What is Gastritis?

Gastritis is an inflammation, irritation or erosion of the lining of the stomach. Inflammation of the stomach means that white blood cells move into the wall of the stomach as a response to an injury to the stomach. It can occur suddenly or gradually. The most common Gastritis symptoms are abdominal pain, loss of appetite, hiccups, indigestion, nausea, vomiting, and dark stools. Sometimes there are no symptoms at all. Up to 10% of people who come to a hospital emergency department with abdominal pain have gastritis.

What Causes Gastritis?

Gastritis can be caused by infection, irritation, autoimmune disorders, or backflow of bile into the stomach. Infections can be bacterial or viral. Irritation can also be caused by medications and medical and surgical conditions. Some of the common medications that may irritate your stomach are: aspirin or anti-inflammatory drugs. Other stomach irritants are: alcohol, chronic vomiting, physical stresses, social habits, excess gastric acid secretion, and eating poisons. Most people recover from gastritis. Depending on the many factors that affect your stomach lining, gastritis symptoms may flare up from time to time. Overall, gastritis is generally a common, mildly troubling condition that responds well to simple treatments.

How is Gastritis Diagnosed?

Gastritis symptoms are abdominal pain, loss of appetite, hiccups, indigestion, nausea, vomiting, and dark stools. If you have these symptoms, you may want to consult for physician for a diagnosis. Your physician will review your personal and family medical history, habits and lifestyle, and the medications you take and give you a thorough evaluation. This information is enough to make the diagnosis in many people. If unclear, your physician may recommend a series of tests such as and upper endoscopy, blood tests, or a fecal occult blood test (stool test). No laboratory tests can pinpoint a diagnosis of gastritis, but it is probably to rule out certain medical conditions. If all other possibilities are ruled out, that leaves gastritis as the most likely cause of your symptoms.

Is there a treatment for Gastritis?

The best way to prevent developing gastritis is to avoid long-term use of irritants, such as aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs, and alcohol. You may want to consider taking some preventative measures, such as practicing good eating habits, maintaining a healthy weight, get plenty of exercise, limiting or avoiding alcohol, Stress should be controlled and treated as much as possible, and not smoking. Treatment of gastritis varies from person to person and depends on the specific cause. For most types of gastritis, reduction of stomach acid is helpful. Most treatments aim at reducing symptoms. Your stomach often will heal over time if it is protected.

What triggers Gastritis?

Most people are fairly aware of their triggers before getting medical attention. If you do not know your triggers, your doctor or nutritionist can help you figure them out. Some common avoidable triggers to cause a flare up are certain medications and poisons, such as Aspirin, cigarette smoking, alcohol, Coffee and other beverages that contain caffeine, such as cola and tea. Over eating or eating spicy food may also contribute to causing symptoms of Gastritis. Avoid those things that irritate your stomach.