Gastritis

What is Gastritis?

Gastritis is the inflammation of the stomach lining which is a protective barrier in your stomach that protects it from the acids, enzymes and microorganisms that pass through it every day. It can be acute, where you experience a sudden onset of the condition; or chronic, where it develops over time usually as a result of other chronic conditions. Stress, alcohol, smoking or regularly consuming painkillers can lead to gastritis.

Symptoms usually improve quickly with proper medications. Left untreated, it will likely lead to peptic ulcers and possibly lead to stomach cancer.

What are the symptoms of Gastritis?

Gastritis may not cause any noticeable symptoms and if it does, it may mean that the condition is more severe or has been going on for a long time. Symptoms occur when your stomach lining has worn away, leaving the stomach unable to defend against its own acids and enzymes. Symptoms of Gastritis includes:

• Burning pain in the upper abdomen
• Indigestion
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea
• Black blood in your stool or vomit

What are the risk factors of Gastritis?

Factors that can increase your risk of Gastritis include:

• Bacterial infection: A bacterial infection caused by the bacteria Helicobacter pylori, also known as H. pylori, is one of the most common cause of Gastritis. Researchers believe sensitivity to the bacteria could be inherited. Certain lifestyle choices may also increase your sensitivity. 
• Regular use of painkillers: Painkillers, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), may cause both acute and chronic gastritis. Using these pain killers regularly or too often may result in damage to the stomach lining. 
• Other medical condition: Gastritis may be a result of pre-existing medical conditions such as HIV/AIDS, Crohn's disease, celiac disease and parasitic infections. 
• Older age: As the stomach lining tends to thin with age, older people are at a higher risk of developing Gastritis.
• Excessive alcohol use: Alcohol can irritate and break down your stomach lining, making your stomach more vulnerable to the digestive acids in it.

How is Gastritis diagnosed?

Blood Test
A blood test may be done to check your red blood cell count to determine whether you have anemia.

Endoscopy
An endoscopy may be done to examine the esophagus, stomach and the small intestines to check for inflammation.

Stool Test
A stool test may be done to check for the presence of bacteria or blood which may be indicative of gastritis.

Urea Breath Test
You’ll drink a special liquid and will be asked to breathe into a bag. The bag will be sent to a lab for testing. If you have H. pylori, the bacteria will change the urea in your body into carbon dioxide  and lab tests will show that your breath has higher than normal levels of the gas.