Gastritis involves inflammation of the stomach lining. Generally, once the stomach lining is inflamed, it is raw, irritated and painful.
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This condition can arise once the stomach lining is damaged or infected. Some of the usual causes include:
- Excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages
- H. pylori bacterial infection
- Stress from injuries or accidents such as vehicular accidents, sustaining serious burns or had a severe infection
- Using steroids such as prednisone
- Using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
What are the signs?
The indications of gastritis vary for each individual and based on the root cause. The usual signs include:
- Piercing or burning stomach pain
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Appetite loss
If severe, gastritis can cause the stomach lining to bleed which causes the individual to vomit bloody or dark brown fluid. In case the blood moves via the stomach and into the intestines, the bowel movements are streaked with blood or appear black and tarry. If these are present, a doctor must be seen right away.
Management of gastritis
The treatment for gastritis is based on the root cause and its severity. In case the symptoms are brought about by something that was eaten, the symptoms might last for only a few hours and settle without treatment.
The possible treatment options include:
- Antibiotics to manage a H. pylori infection
- Drugs to lower the acidity level in the stomach
- Medications that coats and protects the stomach and intestinal lining from the stomach acid
Other self-care measures include:
- Carefully follow the diet suggested by the doctor. Avoid food or beverages that can irritate the stomach such as acidic foods, spicy foods, carbonated beverages and caffeine. Bland foods must be part of the diet such as toast, soda crackers, noodles, bananas, plain pasta and clear liquids until the symptoms settle.
- Avoidance of alcoholic beverages since they can irritate the stomach.
- Avoid smoking cigarettes and chewing on tobacco since they disrupt with the healing of the body.