Article Summary

Gastritis is the inflammation of the stomach's mucous lining. Your stomach lining serves as a protective barrier against the stomach's daily influx of acids, enzymes, and microorganisms. Anytime the lining becomes inflamed, it indicates that the barrier is being attacked, either by an infection, something you've eaten or your body's own digestive juices. Gastritis can occur acutely (short-term) or chronically (long-term), and most people can recover completely with proper care.

What is Gastritis? Understanding Stomach Inflammation

The stomach lining (mucosa) shields your stomach from its own digestive enzymes and acids. Whenever your immune system identifies a potential threat to the barrier, it deploys inflammatory cells to the site to battle the infection and start repairing. This response is what leads to gastritis. There are two primary forms. Acute gastritis develops rapidly and is generally transitory; when you remove the source of the problem, the stomach lining usually repairs itself and symptoms disappear within a couple of days. Chronic gastritis progresses over time and is related to an underlying condition that persists. Additionally, there are two ways to describe gastritis: erosive and non-erosive.  

  1. Erosive gastritis involves physical wear and tear on the lining, resulting in ulcers.  

  1. Non-erosive gastritis produces inflammation and redness but doesn't break down the lining. A type of non-erosive gastritis called 'atrophic gastritis' erodes the lining over time, causing it to become thinner and more susceptible to breakdown. 

Common Gastritis Causes and Risk Factors

Gastritis occurs whenever a foreign substance or action compromises or harms the stomach lining, prompting an immune reaction. Common reasons for developing gastritis include bacterial infections, chemical exposure and autoimmune reactions. 

Bacterial infections are among the top reasons for developing both acute and chronic gastritis. H. pylori is specifically responsible for causing a high number of instances of both acute and chronic gastritis. Viral infections resulting from illnesses, such as "stomach flu," can cause a transient reaction in a person's stomach, which usually disappears on its own. Chemical exposures can also contribute to the development of acute gastritis. Excessive drinking of alcohol and taking large doses of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin or ibuprofen are two common reasons for developing acute gastritis. Other less common substances that can harm the stomach lining include certain illegal drugs like cocaine. Autoimmune gastritis occurs when a person's immune system misidentifies their own stomach lining cells as harmful and reacts against them. Gastritis can also occur as a result of significantly decreased blood flow to the stomach, occurring during major surgery, trauma or serious illness. Rare causes include bile reflux into the stomach, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. 

Identifying Gastritis Symptoms: From Acute to Chronic

Symptoms of gastritis may not be apparent. Even when they are, symptoms are usually indicative of significant enough damage to the stomach lining that it has lost some level of protection. The most frequently reported symptoms include upper mid-abdominal pain or bloating, loss of appetite, early satiety (feeling full soon after consuming a meal) and nausea/vomiting. 

Upper mid-abdominal pain usually feels like a dull ache unless an ulcer has formed in the stomach lining; then it may feel like a burning or gnawing sensation that may subside temporarily after eating. Blood from a bleeding ulcer may appear black in stools or vomited material, requiring immediate medical evaluation. 

Typically, acute gastritis appears rapidly and tends to be short-term. Sharp upper abdominal pain along with nausea, vomiting, and/or a rapid decline in appetite are typical signs of acute gastritis. Although these symptoms tend to emerge quickly in response to a specific stimulus such as an infectious agent invading the stomach, excessive ingestion of alcohol, or excessive NSAID usage, removal of the offending substance usually allows gastric recovery within a few days. Nevertheless, regardless of how you manage your symptoms using OTC treatments, you need to consult with a doctor so they can confirm that the root cause has been treated. 

Acute Gastritis Symptoms from Long-term Issues

Repeated episodes of acute gastritis can lead to an accumulation of irritation on your stomach lining, which can increase your risk of developing an ulcer. Your stomach lining will be more vulnerable after each episode because there will be less opportunity for full recovery between episodes. This type of continuous irritation may have started out as a temporary reaction to something (e.g., taking too many over-the-counter medications); however, it has the potential to grow into a long-term issue if the ongoing irritant is not stopped. 

For those individuals using pain medication containing Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) and/or drinking alcohol regularly, their stomach lining will continue to be exposed to chemicals that irritate the lining, causing damage. If left untreated, this continued exposure could result in thinning of the stomach lining, increasing one's risk of developing ulcers and possibly leading to gastrointestinal bleeding. 

Even though you may have been able to manage your acute symptoms with over-the-counter products, you should still visit a healthcare professional. Treating only your symptoms may not correct the original reason why you developed gastritis. The best approach to prevent future episodes of gastritis from occurring would be early treatment to identify the source of your issues and then stop it. This will help you avoid having multiple episodes of acute gastritis, potentially turning into chronic gastritis. 

Chronic Gastritis Symptoms and Warning Signs

Due to a gradual onset, chronic gastritis symptoms tend to be milder and more easily overlooked than those experienced in acute gastritis. Persistent bloating, continued nausea, an enduring sensation of being full following minimal consumption and prolonged discomfort in the upper portion of the abdomen are common symptoms exhibited in chronic gastritis. Since symptoms evolve slowly, many patients delay seeking treatment until significant damage has occurred. 

If left untreated, chronic gastritis can lead to severe consequences. Among the most dangerous complications are peptic ulcer disease, anaemia due to gastrointestinal haemorrhaging, and malabsorption of nutrients that include iron, folic acid and vitamin B12. In extremely rare cases, chronic gastritis may lead to alterations in the cells forming the stomach lining that are considered pre-carcinogenic, increasing the likelihood of stomach cancer. Therefore, all persistent or recurrent symptoms should be evaluated by a health care provider. 

Effective Gastritis Treatment and Medication Options

In addition to addressing the original reason for gastritis, treatment for both acute and chronic conditions relies heavily on reducing patient suffering while allowing the stomach lining sufficient time to heal. In treating acute gastritis, removing the source of the problem usually results in complete resolution; however, treatment with prescription medications may be recommended to alleviate symptoms while the stomach lining recovers. For example, PPIs (proton pump inhibitors) and antacids are commonly prescribed to neutralise stomach acidity and provide comfort to irritated areas on the stomach lining while healing takes place. When it comes to treating chronic gastritis, professional assistance is crucial. If H. pylori is determined to be the causative factor, antibiotic prescriptions given in combination with acid-reducing medications will be administered to eradicate the infection. If regular use of NSAIDs has resulted in gastritis, your provider will assist you in finding safer alternatives for controlling pain that do not irritate your stomach lining as severely. Targeted medications designed to suppress immune activity will be prescribed to treat autoimmune-related gastritis. While rare situations require surgical intervention for issues such as gastrointestinal bleeding or bile reflux, acid blockers will also be prescribed to stimulate deeper tissue repair. 

Lifestyle Changes and Diet for Gastritis Relief

In conjunction with medical treatment, changing one's diet/lifestyle habits plays a vital role in managing/guarding against future bouts of gastritis. By limiting/alleviating alcohol consumption, you eliminate one of the most common chemical inducements for gastritis. If you consume NSAIDs on a regular basis, discuss safer options for pain control with your provider that will cause less irritation to your stomach lining. 

By consuming smaller portions/frequencies of meals throughout a day, you decrease pressure on your stomach and possibly improve symptoms such as bloating and discomfort. Avoiding food items that are spicy/acidic/fatty when experiencing a bout of gastritis can also alleviate symptoms. Finally, practicing good hygiene/hand-washing prior to preparing food and after using restrooms can also aid in preventing transmission of H. Pylori and other infections that lead to gastritis. 

Conclusion

While gastritis is a common/treatable condition, it shouldn't be ignored. Regardless of whether you're experiencing a recent bout of acute gastritis or long-term chronic symptoms, knowing why you have gastritis is important for getting effective treatment. Using the appropriate treatments for your situation, along with making some lifestyle modifications, most people will successfully recover from their case of gastritis. 

Early detection and protecting your stomach lining from further harm are the best ways to avoid severe complications from untreated gastritis.