most common symptom is pain, fullness or loss of appetite.
Most cases of dyspepsia are temporary and do not require medical attention. But if you have signs or symptoms for a week or more, call your doctor (gastroenterologist or general practitioner). Talk to him when you feel uncomfortable. Also indicate the use of medications made in self-medication, especially aspirin or other anti-inflammatory drugs already taken.
If you vomit or find a bright red “coffee grounds” with blood or a black stool, you should immediately seek medical help for the problem.
What you can eat with gastritis
Diagnosis of gastritis
The diagnosis and treatment of gastritis is handled by a general practitioner or gastroenterologist. To make a diagnosis, a clinical examination is necessary to identify the nature of complaints and their duration.
As additional studies are used:
- clinical studies of blood, urine, feces;
- analysis of feces for hidden blood;
- biochemical blood analysis: serum iron, bilirubin, total protein and protein fractions, ALAT, ASAT, urea, creatinine;
- FGDS with biopsy of the gastric mucosa (endoscopic examination);
- diagnosis of helicobacter infection;
- investigation of secretory function of the stomach;
- X-ray examination of the esophagus, stomach, duodenum.
Complications of chronic gastritis:
- dysbiosis;
- chronic pancreatitis;
- biliary dyskinesia;
- stomach ulcer;
- stomach cancer.
A person with gastritis may have complications
If left untreated, gastritis can lead to stomach ulcers and bleeding. Some forms of chronic gastritis can increase the risk of developing stomach cancer, especially if you have a thin lining in the stomach and changes in the cells of the gastric mucosa.
Talk to your doctor if signs and symptoms don’t improve despite gastritis treatment.
Treatment of chronic gastritis and rehabilitation of patients
- regular three-five meals a day strictly by the hour, in moderate portions, a therapeutic diet depending on the form of gastritis;
- antisecretory drugs: h3-histamine receptor blockers, M-cholinolytics, antacids;
- antispasmodics and prokinetics – medications that restore the normal movement of food through the digestive tract;
- drugs that improve the restoration of the gastric mucosa, including herbal remedies;
- according to the indications, complex antibacterial therapy is prescribed to destroy the helicobacter infection;
- in case of gastritis with low acidity, drugs that stimulate the formation of gastric juice or lifelong replacement therapy with hydrochloric acid are prescribed.
In the treatment of chronic gastritis, long-term remission can be achieved by following a diet, diet, and healthy lifestyle. All sufferers of chronic gastritis are shown a routine examination twice a year and anti-relapse (preventive) treatment in spring and autumn.
Read more: Erosive gastritis of the stomach