Acute gastritis causes pain to the touch in the upper abdomen, nausea and vomiting. Treatment is usually not necessary.
If the gastric mucosa is chronically inflamed, problems often do not occur for several years. Every now and then there is a feeling of satiety, lack of appetite and especially after eating a feeling of tension and pain in the abdomen. Gastric ulcer is a possible consequence of such chronic inflammation.
Self-help is definitely possible!
Who can be affected by the disease?
The lining of the entire stomach produces important stomach acid for digestion. At the same time, special cells in the mucosa protect the skin from this aggressive acid. If too much acid is produced or if the thyroid cells do not work properly, the acid can directly attack the mucous membranes, causing inflammation.
Acute inflammation of the gastric mucosa is often the result of a gastrointestinal infection with certain germs, excessive drinking of alcohol, richly coated and fatty foods, or excessive smoking, and can occur as a side effect of some medications.
Helicobacter pylori is responsible for chronic gastritis in 85 percent of infections. This bacterium is transmitted through contaminated food, contaminated water and from person to person, often as early as childhood. It settles in the gastric mucosa and excretes toxic substances. It is estimated that every third person is infected. Inflammation of the gastric mucosa or gastric ulcer or duodenal ulcer occurs in only one in five infected people.
Currently, experts are dealing with the question of whether hereditary traits are responsible for the disease, whether some types of bacteria are more aggressive than others, and if stressful situations can confuse the body's complex defense system to such an extent that germs cause problems.
Stress in any form can literally hit your stomach. This also weakens the immune system and can no longer defend the call so well. In addition, some people who are under a lot of pressure tend to smoke more, eat fast, drink more alcohol, and take sedatives and hypnotics, which further attacks the gastric mucosa.
In 5 to 10 percent, the disease is caused by constant stimuli - mostly due to the frequent use of painkillers or anti-inflammatory drugs, such as anti-rheumatic drugs or acetylsalicylic acid. These active ingredients damage the gastric mucosa in the long run and weaken its ability to defend itself against stomach acid.
Less commonly, autoimmune disease is the cause of inflammation of the gastric mucosa: when, due to improper regulation, the immune system turns against the protective cells in the stomach.
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Can gastritis be avoided?
Helicobacter pylori infection cannot be defended, as the germ is very widespread and there is currently no effective vaccine. It is also unavoidable to develop autoimmune disease.
Anyone who needs to take medication to relieve pain or inflammation should alert their doctor if they have stomach problems. Occasionally, other agents that are less harmful to the stomach may be used, and occasionally your doctor may prescribe medications that clear the stomach lining.
It is not possible to completely avoid small everyday problems. However, there are many opportunities for relaxation, which help us to look at life more relaxed and stressful situations do not throw us off track.
What can those affected do themselves?
Light diet. In a light diet, we replace highly spicy and heavily roasted meat or fried dishes with healthier foods. This is just as helpful in gastritis as quitting smoking, iced carbonated drinks and high-alcohol (this includes herbal liqueurs, which also attack the gastric mucosa). Smaller meals and the time we have to take to eat in peace and slowly have a positive effect.
Teas. There is very little scientific evidence, but some herbal teas (chamomile, lemon balm or mallow tea) are said to alleviate inflammation and thus pain. Flax seeds also have a positive effect on pain: soak one tablespoon of crushed seeds in a quarter liter of water overnight, eat on an empty stomach the next morning.
Decisions with the help of a doctor
Acute gastritis usually does not need to be treated and disappears on its own after a few days - especially if there are short-term problems. However, if the problem recurs, a medical examination is needed because untreated chronic inflammation of the gastric mucosa can lead to gastric ulcers, and in rare cases to gastric cancer.
A definitive diagnosis can only be made by gastroscopy and by taking tissue samples.
Drug treatment. If an infection is found, germs are removed in 80 to 90 percent of cases within a week of treatment with a combination of two antibiotics and a stomach acid-lowering agent. It is important that medications are taken regularly so that germs do not become resistant to antibiotics. However, problems can remain even when the call is no longer in the body. If other organic causes can be ruled out, the reason for this is usually an upset stomach.
If there is no infection, the medication reduces the production of stomach acid, which in turn reduces the irritation of the gastric mucosa.
Autoimmune disease as a cause cannot yet be treated; this rare form of chronic gastritis also prevents the digestive system from obtaining vitamin B from food, 2. To avoid pernicious anemia, vitamin B'2 should be injected intramuscularly every quarter. However, in order to detect possible cancers in time and start treatment, it is important in these cases to perform a gastroscopy every year (or at least every two years).
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Medications
Medicines for the stomach
Medicines for stomach problems are the third most commonly used drugs. Many are also available without a prescription, but it is not recommended to take them for a long time without knowing the causes of the problems.
Proton pump inhibitors
Pill-shaped proton pump inhibitors are currently the most common means because they are the most effective. They inhibit the production of an enzyme released by the gastric mucosa, so-called proton pumps, which also inhibits the formation of acid. They should be taken in the morning before breakfast. In some cases, side effects occur: headache, abdominal pain, nausea or diarrhea, and in some people, an allergic reaction or depression may occur. In case of gastritis, these medicines should be taken for four to eight weeks.
H2 receptor blockers
H2-receptor blockers also - but with other mechanisms of action - reduce the production of stomach acid. It is best to take them in the evening, and the client's effects include headache, dizziness and allergic reactions.
Recently, the importance of H2-receptor blockers in favor of proton pump inhibitors has declined sharply, as their effect subsides fairly quickly and inflammation is not completely cured.
Antacids
Antacids, which are mostly in the form of a white liquid or powder dissolved in water, contain aluminum and magnesium compounds and bind stomach acid. It is most binding two hours after a meal, and soft stools are among the most common side effects (there is very little chance of kidney stones). For long-term therapy, these agents are only suitable in some cases.
Sodium bicarbonate
Chemical neutralization of gastric acid is not recommended despite its high prevalence. The pain caused by the acid disappears very quickly at first, and the stomach responds to this change with increased acid secretion - things start to spin in a vicious circle.
Remember: You can help yourself preventively with some nutritional supplements and medical devices > >
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