What is

GASTRITIS
.. ?

Gastritis is a condition in which the

stomach liningknown as the mucosais
inflamed. The stomach lining contains
special cells that produce acid and
enzymes, which help break down food
for digestion, and mucus, which protects
the stomach lining from acid. When the
stomach lining is inflamed, it produces
less acid, enzymes, and mucus.

What causes gastritis ?

Gastritis can be caused by irritation due to excessive alcohol
use, chronic vomiting, stress, or the use of certain medications
such as aspirin or other anti-inflammatory drugs. It may also be
caused by any of the following:
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori): A bacteria that lives in the
mucous lining of the stomach; without treatment, the infection
can lead to ulcers, and in some people, stomach cancer.
Pernicious anemia: A form of anemia that occurs when the
stomach lacks a naturally occurring substance needed to
properly absorb and digest vitamin B12
Bile reflux: A backflow of bile into the stomach from the bile
tract (that connects to the liver and gallbladder)
Infections caused by bacteria and viruses

PATHWA
YS

Symptoms of gastritis vary among individuals, and

in many people there are no symptoms. However,
the most common symptoms include:
Nausea or recurrent upset stomach
Abdominal bloating
Abdominal pain
Vomiting
Indigestion
Burning or gnawing feeling in the stomach
between meals or at night
Hiccups
Loss of appetite
Vomiting blood or coffee ground-like material
Black, tarry stools

How is
Gastritis
diagosed ?
personal and family medical history
physical evaluation,
and may recommend any of the following
tests:
UPPER ENDOSCOPY
check for inflammation and may perform a
biopsy.
BLOOD TEST
red blood cell count
screen for H. pylori infection and pernicious
anemia
FECAL OCCULT BLOOD TEST (STOOL TEST)
checks for the presence of blood in your stool

TREATMEN
TS

Lifestyle and home remedies for

Gastritis:
1) Practice good eating habits: Eat moderately at regular
timing and relaxing while eating.
2) Maintain a healthy weight: By maintaining a healthy weight,
it can help reduce heartburn, bloating and constipation that cause
digestive problems.
3) Get plenty of exercise: Exercise at least 30 minutes a day to
stimulate breathing and heart rate in order to increase activity of
intestinal muscle to move food through the intestine quickly.
4) Manage stress: Handle stress effectively as it can increase
stomach acid production and slows down digestion.

Complication
Left untreated, gastritis
may lead to stomach
ulcers and stomach
bleeding. Some forms of
chronic gastritis may
increase your risk of
stomach cancer,
especially if you have
extensive thinning of the

PROGNOSIS
Most people recover from gastritis.
Depending on the many factors that affect
your stomach lining, gastritis symptoms
may flare up from time to time. Overall,
gastritis is generally a common, mildly
troubling ailment that responds well to
simple treatments.
On occasion, rare forms of gastritis can be
serious or even life threatening. Severe,
ongoing symptoms or internal bleeding
should alert your doctor to search for a
more serious underlying cause.

Reference
http://knowmoreaboutgastritis.blogspot.com/
http://
www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/digestive-diseases-g
astritis
http://
www.sundaytimes.lk/120219/MediScene/mediscene_7.ht
ml
http://www.healthkart.com/resources/gastritis-symptoms
/#.
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