Gastritis Explained In Detail

Gastritis is an erosion, irritation, or inflammation of your stomachs lining. It can gradually occur or suddenly show its head.

Excessive alcohol use can cause you to gain irritation and this can lead to Gastritis. Additionally, chronic vomiting and stress can lead to Gastritis. Furthermore, different types of medication like anti-inflammatory medication or aspirin can also lead to Gastritis.

The following can also cause you to gain Gastritis:
• An infection that was caused by viruses and/or bacteria.
• Bile reflux; a backflow of your bile into your stomach that comes from your bile tract. It connects your gallbladder to your liver.
• Helicobacter pylori, also known as H. Pylori. It is a type of bacteria that thrives in the mucous lining of your stomach. If not treated it can cause ulcers or stomach cancer.
If you do not treat gastritis, it can cause you to lose a lot of blood. It can also increase your risks of stomach cancer.

Because everyone is different, the Gastritis symptoms differ from one person to another. A lot of people do not even experience any symptoms at all.
However, here are a few of the most popular symptoms:
• Black, tarry stools
• Vomiting coffee ground-like material or blood
• Loss of appetite
• Hiccups
• Gnawing or burning feeling in your stomach at night or in between meals
• Indigestion
• Vomiting
• Abdominal pain
• Abdominal bloating
• Recurring upset stomach or nausea

The doctor will have a look at your family medical history and your personal medical history to diagnose gastritis. Your doctor will also take a thorough physical evaluation.
He/she will most likely perform the following tests:
• Upper endoscopy, this is a tiny, thin tube that has a small camera attached to the tip of it. It will be inserted into your mouth down towards your stomach; this is to give your doctors the opportunity to have a look at your stomach lining. Your doctor might perform a biopsy and he/she will verify to check for any inflammation. A biopsy is a procedure that consists of your doctor collecting a specimen of tissue and then sending it away to a laboratory where it will be analyzed.
• Blood tests, your doctor may prefer to do different types of blood tests to check for gastritis. One of these tests will be to check your blood cells for anemia, this means that you don’t have the needed amount of red blood cells in your body. Your doctor could check for H. Pylori infection and also screen for pernicious anemia using the blood tests.
• Fecal occult blood test, also known as a stool test. This is a test the checks the amount of blood that you have in your urine, which is one of the symptoms of gastritis.

Gastritis treatments include the following:
• Using antacids, as well as other types of drugs to lessen stomach acid. These include H-2 blockers and proton pump inhibitors.
• Avoiding spicy and hot foods.
• If H. Pylori caused your gastritis, then your doctor may subscribe different antibiotics that you can use, as well as acid-blocking drugs that are commonly used for heartburn.
• You will be given vitamin B12 shots if your gastritis was caused by pernicious anemia.
• Try to remove irritating foods from your daily diet like gluten from wheat and chocolate from dairy.

Gastritis usually disappears when the underlying problems are sorted. Make sure to check with your doctor, especially before using any new medication.

There are a variety of options available for treatment and your doctor is the one who will be able to assist.