Gastritis is an inflammation of the protective lining of the stomach. Severe gastritis includes sudden, serious inflammation. Chronic gastritis involves long-term inflammation that can last for many years if it’s left untreated. Erosive gastritis is a less typical kind of the condition. It generally doesn’t trigger much inflammation, but can result in bleeding and ulcers in the lining of the stomach.
What Causes Gastritis?
Weakness in your stomach lining allows digestive juices to damage and irritate it, triggering gastritis. Having a thin or damaged stomach lining raises your threat for gastritis.
A gastrointestinal bacterial infection can likewise trigger gastritis. The most common bacterial infection that triggers it is Helicobacter pylori. It’s a bacterium that infects the lining of the stomach. The infection is normally passed from person to person, however can also be transferred through infected food or water.
Particular conditions and activities might increase your threat for developing gastritis. Other threat elements include:
- extreme alcohol consumption
- regular use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen and aspirin
- cocaine use
- age, since the stomach lining thins naturally with age
- tobacco use
Other less common risk elements include:
- stress triggered by extreme injury, health problem, or surgery
- autoimmune conditions
- digestive conditions like Crohn’s disease
- viral infections
What Are the Symptoms of Gastritis?
Gastritis doesn’t trigger noticeable symptoms in everybody. The most common signs are:
- nausea
- vomiting
- a feeling of fullness in your upper abdomen, especially after consuming
- indigestion
If you have erosive gastritis, you may experience different symptoms, including:
- black, tarry stool
- vomiting blood or material that appears like coffee grounds
How is Gastritis Diagnosed?
Your doctor will perform a physical examination, ask about your signs, and ask for your family history. They might also suggest a breath, blood, or stool test to check for H. pylori.
In order to get a take a look at what’s going on inside you, your doctor might want to perform an endoscopy to look for inflammation. An endoscopy involves the use of a long tube that has a camera lens at the idea. During the treatment, your doctor will carefully insert the tube to allow them to see into the esophagus and stomach. Your doctor might take a little sample, or biopsy, of the lining of the stomach if they find anything uncommon during the evaluation.
Your doctor may also take X-rays of your digestive tract after you swallow a barium solution, which will help differentiate areas of issue.
How is Gastritis Treated?
The treatment for gastritis depends upon the reason for the condition. If you have gastritis triggered by NSAIDs or other drugs, preventing those drugs may be enough to relieve your signs. Gastritis as a result of H. pylori is regularly treated with antibiotics that kill the bacteria.
In addition to antibiotics, a number of other kinds of medication are used to deal with gastritis:
Proton Pump Inhibitors
Medications called proton pump inhibitors work by obstructing cells that create stomach acid. Typical proton pump inhibitors include:
- omeprazole (Prilosec).
- lansoprazole (Prevacid).
- esomeprazole (Nexium).
However, long-term use of these medications, particularly at high doses, can cause an increased risk of spinal column, hip, and wrist fractures. It can likewise cause increased danger of renal failure, dementia, and nutrient shortages.
Speak with your doctor prior to beginning among these medications to create a treatment plan that is right for you.
Acid Reducing Medications
Medications that lower the amount of acid your stomach produces include:
- famotidine (Pepcid)
By decreasing the amount of acid that’s released into your digestive system, these medications eliminate the pain of gastritis and allow your stomach lining to recover.
Antacids
Your doctor may suggest that you use antacids for fast relief of gastritis discomfort. These medications can neutralize the acid in your stomach.
Some antacids might cause diarrhea or irregularity, so talk with your doctor if you experience any of these negative effects.
Probiotics
Probiotics have been revealed to assist renew digestive plants and recover stomach ulcers. However, there’s no proof that they have any influence on acid secretion. There are currently no guidelines supporting making use of probiotics in ulcer management.
What Are the Potential Complications from Gastritis?
If your gastritis is left untreated, it can lead to stomach bleeding as well as ulcers. Certain types of gastritis can increase your risk of developing stomach cancer, particularly in individuals with thinned stomach linings.
Because of these potential issues, it’s important to talk to your doctor if you experience any signs of gastritis, specifically if they’re chronic.
What Is the Outlook for Gastritis?
The outlook for gastritis depends on the underlying cause. Severe gastritis normally solves quickly with treatment. H. pylori infections, for example, can typically be treated with one or two rounds of antibiotics. However, in some cases treatment fails and it can turn into chronic, or long-term, gastritis. Speak with your doctor to develop a reliable treatment plan for you.
