Hello, welcome back to Adoración Linares' blog. In this article, we'll be discussing gastritis: its causes, treatments that improve the condition, and foods you should eat if you suffer from gastritis.
What is gastritis?
Strictly speaking, gastritis is a formal medical term for a diagnosis made by a pathologist when evidence of inflammation and damage to the stomach lining is observed. And it may sound strange to say this, but in the true usage of the term, "gastritis"—at least the chronic type (see below)—does not usually cause episodes of indigestion.
There are two types of gastritis, acute and chronic.
What is acute gastritis?
Acute gastritis refers to the sudden onset of inflammation of the stomach lining, called the gastric mucosa. When a gastroenterologist performs an endoscopy, the lining appears reddened, and many acute inflammatory cells (primarily white blood cells, called leukocytes) can be observed in the samples.
There may be small surface breaks in the lining, called acute erosions ("erosive gastritis"), and even small areas of bleeding.
What is chronic gastritis?
Chronic gastritis refers to persistent, but low-grade, inflammation and damage to the stomach lining. The gastric mucosa thins as normal cells are destroyed. The inflammatory cells include lymphocytes, indicating an immune response. This is very common, especially in less developed countries. When present for many years, the mucosal changes can progress to a stage called chronic gastritis. metaplasia, with a small increase in the risk of gastric cancer.
What causes gastritis?
Causes of acute gastritis
Acute gastritis is caused by acute irritants that overload the mucous lining that normally protects the stomach lining. Irritants include aspirin or other NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), toxins (including hard alcohol), and certain infections, including the early stages of Helicobacter pylori infection. The inflammation usually resolves quickly once the irritant is removed.
What is Helicobacter pylori?
Helicobacter pylori (or H. pylori) is one of the many bacteria commonly found in the stomach. In fact, it's estimated that more than half the world's population carries this bacterium, and most people never experience any problems. However, an H. pylori infection can increase the risk of developing stomach cancer, gastritis, and/or peptic ulcers.
Causes of chronic gastritis
Although chronic gastritis is usually the result of a Helicobacter pylori (or H. pylori) infection, there are other possible causes of this disease, including:
- an autoimmune disease;
- rare specific infections (e.g., HIV/AIDS)
- Crohn's disease
- gastric surgeries that increase the stomach's exposure to bile
What are the symptoms of gastritis?
Symptoms of acute gastritis
Acute gastritis usually causes acute stomach discomfort in the upper abdomen, as the body tries to get rid of the irritant.
Other symptoms may include:
- nausea and vomiting
- Bloating and gas
- weight loss and/or loss of appetite
Symptoms of chronic gastritis
In the vast majority of cases, chronic gastritis causes no symptoms. When the damage to the lining is severe and long-lasting, the stomach loses its ability to produce acid. This can lead to digestive problems.
The ability to secrete a substance called intrinsic factor, which is necessary for the absorption of the important vitamin B12, is also lost. vitamin B12 deficiency This eventually leads to a disease called pernicious anemia. The patient presents with:
- fatigue
- anemia
- (rarely) symptoms in the extremities such as numbness or tingling
The diagnosis is easily confirmed by blood tests.
How is gastritis diagnosed?
Diagnosis of acute gastritis
When the symptoms of acute gastritis are severe enough to warrant a visit to the doctor, a diagnosis can usually be made based solely on the patient's history. However, direct examination of the stomach lining using an upper endoscopy—also known as an EGD (or esophagogastroduodenoscopy)—may be necessary if the problem persists or bleeding occurs. Inflammatory changes are typically confined to the stomach and do not extend to the first part of the small intestine, called the duodenum.
Other tests, such as blood tests, X-rays, and scans, are not usually necessary for diagnosis unless another disease is suspected during the investigation.
Diagnosis of chronic gastritis
Chronic gastritis is diagnosed by examining a sample (biopsy) of the stomach lining. This sample is usually taken during an upper endoscopy. Blood tests and Helicobacter pylori testing may also be necessary.
How is gastritis treated?
Treatment of acute gastritis
The most important part of treating acute gastritis is, obviously, eliminating the irritant when it is found. Simple antacid medications are helpful in reducing the amount of acid in the stomach.
If symptoms do not resolve quickly or if vomiting contains blood, a doctor should be consulted for further investigation and more sophisticated treatment. When an H. pylori infection is diagnosed, treatment consists of antibiotics, often in combination, for up to two weeks. Most cases resolve quickly unless the irritant or the infection is not eliminated.
Treatment of chronic gastritis
Eliminating any causative infection (usually H. pylori) with antibiotics is important to prevent the progression of chronic gastritis, but the stomach lining rarely returns to normal.
Patients with severe mucosal changes (i.e., precancerous changes in the cellular lining of the stomach) may need an upper endoscopy approximately every year to detect and treat lesions that can develop into cancer.
Foods to eat when suffering from gastritis
Some of the foods and drinks that help relieve the symptoms of gastritis are:
- rich in fiber, such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables and legumes
- low in fat, such as fish, lean meats, and vegetables
- low-acid foods, such as vegetables and legumes
- non-carbonated drinks
- caffeine-free drinks
Conclusions
In summary, acute gastritis is usually caused by an irritant or infection, and can cause acute stomach discomfort, but it usually resolves quickly with simple treatments when the cause is eliminated.
Chronic gastritis is a condition in which the stomach lining is damaged over the long term, often due to an H. pylori infection. When it is of this type, it does not usually cause indigestion or pain, but severe damage can lead to anemia due to vitamin B12 deficiency.
I hope you found this article helpful. For more information, please don't hesitate to contact me. Best regards, and see you soon on Adoración Linares' blog.
