Discover effective ways to deal with gastritis

Gastritis is an inflammation of the stomach lining, leading to indigestion and possible bleeding in the digestive tract. It can be severe and acute. We'll go over the illness and offer some tips to ease the discomfort.

• Chronic inflammation can occur with long-term use of certain medications (such as aspirin and arthritis drugs), gastrointestinal disorders (such as Crohn's disease), alcoholism, or viral infections.
• It's recently been discovered that many cases of gastritis are caused by the bacterium Helicobacter pylori. This organism has also been linked to peptic ulcers and is the only germ currently known to be able to survive in the acidic environment of the human stomach.

• Gastritis is more common with age and most sufferers complain of indigestion, heartburn, nausea, and belching.
• Some people have no noticeable symptoms, which can be dangerous if gastritis is caused by erosion of the stomach lining with bleeding.
• Usually, people with acute gastritis caused by illness or injury have already been hospitalized for treatment of their underlying condition. Therefore, symptoms of gastritis should be managed in the course of their intensive care.

• Avoid spicy or acidic foods. Although foods are not the cause of gastritis, people with symptoms should avoid foods which can irritate the stomach lining.
• You should also avoid fatty foods, tomato-based products, chocolate, beverages containing caffeine, decaffeinated tea and coffee, peppermint, and alcohol. These foods relax the valve between the stomach and oesophagus and make it easier for the stomach contents to back up into the oesophagus, causing further irritation.
• If you need a pain reliever, ask your doctor to prescribe a non-irritating alternative to aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). For gastritis caused by H. pylori, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics.
• Antacids can sometimes soothe the irritation until the inflammation subsides.

Gastritis is a difficult and potentially dangerous condition. Use these tips to ease your pain, but don't forget to visit your doctor, as they'll be able to provide other effective treatments as well. With the right intervention, gastritis can usually be remedied.