5 Complications of gastritis that you should be aware of

Gastritis or inflammation of the stomach is a disease that causes ulcer symptoms, such as heartburn, nausea, vomiting and bloating. These symptoms can indeed hinder the activities you do, but you can alleviate them by taking the medicines your doctor prescribes. If not, the symptoms will get worse and gastritis can cause complications. So, what are the complications due to untreated gastritis?

Gastritis complications that you need to be aware of

Ulcer symptoms that appear continuously can be a sign of gastritis. This disease can be caused by a variety of things, such as a bacterial infection, long-term use of NSAIDs, or excessive drinking of alcohol.

All of these things can erode the lining of the stomach and over time can cause inflammation. Likewise, H. pylori bacteria can injure the stomach lining because there are too many of them.

The symptoms of gastritis are almost the same as the symptoms of regular ulcers because of the increase in stomach acid so they are often underestimated. In fact, gastritis that gets worse can lead to complications, including:

1. Gastric ulcer

The Mayo Clinic states that stomach ulcers are a complication of gastritis. This disease indicates the presence of injury to the stomach or stomach lining due to increasingly severe gastritis. Without treatment, the sores can spread to the small intestine area.

The main causes of this complication of gastritis are bacterial infection and the use of NSAID-class pain relievers.

The most common symptoms when a stomach ulcer occurs is a burning sensation and pain in the middle area of the stomach — between the navel and chest.

Then, followed by other symptoms such as easy satiety, belching, and nausea. Usually symptoms will appear when the stomach is empty, and this will last for several minutes or hours longer.

This gastritis complication can be treated with antibiotics in combination with drugs for stomach acid. Surgical procedures may be needed if symptoms do not improve, bleeding occurs, and the lining is torn.

This treatment involves removing and cutting the injured tissue, binding and closing the bleeding artery, and cutting off the nerve supply to the stomach to reduce the production of stomach acid.

2. Bleeding in the lining of the stomach

In addition to inflammation and sores spreading to the small intestine, gastritis complications such as peptic ulcers can also cause bleeding. This can be a life-threatening complication if not treated properly.

The symptoms of this gastritis complication are not much different from peptic ulcers. It's just that this condition can cause the stool to turn dark because it is mixed with blood and is more sticky. In addition, some people also experience vomiting with blood spots and dizziness.

In order not to get worse, doctors will usually prescribe stomach acid drugs, such as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) or H-2 receptor blockers.

3. Anemia

Complications of gastritis that get worse can lead to pernicious anemia. This indicates that the number of red blood cells has decreased because the injured intestine cannot properly absorb vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 is one of the components that make up red blood cells.

When the lining of the stomach is injured, the protein that binds to vitamin B12 is not produced optimally. As a result, the production of red blood cells is insufficient. The occurrence of bleeding and lack of absorption of vitamin B12 will cause pernicious anemia.

People who experience complications of gastritis will usually experience symptoms of diarrhea, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, jaundice, and a burning sensation accompanied by chest pain.

Treatment will focus on increasing the intake of vitamin B12, either with diet or supplements.

4.Stomach cancer (complications of atrophic gastritis)

According to a website maintained by the American Cancer Society, acute atrophic gastritis can lead to cancer complications. Atrophic gastritis is a type of gastritis that occurs as a result of years of inflammation in the lining of the stomach.

This condition can occur due to a bacterial infection that causes gastritis, autoimmune disease or pernicious anemia. It is not known exactly how gastritis causes cancer. However, researchers think it is inflammation in the stomach that causes cells in the stomach or stomach tissue to become abnormal.

Stomach cancer usually has no symptoms early in its development. New symptoms will appear when the cancer has progressed to an advanced stage. In the case of complications of gastritis, a surgical process will be performed to remove the cancer cells. Then, treatment is continued, either with drugs, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy.

Tips for preventing complications of gastritis

Various complications of gastritis can be life-threatening. Therefore, you should not underestimate the symptoms of ulcers that appear, especially if they occur continuously. Immediately consult a doctor, to find out the cause as well as an accurate diagnosis.

You may be referred for medical tests, including imaging tests, endoscopy, or tests to detect bacteria through feces or breath.

If indeed the ulcer symptom you feel is gastritis, follow the treatment recommended by your doctor. The doctor will provide drugs, such as antacids, antibiotics, PPI drugs, and H-2 receptor blockers. The choice of medicine varies and is adjusted to the cause of gastritis.

If you already have gastritis, the symptoms can recur at any time if triggered. Therefore, you must take medication to relieve symptoms while avoiding various restrictions. If you are in this position, it would be better if you prevent gastritis from causing complications, right?

Following medication as directed by your doctor can keep you from complications of gastritis. In addition, those of you who are diagnosed with gastritis must also change their lifestyle. If not, gastritis symptoms can recur and get worse.

Ensure that food portions are not excessive, namely eating small but frequent portions.
Avoid various foods that trigger symptoms, such as spicy, acidic, and high-fat foods.
Limit your intake of caffeine in tea, coffee, and soft drinks.
Stop drinking alcohol and smoking.
Ask your doctor to change to a pain reliever that is safer for your stomach.