Gastritis (inflammation of the stomach): causes, symptoms, drugs, etc.

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Definition

What is gastritis (inflammation of the stomach)?

Gastritis is a digestive system disorder which is also known as inflammation of the stomach. This disease occurs when the inner lining of the stomach wall (mucosa) becomes inflamed or swollen.

Inflammation of the stomach lining can occur suddenly (acute inflammation of the stomach) or last for a long time (chronic inflammation of the stomach). Untreated acute gastric inflammation can develop into a chronic form.

This condition is generally harmless and can be cured with certain drugs. However, in some cases, stomach inflammation can gradually progress to GERD (stomach acid reflux) disease and even increase the risk of stomach cancer.

How common is this disease?

Gastritis is a common condition. However, this disease is more common in people who use long-term pain relievers.

These drugs are known to erode the lining that protects the stomach from the effects of stomach acid.

In addition, people who are addicted to alcohol are also prone to experiencing inflammation of the stomach. If left untreated, inflammation can cause a hole to form in the lining of the stomach, which in medical terms is called a perforation of the stomach.

Type

What are the types of gastric inflammatory disease?

Apart from being divided into acute and chronic inflammation, gastritis is also divided into several types. There are types of gastritis that are erosive, which means that they erode the lining of the stomach. However, some are non-erosive.

The following types of gastritis are known so far.

1. Inflammation of the stomach due to infection

Inflammation of the stomach can be caused by a bacterial infection Helicobacter pylori , viruses, or fungi. Among the three, bacteria Helicobacter pylori is one of the microorganisms that most often causes this disease.

Gastritis due to bacterial infection H. pylori usually chronic in nature and can lead to stomach or intestinal ulcer disease. Without proper treatment, this disease can last a lifetime and increase the risk of stomach cancer.

2. Reactive gastric inflammation

Reactive gastritis occurs when the lining of the stomach is in contact with an irritant for a long time. Common irritants are non-steroidal pain relievers (NSAIDs), alcohol, and even bile from your own body.

Reactive gastric inflammation is usually chronic and erosive. This means that the irritant continues to erode the stomach wall and increases the risk of ulcers forming.

This can also cause bleeding, blockage, and even the formation of holes in the stomach and intestines.

3. Autoimmune gastric inflammation

Autoimmune gastric inflammation occurs when the immune system attacks the healthy cells that make up the stomach wall.

This disease is generally chronic in nature, but is nonerosive or does not cause erosion of the stomach lining.

4. Acute erosive gastric inflammation

Erosive acute gastric inflammation occurs after direct contact with an irritant, such as NSAIDs, alcohol, or narcotics.

In these cases, the lining of the stomach is eroded quickly, so there is a great risk of developing an injury.

There is a form of acute erosive gastric inflammation called stress gastritis . This condition occurs when the body has a serious problem such as a severe injury, burns, critical illness, or sepsis (the body's extreme response to infection).

5. Other types of gastritis

Apart from the four main types of gastritis, there is also gastric inflammation in the following forms.

• Post-gastrectomy gastric inflammation: Trauma to the stomach lining that causes the stomach lining to degenerate after a surgical procedure.
• Radiation gastritis: Inflammation of the stomach due to radiation exposure which irritates the stomach lining.
• Eosinophilic gastric inflammation: Inflammation of the stomach forms due to the body's reaction to an unknown allergen.

Signs and symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of gastritis?

People with gastritis often do not show any symptoms until they are diagnosed. The reason is, the symptoms of gastric inflammation often appear vague and are mistakenly recognized as symptoms of other digestive disorders.

The most common symptoms of gastritis are:

• loss of appetite,
• nausea and vomiting,
• pain in the upper abdomen, as well
• feel full quickly even though you've just eaten a little.

If the stomach wall has been bleeding, the symptoms may only appear when you vomit or have a bowel movement. Bleeding can change the color of the stool to black and cause vomiting of blood or a dark color like coffee.

There are still several other symptoms of gastric inflammation that have not been mentioned above. If you have concerns or questions related to certain symptoms, you should immediately consult a doctor for a solution.

When to see a doctor?

You should contact your doctor if you have gastritis symptoms that don't get better. You also need to tell your doctor if you experience stomach discomfort after taking medication, especially aspirin or other pain relievers.

Vomiting blood, bloody bowel movements, and symptoms of gastric inflammation accompanied by a black stool change are emergency conditions. Immediately visit a doctor to get the right medical treatment.

Causes and risk factors

What causes gastritis?

The most common cause of gastritis is taking long-term pain relievers. This side effect is caused by the active ingredient of the drug which blocks the action of the COX (cyclooxygenase) enzyme in the stomach.

The COX enzyme is an enzyme that is responsible for the emergence of pain stimulation. This enzyme also maintains the lining of the stomach wall so that the stomach is protected from the eroding effects of acid.

If the work of the COX enzyme is inhibited, the stomach lining will be easily eroded. This thinning makes the stomach vulnerable to irritation and injury due to continuous exposure to acidic fluids. As a result, gastric inflammation and bleeding can occur.

Apart from the long-term use of pain relievers, gastritis can also be caused by the following factors.

• Habit of consuming alcohol.
• Eat foods that are acidic, spicy, high in fat, and contain caffeine.
• Stomach infection caused by bacteria Helicobacter pylori .
• Type 1 diabetes, Crohn's disease, and food allergies.
• Reflux (backflow) of bile into the stomach.
• Experiencing severe stress that is not well managed.

What increases the risk of getting this disease?

There are several factors that can increase your risk of developing inflammatory stomach disease. Here are among them.

• Often eat spicy or fatty foods, such as fried foods, chili sauce, and dishes with lots of chilies.
• Unhealthy lifestyle, such as actively smoking for a long time, drinking lots of alcoholic drinks, or eating irregularly.
• Being overweight or obese.
• Are undergoing certain medications such as antibiotics, aspirin, steroids, and birth control pills.
• Poorly managed stress or fatigue.
• Frequently taking pain relievers.
• Other illnesses caused by infections such as HIV / AIDS, Crohn's disease, and other bacterial infections.
• Food allergies, especially for people with digestive disorders eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE).

Complications

What are the complications of stomach ulcers?

Inflammatory stomach disease that is not treated properly or is ignored will certainly get worse. The complications that may occur due to gastritis are as follows.

1. Gastric ulcer

Gastritis can lead to peptic ulcers or stomach ulcers when inflammation has caused injury to the lining of the stomach or duodenum. The duodenum or duodenum is the initial part of the small intestine.

Peptic ulcers are inflammation of the lower esophagus, the lining of the stomach. to the small intestine. Meanwhile, gastric ulcers are inflammation that occurs in the stomach wall.

Use of pain relievers and bacterial infections H. pylori not treated properly can increase the risk of stomach ulcers. The sores that form can be very painful, and usually occur in areas where acid or enzymes are building up.

2. Atrophic gastric inflammation

Atrophic gastritis is a chronic inflammatory condition that can lead to loss of the lining and glands in the stomach.

The missing layers and glands are then replaced by fibroids.

3. Anemia

The erosion of the lining of the stomach due to chronic inflammation can cause bleeding over time. Losing large amounts of blood can lead to anemia (lack of blood).

Research also shows that inflammation of the stomach results from infection H. pylori and autoimmune disorders can interfere with the body's ability to absorb iron from food. As a result, there is iron deficiency anemia.

4. Vitamin B12 deficiency and pernicious anemia

People who experience atrophic gastritis due to autoimmune disorders are usually unable to produce enough intrinsic factor. Intrinsic factor is a protein the stomach makes to help the intestines absorb vitamin B12.

The body needs vitamin B12 to form red blood cells and nerve cells. Poor absorption of vitamin B12 can lead to a type of anemia called pernicious anemia.

5. Gastric tumors

Chronic gastric inflammation can increase the risk of developing a benign tumor on the lining of the stomach. In certain cases, chronic gastritis can also lead to the formation of cancerous tissue.

Likewise with chronic gastric inflammation caused by bacterial infection H. pylori. Infection H. pylori may increase the risk of gastric mucosal tissue-related lymphoma cancer (MALT).

6. Gastric perforation

As previously explained, chronic inflammation can make the stomach wall weaken and thin. If this condition continues, there may be perforation, aka the formation of a hole in the stomach.

Gastric perforation can cause gastric contents to leak into the abdominal cavity and cause infection. The condition of the abdominal cavity that has become infected is called peritonitis.

Diagnosis and treatment

How do doctors diagnose this disease?

Gastritis can be diagnosed based on the symptoms of gastric inflammation that the patient is experiencing. If the symptoms are less clear, the doctor can also suggest further tests to confirm the diagnosis.

Here are a number of tests that doctors can do to make a diagnosis of gastritis.

1. Endoscopy

During an endoscopy procedure, your doctor will insert a flexible tube equipped with a lens (endoscope) through your esophagus. This tube will pass through your esophagus and eventually reach your stomach and small intestine.

Using an endoscope, the doctor can look for signs of inflammation or infection in the stomach. If there is suspicious tissue, the doctor may take a tissue sample (biopsy) for laboratory examination.

2. Test to detect H. pylori

Test to detect H. pylori can be done in many ways, such as blood tests, stool tests, or through a breath test. In the breath test, you will be asked to drink a small glass of a clear, tasteless liquid that contains radioactive carbon.

After that, you will be asked to exhale into a special bag which is then sealed.

If you are positive for infection, your breath sample will contain radioactive carbon due to bacteria H. pylori breaks down the liquid in the stomach.

What are the treatment options for gastritis?

Both acute and chronic gastritis are usually treated with antibiotics or drugs that lower stomach acid. The choice of drugs for gastritis that doctors often prescribe are as follows.

• Antacids.
• Antihistamine-2 blockers (H2 blockers) such as famotidine, cimetidine, ranitidine, and nizatidine.
• Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) such as omeprazole, esomeprazole, Iansoprazole, rabeprazole, and pantoprazole.

In addition, doctors can also inject fluids and other stronger drugs directly into the vein. This step aims to reduce stomach acid production if your inflammation worsens.

During treatment, you should avoid alcohol consumption and pain relievers such as ibuprofen, naproxen, or aspirin. Tell your doctor if you experience certain symptoms after taking the medicine.

Home remedies

The lifestyle and home remedies for inflammation of the stomach below may be able to help treat both acute and chronic gastritis that you are experiencing.

1. Do not smoke

Cigarettes contain nicotine which can weaken the digestive tract. Smoking is also known to cause acid reflux, which can further irritate the stomach wall.

2. Implement a healthy diet

Adopting a healthier diet can help relieve symptoms and prevent future stomach ulcers. A good diet to prevent gastritis can include the following.

• Foods with a high fiber content such as apples, oatmeal , broccoli, carrots, and nuts.
• Low-fat foods such as fish and chicken breast.
• Foods are alkaline, such as boiled vegetables.
• Sources of probiotics such as yogurt, kimchi, kefir, and tempeh.

In addition to choosing healthy foods wisely, your eating habits also need to be changed like this.

• If you usually eat 3 large meals a day, try changing it to 5 - 6 times a day with small portions.
• Do not eat until you are full because the contents of the stomach that are too full can move up into the esophagus.
• Avoid carbonated drinks and caffeinated drinks such as chocolate, coffee and tea.
• Cut down on acidic foods or drinks such as spicy foods and citrus fruits. These foods or drinks trigger pain in the gut.
• Don't eat before bed, as this can trigger acid reflux.

3. Lose weight

People with obesity are at high risk for gastric inflammation. The reason is, excess body weight increases stomach pressure so that the contents of the stomach increase more easily.

Losing 2-5 kg ​​of weight can help you prevent gastritis.

4. Take pain relievers under a doctor's supervision

NSAID pain relievers are often misused. In fact, long-term use can increase stomach acid production so you are prone to gastric inflammation.

Therefore, use pain relievers according to the doctor's instructions.

5. Change the sleeping position

The best sleeping position to prevent recurrence of gastritis is lying on your left side, supporting your head and neck using a thick pillow.

This position keeps the acid at the bottom of the stomach making it difficult for it to flow upward.

Gastritis is inflammation of the stomach that can cause complications if not treated properly. Therefore, consult your doctor if you often experience symptoms of this disease.