Probably each of us has already felt on his own body the unpleasant sensations caused by a spoiled stomach. Sudden feeling of pressure and fullness in the stomach area, nausea, nausea and finally vomiting leading to relief are the signs that indicate acute gastritis. An excess of food or incorrectly composed meals are usually causes of this nausea.
Functioning of the stomach
However, short-term tea fasting, rusks and application of heat to the stomach area soon smooth these waves. However, if the symptoms described persist and complications such as diarrhea and fever occur, the doctor should be consulted immediately, because bacterial diseases, serious metabolic disorders or poisoning of various kinds may be hidden behind the symptoms. The stomach, a muscular hollow organ, serves to absorb the food already crushed in the mouth and mixed with the ferment-containing saliva. In addition, the glands of the gastric mucosa secrete the digestive gastric juice, which consists of hydrochloric acid, pepsin and other important ferments. Once the food has been well mixed with the gastric juice by the strong muscular work of the stomach wall and the resulting predigestion has taken place inside the stomach, the liquefied food pulp is emptied in portions into the duodenum by the gatekeeper muscle at the stomach outlet. A system of ferments alerts the liver and pancreas, which are the largest digestive glands, and they pour their secretions, bile and pancreas, into the duodenum over the food pulp. The gastric mucosa is normally able to effectively protect itself from self-digestion by the acidic, highly ferment-active gastric juice by producing strong mucus. The diverse physiological digestive processes of the stomach are controlled by the autonomic part of the nervous system, which is in constant interaction with the cerebral cortex. Accordingly, the function of the stomach is at the center of the entire digestive process, and it is obvious that many disturbances can occur in the course of these intricate processes. In contrast to the acute inflammatory gastric disease, there are mucosal inflammations with a chronic tendency, which pose a serious danger to health. The main danger lies in the fact that many sick people keep postponing the visit to the doctor’s office because of the subliminal but persistent complaints. Unfortunately, the tolerable pain is endured for too long, as it can just about be reconciled with daily tasks. Patients with a manifested gastric condition often devalue when questioned by the physician, “I’ve actually had stomach problems for many years!”
Symptoms, complaints, and signs
Chronic gastritis or chronic gastric catarrh is a persistent mucosal disease of the stomach with a decrease in digestive efficiency. Chronic gastritis develops insidiously over a long period of time and does not cause any symptoms or discomfort at the beginning. The typical signs are similar to those of acute gastritis. Sufferers complain of persistent pressure and a feeling of fullness in the upper abdomen, especially after eating, reluctance to eat food that causes pain, acid regurgitation, a coated tongue, and sometimes heartburn. The patient’s surroundings notice his pallor, depressed mood and a foul odor coming from his mouth. He himself is disinclined to work, as his performance is reduced and he is never symptom-free. After a longer period of illness, weight loss occurs, and in severe cases vomiting, which may even be bloody. These complaints are not of a continuous persistent nature, rather they occur periodically. The forms of gastritis are divided into three types:Type A gastritis causes vitamin B12 deficiency, which is manifested by the signs of anemia. As it progresses, type gastritis can develop into stomach cancer. Type B gastritis may present with concomitant conditions such as duodenal ulcers, MALT lymphoma, or gastric cancer, each associated with pain, feelings of pressure in the affected area, and increasing malaise. Type C gastritis is primarily manifested by a growing feeling of illness. This is accompanied by the symptoms of irritable stomach, i.e. frequent abdominal pain, sensitivity to cold, hot or spicy foods, and recurrent flatulence and diarrhea.In general, the symptoms of chronic gastritis increase in intensity over the course of months or even years and usually cause secondary diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. To establish the diagnosis, gastric juice is obtained through a thin stomach tube and its acidity is determined chemically. The acidity can be increased, decreased or normal. The X-ray examination of the stomach, which is always performed, is primarily used for differential diagnosis from gastric ulcer or gastric cancer.
Complications
The different types of chronic gastritis can cause different complications. In chronic gastritis type A, there is an increased risk of gastric cancer. The increased secretion of gastrin may also lead to the formation of malignant gastric tumors. Decreased vitamin B12 absorption can lead to pernicious anemia, a form of anemia. In type B, a common complication is the development of gastric and duodenal ulcers. Subsequently, Helicobacter pylori gastritis may also develop, which alters the gastric mucosa and increases the risk of gastric cancer. Rarely, so-called MALT lymphomas also develop, malignant growths in the lymphatic tissue that can spread to the lungs, salivary glands or thyroid gland. Chronic Ty-C gastritis is also associated with an increased risk of malignant changes in the abdomen. In addition, chronic gastritis is often accompanied by bleeding and severe pain. If left untreated, it can lead to inflammation of the surrounding organs and subsequently to severe infections and organ failure. In the treatment of gastritis, the risks come mainly from the prescribed drugs, which can lead, for example, to allergies and, due to the combination of different preparations, also to severe side effects.
When should you go to the doctor?
Stomach pain that occurs repeatedly or persists for a long time without any apparent cause should be clarified by a doctor. This is especially true if other complaints such as loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting or constant fatigue are added. The first point of contact is the family doctor: If the symptoms and the clinical examination give rise to the suspicion of chronic gastritis, the doctor will order a gastroscopy by an internist. The family doctor should also be consulted if stomach pain could be due to taking certain medications. In this case, the doctor will, if possible, switch to more tolerable drugs or prescribe tablets to protect the stomach. A visit to the doctor is urgently recommended if chronic gastritis is accompanied by rapid weight loss. Black stools, vomiting of blood and violent, sudden stomach cramps are also alarm signs that require immediate treatment by a doctor or in a hospital. If the chronic gastritis is due to mental overload, talking to a psychotherapist can help to cope better with stress and problems. Even if chronic gastritis is largely asymptomatic, regular check-ups are advisable if the disease is known: this allows incipient complications such as a gastric ulcer or anemia to be detected and treated in good time. In addition, any unexplained deterioration of the general condition should prompt a visit to the doctor.
Treatment and therapy
The diagnosis of gastritis can only be suspected radiographically, but not established with certainty. Much better clues are provided by obtaining gastric mucosa and examining it under a fine-tissue microscope, and by directly viewing the mucosa of the stomach by gastroscopy. Chronic inflammatory changes of the gastric mucosa can lead to proliferation of the same, as well as to flattening. The dangers of chronic gastritis consist in the fact that on the basis of such a permanent irritation of the gastric mucosa with increased cell remodeling, both a gastric ulcer (loss of substance of the gastric wall) and, over the years, a cancer (substance proliferation due to pathological cell proliferation) can develop. What are the causes of chronic gastritis ? Insufficient chewing, too hasty eating, too hot or too cold food, defective teeth, purulent diseases of the nasopharynx and its sinuses.Vitamin deficiency and especially chronic abuse of alcohol and nicotine, chronic alcohol consumption, especially on an empty stomach, can contribute to the destruction of the gastric mucosa and the drying up of acid secretions. The resulting bacterial colonization maintains chronic gastritis. In addition, persistent psychological tension caused by professional and family discrepancies; excessive demands on performance, insufficient recovery periods and inadequate sleep, especially in combination with the factors listed above, can be observed as triggering causes of chronic gastritis. A successful treatment requires patience on the part of the doctor and the patient, thorough investigation of the individual causes, consistency and understanding of the necessities, i.e. the patient must avoid everything that is harmful to him, especially alcohol and nicotine. He must follow the prescribed diet, carry out heat treatments, have bad teeth and foci of pus removed, and create order in his way of life and work. The overacidification of the stomach or the lack of hydrochloric acid requires medicinal control. Many sick people can be cured by these measures without sick leave, but there are also cases where strict inpatient treatment in a medical clinic is necessary. The patient must be willing to be psychologically guided by his attending physician and to give up all harmful habits of life. It may even be necessary to change jobs.
Outlook and prognosis
The course of chronic gastritis depends on its cause and form. Because gastritis often goes unnoticed for a long time, permanent damage may already have occurred, which can last a lifetime despite comprehensive treatment. Autoimmune gastritis cannot be cured. However, it does not significantly limit the quality of life and, with appropriate treatment, progresses only slowly. Regular endoscopic checks can diagnose and treat any secondary diseases such as stomach cancer at an early stage. Chronic gastritis type B can be cured in 90 percent of cases. If antibiotic therapy is initiated early, the disease usually resolves within six to eight weeks. Relapses and secondary symptoms are unlikely in this form of gastritis. Chronic type C gastritis usually heals without sequelae or recurrences, provided the physician can determine and eliminate the chemical cause of the inflammation. If the trigger cannot be determined, symptomatic treatment is possible. However, the chronic gastritis itself persists and causes recurrent symptoms that require individualized treatment.
Prevention
Knowing the causal importance of chronic atrophic gastritis for the occurrence of gastric cancer, the demand of medical science to examine the chronic gastric patients regularly as part of preventive care is becoming more and more prevalent. This is the only way to detect malignant degenerations at an early stage and to successfully eliminate them by surgical intervention. Patients with pernicious anemia (a form of anemia caused by a lack of vitamin B12), who are much more likely to develop stomach cancer than healthy people, must also be included in the group of people at risk. The patient must be open-minded and understanding to these prophylactic measures, even if the swallowing of a stomach tube or a gastroscopy is often perceived as unpleasant. Since this proven diagnostic measure, especially for obtaining and examining cell material from the inside of the stomach, can hardly be dispensed with, it should not go unmentioned that work is being done on facilitating methods. As explained, chronic gastritis is only a symptom of a general disease, which merely manifests itself in the stomach. By maintaining a regular daily routine, a well-proportioned relationship between stress and relaxation, by avoiding harmfulness, and by regularly eating a food that is easy to digest, one can save one’s stomach from serious damage.
Aftercare
Aftercare for chronic gastritis is based primarily on the cause of the inflammation that developed.Type B gastritis caused by the bacterium Helicobacter pylori is by far the most common form of chronic gastritis and requires a success check after therapy has been carried out. This is to ensure that the bacteria have been sufficiently eliminated by the administration of medication. In most cases, this follow-up can be done non-invasively with a stool or breath test. However, if extensive mucosal damage or a gastric ulcer already existed at the time of diagnosis, a gastroscopy with sampling must be performed again to assess the extent of the damage. The patient should decide this individually with his treating physician. Autoimmune type A gastritis also requires regular monitoring, as the autoimmune reaction can lead to a risk of degeneration. In order to detect any malignant cells in the stomach as early as possible, an endoscopic check-up with gastroscopy should therefore also be performed. Every patient with chronic gastritis should discuss with his general practitioner whether certain dietary changes should be observed. In addition, symptoms such as frequent heartburn, stabbing stomach pain or vomiting blood must be related to the history and clarified in the future. It is advisable to take acid reducers such as omeprazole or similar in this symptomatology to protect the stomach. However, this should be discussed with the physician.
This is what you can do yourself
Measures that you can take yourself with chronic gastritis depend on the cause of this inflammatory disease. In the case of a proven bacterial infestation, natural substances can help in addition to antibiotic therapy. The oil from grapefruit seeds acts like a natural antibiotic and kills the germs in the stomach. Accompanying conventional treatment, it is also advisable to take healthy intestinal bacteria. These support the entire immune system and in the case of a bacterial infestation or antibiosis, the intestines are usually also damaged. In general, checking your diet is the first step in self-treatment. Irritating foods and beverages (spicy, hot, fatty, alcoholic) should be avoided, sufficient fluid intake (still mineral waters, unsweetened herbal teas) should be ensured and taking several small meals throughout the day relieves the stomach. Likewise, thorough chewing supports the activity of the stomach. A diet rich in vital substances and minerals strengthens the entire organism. If medications irritate the gastric mucosa, a consultation with the attending physician and replacement of the medication is recommended. Chronic gastritis is often the result of a stressful everyday life. Small breaks – even during working hours – and walks in the fresh air can help. Light endurance sports such as swimming or jogging are also a very good option for a physical and mental balance.
