Last month, Armand had a stomach problem after attending a party. He thought of indigestion since he had eaten a lot of food. But two days later, he had this burning or gnawing feeling in his stomach between meals.
But the worse came one morning. “When I woke up after coming from duty plus night out with my co-workers,” he recalled, “my stomach really felt bad.
As I was the only one in the house that time and I still have to rest since I still have a duty supposedly that afternoon, I can’t really rest because the pain was so severe.
I tried to remove bowels and it did work a little but I was nauseating so I also tried doing that again but nothing came out as I had not eaten anything yet.”
That day, he decided to see a physician. After hearing his woes, the doctor inserted a thin tube containing a tiny camera through the mouth and down into the stomach. The doctor also performed various blood tests.
And finally, he checked the presence of blood in his stool.
When Armand returned three days later to check what he was suffering from, the doctor looked at him closely and told him, “You have gastritis.”
Gastritis is an inflammation of the lining of the stomach. There are many possible causes of this disorder, which can occur suddenly (acute gastritis) or gradually (chronic gastritis).
The stomach lining may be “eaten away,” leading to sores (peptic ulcers) in the stomach or first part of the small intestine. Left untreated, these ulcers may bleed.
Health experts claim gastritis can be caused by irritation due to excessive alcohol use, chronic vomiting, stress, or the use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (also known as NSAIDs) such as aspirin and ibuprofen.
NSAIDs reduce prostaglandin, a substance that protects the stomach. These drugs used in a short period of time are not typically dangerous. However, regular use can lead to gastritis.
Gastritis may also be caused by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and pernicious anemia. H. pylori are bacteria that live in the mucous lining of the stomach.
Without treatment, the infection can lead to ulcers, and in some people, stomach cancer. Pernicious anemia, on the other hand, is a form of anemia that that occurs when the stomach lacks a naturally occurring substance needed to properly absorb and digest vitamin B12.
Sometimes gastritis develops after major surgery, traumatic injury, burns, or severe infections. For instance, bile — normally used to aid digestion in the small intestine – will enter through the pyloric valve of the stomach, because it had been removed during surgery or may not work properly. This also leads to gastritis.
Gastritis may also be caused by other medical conditions, including human immunodeficiency virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS), Crohn’s disease, certain connective tissue disorders, or liver/kidney failure.
Regardless of common misconceptions, gastritis is not related to the skin and nervous condition “gastroitus,” which can affect the spinal cord as well as nerve endings in the lower half of the cerebral cortex.
Gastroitus can be identified as a series of inflamed marks on the hand, and is most certainly, not in any way related.
Symptoms of gastritis vary among individuals. In many people there are no symptoms, such as an absence of vomiting or pain, until they are suddenly taken ill with internal bleeding.
Pain in the upper abdomen is the most common symptom, according to doctors. The pain is usually in the upper central portion of the abdomen, which is considered the “pit” of the stomach.
Gastritis pain can occur in the left upper portion of the abdomen and in the back. The pain seems to travel from the belly to the back. The pain is typically vague, but can be a sharp pain.
Belching either doesn’t relieve pain or only relieves it for a moment. The vomit may be clear, green or yellow, has a bloody streak in it, or is completely bloody, depending on the severity of inflammation.
Bloating and a feeling of fullness or burning in the upper abdomen are also signs of moderate gastritis.
Severe gastritis presents pallor, sweating, rapid heart beat, feeling faint or short of breath, severe chest or stomach pain, vomiting large amounts of blood, or bloody or dark, sticky, foul-smelling bowel movements.
Some studies have shown that masking the pain can be achieved by sitting in a hot shower.
Treatment of gastritis depends on the cause of the problem. The cure for gastritis caused by ingesting irritating substances is to stop the long-term use of these substances: alcohol, tobacco, acidic beverages such as coffee (both caffeinated and decaffeinated), carbonated beverages, and fruit juices with citric acid.
High fat foods (which increase inflammation in the stomach lining, at least from animal studies) must be avoided. If you’re taking NSAIDs, switch to other pain relievers like acetaminophen.
Those with gastritis caused by H. pylori, the doctor may prescribe three different medications. “Triple therapy” (including a proton pump inhibitor to reduce acid production and two antibiotics to get rid of the organism) is commonly used to treat H. pylori-related gastritis and ulcers.
Instead of one of the antibiotics, bismuth salicylate may be the third medication recommended. This drug, available over the counter, coats and soothes the stomach, protecting it from the damaging effects of acid.
In the past, doctors used to recommend eating bland foods with milk and only small amounts of food with each meal. It is now know that these eating habits are not necessary for the treatment of gastritis and ulcers. However, following these nutritional tips may help reduce symptoms:
• Eat foods containing flavonoids (like apples, celery, onions, and garlic) which reportedly inhibit the growth of H. pylori. Foods that are high in B-vitamins and calcium, such as beans, whole grains (if no allergy), and dark leafy greens (such malunggay) are also recommended.
• Avoid refined foods, such as white breads, pastas, and especially sugar. Eat fewer red meats and more lean meats, tofu, or beans for protein. Use healthy oils, such as olive oil or vegetable oil.
• Reduce or eliminate trans-fatty acids, found in commercially baked goods such as cookies, crackers, cakes, French fries, onion rings, donuts, processed foods, and margarine.
• Drink 6-8 glasses of water daily. Avoid beverages that can irritate the lining of the stomach or increase acid production including coffee (with or without caffeine), alcohol, and carbonated beverages.
The information mentioned here are for educational purpose only. So, before doing anything, be sure to see your doctor first.
For comments, write me at henrytacio@gmail.com
