Imagine angry children. If you ignore them and continue doing things with them as usual, you will only irritate them and make the situation worse.
Gastritis is your stomach being angry. It is an inflammation of the lining of your stomach. Just like an angry child, an irritated stomach will make your life miserable and just as with the child, you should take time and effort to make peace with your stomach.
Gastritis can cause uncomfortable symptoms such as:
• Gnawing or burning pain in the upper abdomen
• Pain may become better or worse after eating
• Nausea and vomiting
• Recurrent stomach upset
• Bloating
• Indigestion
• Hiccups
Gastritis should never be ignored. Listen to its complaints and do your best to appease it to cure your symptoms.
The main cause of gastritis is the weakening of the mucus lined barrier due to injury, infection or old age. When the barrier becomes weak, stomach acid and digestive juices irritate the stomach lining causing gastritis.
Causes of gastritis include:
• Bacterial infection in people made vulnerable by unhealthy lifestyle choices including smoking
• Regular use or overdose of over-the-counter painkillers which damage the stomach lining
• Excessive drinking of alcohol which erodes the stomach lining
• Severe stress due to medical or psychological reasons
• Autoimmune disease that causes your body to attack the stomach lining
• Other medical conditions such as Crohn’s disease, parasitic infections etc.
Changing lifestyles and increasing stress make everyone vulnerable to gastritis, but usually it gets better in a few days. However, if your symptoms get worse or persist for longer than a week, you should consult a doctor. If your symptoms are severe or if there is blood in your vomit or stools, do not wait for it to get better. Consult your doctor immediately. If left untreated chronic gastritis can lead to panful stomach ulcers.
Gastritis can be completely cured with the right treatment.
Treatment will depend on the cause of gastritis. Options include:
• Antibiotics to treat bacterial infections
• Medications to block or limit production of acid and promote healing of the damaged lining
• Medications to neutralize stomach acid
• Bland and healthy diet
Acute gastritis happens suddenly due to a specific trigger. Treating it and avoiding the trigger will prevent future attacks.
Chronic gastritis progress slowly and persists for longer periods. Treatment and preventive action will help cure the condition and prevent further episodes.
If you get frequent attacks of gastritis, you should take preventive steps.
Tips to prevent gastritis:
• Avoid spicy and oily foods
• Avoid acidic foods such as citrus fruits and tomatoes
• Eat smaller meals but more frequently instead of one large meal
• Avoid or limit caffeinated food products including coffee
• Avoid painkillers
• Ask your doctor for alternate prescription if your medicines are causing gastritis
• Wait for at least 2 hours after a meal before you go to bed
• Avoid consuming alcohol and smoking
• Take steps to manage stress
If you have any digestive problem, do not hesitate to seek help. With the right diagnosis and treatment, you can calm down your digestive system for a healthy and happy life.
