Gastritis

Gastritis is an inflammation of the lining of the stomach. The inflammatory lesions may be either acute or chronic.

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Symptoms of Gastritis

Symptoms of gastritis do not always correspond to the extent of physical changes in the lining of the stomach. * The stomach lining can be examined with an endoscope, a thin probe with a tiny camera on the end that can be inserted into the stomach. * Severe gastritis may be present when the stomach is viewed without symptoms being present. * Severe gastritis symptoms may be present despite only minor changes in the stomach lining. * Elderly people in particular have a much higher likelihood of developing painless stomach damage. They may have no symptoms at all (no nausea, vomiting, pain) until they are suddenly taken ill with internal bleeding. In people who have gastritis symptoms, pain or discomfort in the upper abdomen is the most common. * The pain is usually in the upper central portion of the abdomen (the "pit" of the stomach). * Gastritis pain occurs in the left upper portion of the abdomen and in the back. The pain seems to "go right straight through" a person as it travels from the belly to the back. * People often use the terms burning, aching, gnawing, or sore to describe the pain. Usually, a vague sense of discomfort is present, but the pain may be sharp, stabbing, or cutting. Other symptoms of gastritis include the following: * Belching: Belching usually either does not relieve the pain or relieves it only briefly. * Nausea and vomiting: The vomit may be clear, green or yellow, blood-streaked, or completely bloody, depending on the severity of the stomach inflammation. * Bloating * Feeling of fullness or burning in the upper part of the belly In more severe gastritis, bleeding may occur inside the stomach. Any of the following symptoms can be seen as well as those already mentioned. * Pallor, sweating, and rapid (or "racing") heart beat. * Feeling faint or short of breath * Chest pain or severe stomach pain * Vomiting large amounts of blood * Bloody bowel movements or dark, sticky, very foul-smelling bowel movements Any or all of these symptoms can occur suddenly. This is particularly true in adults older than 65 years.

Causes of Gastritis

Gastritis is associated with various medications, medical and surgical conditions, physical stresses, social habits, chemicals, and infections. Some of the more common causes of gastritis are listed here. Medications * Aspirin (more than 300 drug products contain some form of aspirin) * Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen or naproxen) * Steroids (prednisone is one example) * Potassium supplements * Iron tablets * Cancer chemotherapy medications Swallowing poisons or objects * Corrosives (acid or lye) * Alcohols of various types * Swallowed foreign bodies (paper clips or pins) Medical and surgical conditions * Physical stress in people who are critically ill or injured * After medical procedures (such as endoscopy, in which a specialist looks into the stomach with a small lighted tube) * After an operation to remove part of the stomach * After radiation treatment for cancer * Autoimmune diseases * Pernicious anemia * Chronic vomiting Infections * Tuberculosis * Syphilis * Bacterial infections: H pylori infection is the most common. Many other bacteria—even those that usually cause pneumonia or bladder infections—can cause gastritis. * Viral infections * Fungal (yeast) infections * Parasites and worms

Treatment Of Gastritis

Coconut: Coconut water is an excellent remedy for gastritis. It gives the stomach the necessary rest and provides vitamins and minerals. The stomach is greatly helped in returning to a normal condition if nothing but coconut water is given during the first twenty-four hours.

Rice: Rice gruel is another excellent remedy for acute cases of gastritis. One cup of rice gruel is recommended twice daily. In chronic cases where the flow of gastric juice is meagre, such foods as require prolonged vigorous mastication are beneficial as they induce a greater flow of gastric juice.

Potato: Potato juice has been found valuable in relieving gastritis. The recommended dose is half a cup of the juice, two or three times daily, half an hour before meals.

Marigold: The herb marigold is also considered beneficial in the treatment of gastritis. An infusion of the herb in doses of a tablespoon may be taken twice daily.

Dietary Considerations

Eating a diet high in fiber may not only cut your risk of developing gastritis and ulcers in half, but fiber-rich foods may also speed the healing of ulcers. Fruits and vegetables are particularly protective sources of fiber and seem to reduce the amount of inflammation in the lining of the stomach; fruit juice appears to have this benefit as well. Plus, if you didn't have enough reasons to avoid fat in your diet already, animal studies suggest that high fat foods may lead to gastritis.

Consumption of foods and beverages that irritate the lining of the stomach or increase the stomach acids should be avoided completely or reduced, and known allergens eliminated. These often include:

Alcohol
Acidic drinks such as coffee (with and without caffeine)
Milk
Carbonated beverages
Spices and peppers (for some people this is important, while for others such foods do not seem to cause symptoms or inflammation)

Other effective Remedies for Gastritis

From the commencement of the treatment, a warm water enema should be used daily for about a week to cleanse the bowels. The patient should be given dry friction and a sponge daily. Application of heat with a hot compress or hot water bottle, twice a day, either on an empty stomach or two hours after meals, will also be beneficial. The patient should not undertake any hard physical and mental work. He should, however, undertake breathing and other light exercises like walking, swimming, and golf. He should avoid worries and mental tension.

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