Navigating Through Gastritis: Prevention and Care

What is it?

Gastritis is a common medical problem. It is defined as an inflammation of the lining of the stomach. This inflammation can be due to multiple causes that result in gastritis. Depending on its duration in time, it can be an acute gastritis (it occurs quickly and resolves in a few days) or chronic (it persists over time).

How is it produced?

There are a large number of causes that can cause gastritis. The common mechanism in all of them is an imbalance between the triggers or factors that favor it and the defense mechanisms that protect the stomach wall, which ultimately result in damage to the gastric mucosa.

Acute gastritis is often associated with serious illness (such as liver and kidney problems), major surgery, trauma, and significant physiological stress. It can also be caused by infections by bacteria (Helicobacter pylori), viruses and fungi, alcohol use, drugs (such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids), radiation therapy, and bile reflux (passage of bile into the stomach).

Chronic gastritis can be due to the same causes, although it lasts over time. Important erosions in the gastric mucosa and bleeding may appear. It is also associated with the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), Helicobacter pylori infection, and autoimmune diseases such as pernicious anemia. It is a type of anemia in which the stomach cannot absorb vitamin B12, because the antibodies attack the stomach lining causing it to become thin.

Symptoms

Gastritis can be a chance finding when one is done for another reason. There may be inflammation without symptoms. Gastritis can be manifested by a variety of digestive symptoms, the most common being pain in the upper abdomen or digestive discomfort (a term known as dyspepsia).

The variety of symptoms can include nausea, burning, vomiting, feeling of fullness, bloating, belching, and decreased appetite. If there is bleeding due to inflammation, vomiting with black blood or black stools due to digested blood may appear.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis is based on the symptoms reported by the patient and the findings, after endoscopy, of an inflammation of the mucosa. The different diagnostic tests include:

• which may show anemia;
• Detection of blood in stool (in case there is digestive bleeding);
• Helicobacter pylori detection test. It is usually performed, very accurate for the detection of the Helicobacter bacteria. It basically consists of drinking a viscous liquid and then blowing into a small tube;
• The diagnostic test that confirms gastritis is the performance of an endoscopy, that is, the introduction of a flexible tube through the mouth that allows the gastric mucosa and the degree of inflammation to be directly visualized. In addition, samples of the mucosa (biopsy) can be taken and see if there is bleeding.

Treatment

Treatment will depend on the cause of gastritis. Some gastritis can heal spontaneously. All possible risk factors must be eliminated. If necessary, the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs as well as other aggravating factors such as alcohol, tobacco, coffee and caffeinated beverages should be discontinued.

Treatment with drugs is generally indicated to neutralize stomach acid or reduce its production and thus eliminate symptoms and promote healing. The drugs commonly used are gastric antacids and protectants, H2 receptor antagonists or proton pump inhibitors. The latter block the secretion of acid by the stomach (they are the most powerful).

There is no specific treatment except for those gastritis secondary to H.pylori infection and chronic atrophic gastritis caused by pernicious anemia that is treated with.

If there is an H. pylori infection, the goal is to eradicate the bacteria causing the problem. Treatment is based on the use of a proton pump inhibitor to inhibit stomach acid, combined with antibiotics. It is administered for a few days, after which the food test is usually repeated to verify that the H. pylori infection has disappeared. If this has not been achieved, a new treatment regimen can be repeated.

It is advisable to follow a proper diet in which you should avoid eating foods and beverages that aggravate symptoms.

Prevention

Following a healthy and balanced diet, avoiding alcohol and tobacco consumption, not taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs except in cases indicated by your doctor, and using gastric protectors in risky situations can prevent episodes of gastritis. MAPFRE's Health Insurance includes a Telephone Nutritional Assistant service, through which a team specialized in nutrition can guide you in a personalized way on this and other issues.

• It usually manifests with pain in the upper abdomen or digestive discomfort. There may also be burning, vomiting, nausea ...
• Some gastritis heal spontaneously. In the rest, the treatment will depend on the cause (serious illness, major surgery, infection, alcohol, drugs ...)
• Following a healthy and balanced diet, avoiding alcohol and tobacco, not taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs without a prescription, and using gastric protectors can prevent episodes of gastritis.

Intensive Medicine Specialist