Gastritis
Gastritis, or 'dyspepsia,' is inflammation of the stomach lining. It belongs to a group of digestive disorders that cause stomach lining inflammation, and it typically is caused by injury, alcohol abuse, stress, chronic vomiting, or overuse of certain pain relievers such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Gastritis can also be caused by certain bacteria such as Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), infections, forms of anemia, and autoimmune disorders. Eating certain foods can often exacerbate the pain associated with gastritis, and proper diet should be followed with avoidance of certain foods.
It is estimated that two out of every 10,000 people in the United States today suffer from chronic gastritis, which is long lasting, while many more, roughly eight in every 1,000, suffer from acute gastritis, which is a brief and sudden occurrence. Sufferers of chronic gastritis can have mild symptoms, severe symptoms, or even no symptoms, and symptoms can occur on a daily or weekly basis. Those suffering with acute gastritis experience intense symptoms that come on suddenly. If you have any of the following symptoms, you should contact a doctor of gastroenterology (physician who specializes in digestive disorders) for diagnosis and treatment, as untreated gastritis can lead to serious health problems.
Symptoms
Many of the symptoms of gastritis can be the same symptoms caused by other digestive disorders, especially those that inflame the stomach lining. The most common symptoms include abdominal pain, abdominal bloating or fullness, indigestion, belching, hiccups, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, vomiting blood, black or tarry stools, and vomiting material with a coffee-ground consistency.
Diagnosis
There are a variety of tests that GI doctors can recommend and perform to diagnose gastritis. These include endoscopy, stool test, and blood test.
Endoscopy
During an endoscopy, your gastro doctor will ease an endoscope, which is a thin tube containing a tiny camera, through your mouth and down into your stomach in order to explore your stomach lining. During this examination, your gastro doctor will be looking for the inflammation that occurs with gastritis. Your doctor may also perform a biopsy, which is a procedure to obtain a very small tissue sample. This sample of tissue will then be sent for analysis at a laboratory which can confirm inflammation.
Stool test
Your GI doctor may need to obtain a stool sample, which will be tested for the presence of blood.
Blood test
A blood test is used to check red blood cell count, which will determine if you suffer from anemia, meaning there are not enough red blood cells in your body. Your doctor may also recommend blood tests to measure the levels of certain vitamins and minerals such as vitamin B12. As gastritis can cause malabsorption of vital nutrients, low levels of some nutrients may be detected.
Treatment
One of the first steps to relieving gastritis can be lifestyle changes, including dietary alterations. Many foods, especially those found in the typical American diet, can exacerbate the pain and inflammation of gastritis. Eliminating caffeine, acidic fruits and juices, and alcohol that can aggravate gastric pain will help to relieve symptoms. Altering diet, for example, by choosing leafy vegetables over fried foods or oatmeal and cream of wheat over high grains can reduce gastric inflammation and pain. In addition, exercising on a regular basis, learning effective methods for managing stress, and maintaining a healthy weight can all improve digestive health, which can ease the symptoms of gastritis.
Medications can often help to ease gastritis. For milder symptoms, some over-the-counter antacids can effectively neutralize acid in the stomach, relieving pain. If symptoms are chronic or more acute, prescription medications such as Tagamet, Zantac, or Pepcid can help. In some patients who suffer from severe gastritis, Prevacid, Nexium, or Prilosec may be prescribed. For gastritis that is caused by bacteria such as H. pylori, a gastro doctor will likely prescribe antibiotics.
Although gastritis is not generally a life-threatening illness, its effects can lead to more serious gastrointestinal diseases. Untreated gastritis can cause bleeding ulcers to develop within the stomach, as well as thinning of the stomach lining which will increase the risk of developing stomach cancer. Thankfully, most gastritis sufferers experience relief once treatment is started. If you suffer from the symptoms of gastritis, it is important to make an appointment with a GI doctor in your area for diagnosis and treatment of digestive problems.
It is estimated that two out of every 10,000 people in the United States today suffer from chronic gastritis, which is long lasting, while many more, roughly eight in every 1,000, suffer from acute gastritis, which is a brief and sudden occurrence. Sufferers of chronic gastritis can have mild symptoms, severe symptoms, or even no symptoms, and symptoms can occur on a daily or weekly basis. Those suffering with acute gastritis experience intense symptoms that come on suddenly. If you have any of the following symptoms, you should contact a doctor of gastroenterology (physician who specializes in digestive disorders) for diagnosis and treatment, as untreated gastritis can lead to serious health problems.
Symptoms
Many of the symptoms of gastritis can be the same symptoms caused by other digestive disorders, especially those that inflame the stomach lining. The most common symptoms include abdominal pain, abdominal bloating or fullness, indigestion, belching, hiccups, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, vomiting blood, black or tarry stools, and vomiting material with a coffee-ground consistency.
Diagnosis
There are a variety of tests that GI doctors can recommend and perform to diagnose gastritis. These include endoscopy, stool test, and blood test.
Endoscopy
During an endoscopy, your gastro doctor will ease an endoscope, which is a thin tube containing a tiny camera, through your mouth and down into your stomach in order to explore your stomach lining. During this examination, your gastro doctor will be looking for the inflammation that occurs with gastritis. Your doctor may also perform a biopsy, which is a procedure to obtain a very small tissue sample. This sample of tissue will then be sent for analysis at a laboratory which can confirm inflammation.
Stool test
Your GI doctor may need to obtain a stool sample, which will be tested for the presence of blood.
Blood test
A blood test is used to check red blood cell count, which will determine if you suffer from anemia, meaning there are not enough red blood cells in your body. Your doctor may also recommend blood tests to measure the levels of certain vitamins and minerals such as vitamin B12. As gastritis can cause malabsorption of vital nutrients, low levels of some nutrients may be detected.
Treatment
One of the first steps to relieving gastritis can be lifestyle changes, including dietary alterations. Many foods, especially those found in the typical American diet, can exacerbate the pain and inflammation of gastritis. Eliminating caffeine, acidic fruits and juices, and alcohol that can aggravate gastric pain will help to relieve symptoms. Altering diet, for example, by choosing leafy vegetables over fried foods or oatmeal and cream of wheat over high grains can reduce gastric inflammation and pain. In addition, exercising on a regular basis, learning effective methods for managing stress, and maintaining a healthy weight can all improve digestive health, which can ease the symptoms of gastritis.
Medications can often help to ease gastritis. For milder symptoms, some over-the-counter antacids can effectively neutralize acid in the stomach, relieving pain. If symptoms are chronic or more acute, prescription medications such as Tagamet, Zantac, or Pepcid can help. In some patients who suffer from severe gastritis, Prevacid, Nexium, or Prilosec may be prescribed. For gastritis that is caused by bacteria such as H. pylori, a gastro doctor will likely prescribe antibiotics.
Although gastritis is not generally a life-threatening illness, its effects can lead to more serious gastrointestinal diseases. Untreated gastritis can cause bleeding ulcers to develop within the stomach, as well as thinning of the stomach lining which will increase the risk of developing stomach cancer. Thankfully, most gastritis sufferers experience relief once treatment is started. If you suffer from the symptoms of gastritis, it is important to make an appointment with a GI doctor in your area for diagnosis and treatment of digestive problems.