What is gastritis and what causes it?
A general answer to what is gastritis and also what cause it is very simple. Gastritis is a condition which implies inflammation of the stomach lining. The stomach lining has special cells that produce acids and enzymes which process food. The stomach lining also produces mucus to protect the lining from acids. An inflamed stomach lining causes decreased production of acids, enzymes and mucus. Gastritis may be either chronic or acute in nature. Either condition requires appropriate treatment to avoid discomfort or pain in the upper abdomen. Certain gastritis causes that could lead to discomfort in the body include the following:
- Helicobacter pylori infection may cause infection to the stomach lining through contaminated water or food
- Prolonged use of anti-inflammatory drugs
- Exposure to cocaine, radiation and consumption of alcohol can also affect the stomach lining.
- Certain digestive disorders such as pernicious anemia or Crohn's disease can also cause gastritis.
- Autoimmune disorders that cause the immune system to attack healthy cells in the stomach lining may also lead to gastritis.
- Bile reflux or backflow of the bile into the stomach can also affect the stomach lining
- Intake of corrosive or caustic substances that lead to stomach lining erosion
- Excessive secretion of gastric acid due to stress may also lead to gastritis.
- Intake of certain medications or supplements can also impact the stomach lining.
- Physical stress, post operative conditions or medical procedures such as endoscopy can also impact the stomach lining leading to gastritis.
Chronic gastritis symptoms
Key symptoms associated with chronic gastritis include: abdominal pain, vomiting and nausea. Such chronic gastritis symptoms are medically referred as dyspepsia. Ulcers and erosions are also a possibility with gastritis. Certain signs that indicate erosions or bleeding in the stomach are: red blood in stool, black stools and blood in vomit. Loss of appetite, feeling of fullness (bloating), belching and indigestion are also some of the known symptoms associated with gastritis. Pain in the abdomen is usually described as aching, sore, burning or gnawing.
Treatment for gastritis and gastritis natural treatment at home
Treatment for gastritis depends on the causes. Most of the causes like stress may decline over time. Remedies for gastritis treatment are prescribed to neutralize the stomach acids. Home remedies are best suitable for mild to moderate gastritis treatment. Some popular gastritis treatment home remedies include:
- A teaspoon of bishops weed with a pinch of salt is excellent remedy for gastritis. Bishops weed helps alleviating pains of the intestines and stomach. Bishops weed helps deal with stomach related problems such as indigestion, flatulence and infection.
- Drinking coconut water that is rich in potassium is also a good which brings down pain and discomfort for short while.
- Another effective home remedy for gastritis treatment includes chewing ginger. Ginger aids in digestion and a spoonful of dried or fresh ginger before meals helps ingest food better. Ginger root and ginger oil help alleviate various symptoms associated to gastritis. Ginger can also be added to food or drinks to ingest ginger on a regular basis.
- Drinking lemon ginger juice in the morning aids in digestion. Lemon ginger herbal tea is also another effective way to start the day. The lemon ginger combination combats nausea due to over eating, post operative nausea or motion sickness.
- Combination of spinach juice with carrot juice is also an excellent home remedy for gastritis treatment. This juice is best had before or during a meal. High carbohydrate content in carrots contributes greatly to a healthy intestine.
- Chewing roasted fennel is excellent remedy. Fennel seeds are rich in minerals and provide an effective and quick relief from digestive ailments.
- Another effective remedy is to relieve stomach pain is to have a mixture of yoghurt with sprague powder and rock salt.
- Intake of alcohol, nicotine products and spicy food like pickles must be avoided. Refined foods and sweets must also be avoided.
- Yoga, meditation, breathing exercises, swimming, walking, cycling are good physical activities to ensure healthy living. Adequate physical activity must be complemented by a well balanced diet. Eat adequate fruits, nuts and vegetables to ensure a healthy diet.
Diet for gastritis
One of the best ways to deal with the condition is to adopt a diet for gastritis which could also be a diet adopted for esophagitis. Esophagitis is also called GERD, one of the most common symptoms is heart burn after meals. Other symptoms include regurgitation of food in the mouth, pain in the chest and difficulty in swallowing. Ideal diet for gastritis and esophagitis are intake of chilled fat free milk or water very two hours. This simple home remedy brings down the burning sensation. Another effective home remedy is to drink water boiled with cumin seeds as it helps relieve gas formation.
Diet for gastritis and ulcers: The key focus for a stomach ulcer and gastritis diet would be to reduce gastric irritation and reduce secretion of gastric acids. Uncomfortable side effects such as heart burn and indigestion can be resolved by following a simple diet plan. Choosing low fat products, eating regular meals and avoiding caffeine and alcohol intake are some simple ways to keep gastritis and ulcers under control. Include high fiber foods such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables with skin and cooked dried beans. High fiber foods are easily digested causing minimal discomfort to the stomach. Gas inducing foods such as cabbage, potatoes, beans, and broccoli may cause trouble and therefore form part of the list of gastritis foods to avoid.
Gastritis treatment in children: Gastritis treatment in children requires adequate care and attention with regard to food and diet. Light soups, fruit juices, boiled vegetables and rice gruel are some basic light foods that can help children enjoy their meal times. It is important to ensure children avoid the intake of carbonated beverages, tea and coffee. Sweets, oily foods and fatty foods should also be avoided to reduce pressure on the digestive system. Dehydration can be a common fall out with gastritis among children. Tackle dehydration by including different types of fluids in your child's diet.
answered by G R