Gastritis is a general definition for inflammation of the stomach lining. Gastritis is classified as acute and chronic. The chronic form of the disease is more common among the population – in 80-90% of the total number of recorded cases.

Doctors say that now almost everyone has gastritis in a latent or explicit form. Moreover, in recent years, this ailment has become much “younger”. There can be many reasons for the onset and progression of inflammation. But the main one is laziness. Too lazy to be examined, to be treated, too lazy to go on a diet …  

But! The treatment of gastritis should not be neglected, because tomorrow a stomach ulcer may develop, and the day after tomorrow – cancer.

Views. Symptoms Causes of gastritis

Chronic gastritis is not amenable to treatment, recurrent inflammation of the gastric mucosa and deeper layers of the gastrointestinal tract, proceeding with structural changes and functional changes in the organ. This form of the disease is a continuation of the development of acute gastritis.  

The disease betrays itself as nausea, heartburn, vomiting, heaviness in the stomach, unpleasant belching, flatulence, pain on palpation of the abdomen. The most common cause of the disease is infection of the stomach with Helicobacteria. External causes of the disease can be:

Improper nutrition

·bad habits

Haphazard intake of medications that irritate the mucous membranes

Exposure to mucous membranes of chemicals and radiation

·stress

Introduction of parasites

The internal causes of the disease are:

·metabolic disease

Genetic predisposition

Lack of vitamins

Outflow of bile into the stomach

Infectious diseases, etc.

Chronic gastritis often goes “hand in hand” with cholecystitis, colitis, and other diseases of the digestive system.

Bacterial gastritis deserves special attention . The causes of chronic gastritis became clearer after the discovery of helicobacterpilori. These harmful microorganisms colonize the stomach lining, destroying it.    

Acute gastritis is a one-time inflammation of the gastric mucosa caused by exposure to harsh irritants. These can be low-quality food, food allergies, medication, and chemicals. Also, the disease can occur against the background of other internal diseases, with burns of the gastric mucosa and radiation damage. 

Symptoms of acute gastritis are heaviness, nausea, weakness, vomiting, diarrhea, pain on palpation in the stomach. With timely treatment, the prognosis of the course of the disease is favorable. With the secondary appearance of unfavorable factors, the disease can take on a chronic form. 

Treatment features

The symptoms of the disease are not specific, therefore, only a highly specialized doctor, a gastroenterologist, can diagnose gastritis and choose the correct therapy. Treatment of gastritis consists of taking medications that normalize the acidity of gastric juice, the use of drugs that restore the gastric mucosa. With helicobacteria, antibiotic therapy is prescribed.  

A special therapeutic diet is becoming an obligatory item in the treatment of gastritis. No medication will help if you don’t eat well. The diet for gastritis depends on the level of acidity and the form of the disease.   

Smoking, alcohol, fatty, spicy, fried foods are contraindicated in any form of gastritis. With increased acidity, you should not eat hot, fatty, spicy foods, as well as foods that stimulate the secretion of gastric juice (sour juices, soda, coffee, smoked meats, etc.). With low acidity, milk, chocolate, baked goods are not recommended.

For gastritis with high acidity, freshly squeezed raw potato juice, decoctions of chamomile, rose hips, and yarrow are useful. With low acidity – cabbage juice, parsley, honey.