Are you suffering from recurring stomach upset, indigestion, bloating or vomiting? There’s a good reason you shouldn’t ignore it. You could be suffering from gastritis. Your stomach wall is lined with cells that are differentiated to produce more acid and to secrete certain enzymes that help in breakdown of food you eat. In gastritis, this cell lining (mucosa) gets inflamed and swollen. As a result, the stomach is unable to produce the required amount of acids and enzymes to carry out digestion. This inflammation can either last for a short while (acute gastritis) or may continue to affect your digestive system for a long time (chronic gastritis).
Dr Nisha Kapoor, senior consultant gastroenterology, Rockland Hospital Qutub says, ‘Gastritis maybe caused by various factors. Some of them include:
Risk factors of gastritis include stress and obesity. A person who has had a past gastrointestinal surgery is also at risk of developing the condition. Besides, some diseases like zollinger Ellison disease in which there is an increase in stomach acid production and reduction of protective factors like mucin or bicarbonates can also increase the risk of gastritis,’ says Dr Nisha.
With acute gastritis you may not experience any severe symptoms. But some common symptoms include:
‘Gastritis can be diagnosed by clinical signs and symptoms and by upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy,’ says Dr Nisha.
Your doctor will first conduct physical examination and then may recommend you to take these tests:
Treatment is dependent on the cause of gastritis. Sometimes over-the-counter drugs like antacids may relieve some symptoms of the condition. Here are some other ways to treat the condition as discussed by Dr Nisha:
According to Dr Nisha, gastritis in general does not pose a life risk though it has an effect on quality of life. ‘If the condition persists for a longer time or if it is left untreated then it can lead to gastric cancer or iron deficiency. If the condition becomes severe it can cause bleeding from the stomach lesions,’ she says.
Dr Nisha says, ‘Gastritis can be prevented and the best way to prevent the condition is by maintaining a good lifestyle.’ Here are some changes she recommends:
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While the possibility of a non-surgical treatment for appendicitis is good news for sufferers, it is crucial to spot the signs of this condition early on, so that it is not left untreated for long
The major reasons behind bloating and gas formation are eating and drinking. Here in this article, we have mentioned some diet tips that will prevent you from developing gas problems.
The next time you feel acidic, make these small changes and get rid of acidity in the long run.
Researchers from RMIT, Australia have developed an ingestible capsule that can accurately diagnose a variety of gut related issues through a non-invasive procedure.
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