Know The Causes Of Gastritis
Gastritis is an inflammatory condition of the stomach lining resulting in abdominal pain. It is one of the most common health concerns among the people complaining stomach ache. More than 10 per cent of people coming to hospital with complaint of abdominal pain are found to have gastritis.
Acute gastritis can be described as a brief illness upsetting the stomach as a result of alcohol consumption or use of aspirin.
Gastritis can also be a chronic condition that may occur due to stomach infection by a bacterium called Helicobacter pylori.
What are the causes?
Medications
Use of aspirin, ibuprofen or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like naproxen may result in gastritis. Steroids such as prednisone and iron tablets are also found to be factors contributing to gastritis.
Gastritis may occur due to potassium supplements. Sometimes cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatments are found to suffer from gastritis.
Swallowing poisons and alcohol consumption may also lead to gastritis.
In some cases medical and surgical conditions have been found to be triggering gastritis.
Gastritis may occur in those experiencing physical stress due to critical illness or injury.
Gastritis also occurs due to tuberculosis, syphilis and other bacterial infections. Sometimes pneumonia seems to cause gastritis.
Gastritis Symptoms
Abdominal pain and discomfort
People having gastritis often complain pain or uneasiness in upper part of abdomen. The level of discomfort may usually be low but the pain can intensify.
Belching
Belching (forceful expulsion of gas from stomach) is another symptom of gastritis. It temporarily reduces pain.
Person with gastritis may have complaints of nausea and vomiting.
Gastritis symptoms may also appear in form of tightness or burning sensation in the upper portion of the stomach.
Severe gastritis may occur with bleeding inside stomach.
Sweating or increased heart beat are the other symptoms of gastritis.
Person with gastritis may also complain about pain in chest or stomach.
Blood discharge from vomiting or bowel movement can also be seen as a serious signs of gastritis.
Self-Care at Home
If you are aware of the factors that are triggering gastritis in your, the first and foremost step for self-care is to avoid them. Avoid taking aspirin if it causes gastritis.
Another cause of gastritis can be alcohol consumption and therefore if you regularly drink, you must avoid it as it may upset your stomach besides making you nauseated.
If you are taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for treatment of other health problems, you would better consult you health care provider to know if they are causing gastritis in you. Ibuprofen comes under category of this drug.
Considering the severity of the condition, your doctor may advise you to either take such drugs after food or take antacids along with them to reduce symptoms.
Your doctor may advice you to switch over other pain relievers such as acetaminophen. This drug is not found to be causing gastritis.
In case you are still having gastritis symptoms, consider taking antacids but only on consultation with your doctor.
