What is gastritis?
Gastritis, the condition depicts certain conditions with a single factor in common, that is the stomach lining inflammation. Moreover, the inflammation caused by gastritis is often due to the infection with a particular bacterium responsible for triggering majority stomach ulcers.
Consistent use of specific pain relievers, consuming excessive alcohol and injury can too contribute to the condition. Gastritis can develop suddenly (called acute gastritis), or can develop gradually over time (called chronic gastritis).
Moreover, in few cases, the condition can lead to serious stomach complications such as ulcers or stomach cancer. Whilst, for many individuals the condition is not dangerous and gets improve by treatment.
What are the symptoms of gastritis?
The condition, not necessarily causes symptoms. However, if it does, you may experience:
- Vomiting.
- Nausea.
- Burning or gnawing pain or ache in the upper abdomen which can turn better or worse with eating.
- After having meal, a fullness feeling in the upper abdomen.
What causes gastritis?
The condition can be triggered by irritation because of excessive consumption of alcohol, stress, chronic vomiting or taking specific medications for example anti-inflammatory drugs or aspirin. Few other factors that may also contribute in raising the chance of developing gastritis include:
- Infections caused by viruses and bacteria.
- Bile reflux: bile backflow from your bile tract into your stomach.
- Helicobacter pylori: A specific bacteria which survives in your stomach’s mucous lining.
- Pernicious anemia.
What are the risk factors of gastritis?
Certain factors that make you more likely to develop gastritis include:
- If you take pain relievers regularly.
- Bacterial infection.
- Older age.
- Stress.
- Excessive consumption of alcohol.
- The body itself attacking the cells present in the stomach.
- Lastly, other conditions and diseases. (The condition is linked with certain other conditions such as parasitic infections, Crohn’s disease and HIV/AIDS.
What possible complications gastritis can lead?
In case the condition is left untreated, it can lead to stomach bleeding and stomach ulcers. Rarely, few chronic forms of gastritis can increase the risk to develop stomach cancer. Remember, you must regularly update your doctor regarding your symptoms once the treatment of gastritis has started.
How is gastritis diagnosed?
By conducting an exam and obtaining the patient’s medical history can help the doctor diagnose gastritis. However, in order to identify the underlying cause, he may suggest certain tests such as:
- Endoscopy.
- Tests for Helicobacter pylori ( stool tests, breath test and blood test can help detect H.pylori, depending upon the situation, the doctor can suggest what type is best suited for the case).
- X-ray of your upper digestive system.
How is gastritis treated?
The treatment plan of the condition solely depends upon the triggering cause. Say, acute gastritis which is caused by alcohol or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can get relieved through avoiding the usage of such substances in future. However, the doctor can suggest antibiotics for chronic gastritis which is triggered by helicobacter pylori infection.
By : Natural Health News
