Chronic gastritis is one of the common pathologies that can be attributed to the so-called diseases of the century. More and more people get sick at any age. If for several decades in a row mostly young people suffered: students, workers of complex professions, now even preschoolers are sick. Why is this happening, how to stop this epidemic, and most importantly - what symptoms of chronic gastritis are known to us? How not to miss the alarm bells sent by the body? Here are answers to many common questions from patients. But remember that if you experience the slightest symptoms that do not go away even within 2-3 days, you should immediately consult a doctor.
What is gastritis
Before you figure out what symptoms of chronic gastritis in adults and children exist, you should discuss what kind of disease it is. When exposed to specific harmful factors, changes are possible in the stomach, namely on its mucous membrane. It is damaged, acquires a structure that is different from the norm.
The mucous membrane protects the body from the aggressive effects of gastric juice, which consists of hydrochloric acid (the strongest acid in nature). If at least a microscopic wound appears in the wall of the stomach (and in this case, the integrity of the mucous membrane is broken in its place), then pain and other symptoms appear. Thus, the stomach does not function properly, nutrients are poorly absorbed or not perceived at all.
Depending on which pathogen or factor influenced the violation of the integrity of the stomach, as well as the degree and depth of damage to the walls of the organ, a diagnosis is established with the addition of a classification. For example, chronic atrophic gastritis. Symptoms and treatment are different for each type of disease.
How to recognize an ailment
The very first and most common symptom is pain, discomfort in the stomach. Of course, such a nuisance can happen even with a healthy person, especially if he takes pleasure in unsuitable food or takes a medicine that is detrimental to the digestive tract. As a rule, in this case, the pain disappears after some time.
When it comes to gastritis, the pain and discomfort either persist for a long time, or appear and disappear from time to time. In any case, if the stomach does not pass within 1-2 days, you should consult a doctor.
Consider some more common symptoms of chronic gastritis:
- the stomach is constantly rumbling, contracting, or swelling (sensation);
- pain during or after eating;
- hungry pains;
- belching with air;
- nausea;
- bloating;
- vomiting
- loose stools;
- aversion to food.
At least 2-3 of these signs can be considered an occasion to contact a medical institution.
Who to contact for help
Any problems associated with the digestive system, including the stomach, are solved in the office of a gastroenterologist. This is a medical specialist whose responsibilities include:
- collection of anamnesis according to the patient;
- palpation;
- appointment / conduct of gastroscopy;
- the appointment of additional analyzes and examinations;
- gastritis treatment;
- recommendations for a therapeutic diet.
Only a gastroenterologist has the right to make a preliminary or accurate diagnosis based on complaints and symptoms. Chronic gastritis is treated strictly as prescribed by the doctor. Any deviations and indulgences can provoke a relapse, and the prescribed treatment will be ineffective. Therefore, everything that was recommended by a specialist should be strictly and strictly observed.
You can contact both the state clinic (hospital) at the place of residence and paid medical centers. Unfortunately, the situation with the former is complicated - queues are possible for several days, or even weeks in advance, by appointment. But in no case should stomach diseases be postponed “until later”, the sooner treatment begins, the greater are the chances of recovery. Therefore, it is worth contacting a paid specialist.
What examinations to prepare for
Often, the patient goes to the doctor when a relapse occurs due to non-compliance with a sparing diet, maintaining a familiar lifestyle. If inflammation has begun in the stomach, then it will not go away by itself. In the same way, exacerbation of chronic gastritis is manifested. Symptoms and treatment of this pathology may differ with each relapse. For example, for the first time, the doctor prescribed one treatment based on the results of the examination, and after 1 year - completely different.
So what is the usual clinical diagnosis? We list:
- gastroscopy (endoscopy / endoscopy);
- Analysis of urine;
- general and biochemical blood analysis;
- X-ray (if necessary);
- CT scan (if necessary);
- additional analyzes;
- test for determining the acidity of the stomach (pH-metry);
- biopsy (if necessary).
But the most basic are the first three types of examinations and pH-meter. When contacting a paid institution, you can do everything in advance in order to consult a doctor with the results.
Disease factors
Often people ask why the pathology occurred? The doctor can list only briefly:
- poor nutrition;
- nervous stress;
- heredity.
On the one hand, this is true, on the other hand, it is necessary to consider the problem more deeply. For example, if it is a matter of poor nutrition, here are a few specific reasons:
- non-compliance with food intake and ignoring body signals (when the stomach requires food and drink);
- malnutrition (dry meal, fast food, artificial components in food);
- swallowing pieces without chewing thoroughly.
As for stress, nerve periods, then this is true. The fact is that any organ of the gastrointestinal tract reacts sharply to a psychoemotional load, including the stomach. But the symptoms of chronic gastritis do not necessarily appear after any stress. This stress must be long or constant before the disease develops.
Heredity can be either genetic or external traditional. In the first case, the immediate relatives of the patient also suffer from this ailment, and in the second case, malnutrition and lifestyle are passed on from generation to generation.
What triggers gastritis
Everything that was considered in the previous part of the article relates to the so-called root causes of the disease. When a violation occurs from outside, the process of changing the environment also begins inside the body. If in a normal state in a person, the organs are in good condition, in which diseases can not occur, then with deviations, the pathogen necessarily appears.
The bacterium Helicobacter pylori is the most common culprit of chronic gastritis with high acidity. Symptoms usually occur with the appearance of these microorganisms in the stomach. Belching, nausea appears. Stomach aches after or during meals.
There is gastritis with normal or low acidity. In such cases, it is usually not a harmful microorganism that is to blame, but external factors:
- constant use of drugs that adversely affect the walls of the stomach, including the mucous membrane;
- smoking and alcohol;
- mechanical damage by large food and foreign bodies;
- water intake during meals.
Also, the disease can occur due to poor ecology and harmful production factors.
How to treat exacerbation
Any exacerbation, even a slight one, must be treated as the doctor prescribes according to the results of the examinations. Usually, therapy is carried out at home with:
- special medical diet;
- pharmacy medicines;
- folk remedies;
- mineral water.
Chronic gastritis is most often treated with the diet "Table No. 1", "Table No. 1-a" or "Table No. 1-b." Only the attending physician who is familiar with all the nuances and knows how the disease proceeds chooses the nutrition scheme. That is, the patient should eat only mashed food - cereals, boiled vegetables (except for white cabbage, radish, radish, garlic). All products with a sharp taste (spicy, salted, spicy, smoked, sweet) are completely excluded. In general, food should be fresh and natural. Symptoms and treatment of chronic gastritis gradually disappear after 1-1.5 months, if the patient turned to the medical institution on time and complies with everything that is prescribed. Food should be fractional, but in small portions. That is, you need to eat 5-6 times a day at the same time, but very little.
In addition, doctors prescribe medications to restore the functions of the stomach, mucous membranes, the destruction of the pathogen and for other purposes.
Folk remedies have always been appreciated by those who are treated with plant materials, and especially decoctions of medicinal herbs. It is known that some plants often cope with diseases of the stomach no worse than tablets. But in order to find out which phyto-collections are suitable, you need to consult your doctor.
Mineral waters are able to accelerate the healing process due to the fact that they contain the necessary trace elements for the body.
What to do to recover forever
Everyone who has become acquainted with the symptoms of exacerbation of chronic gastritis, wonders what to do so that the disease does not return. In addition, it is difficult to maintain a strict monthly diet. When the stomach recovers, the person gradually returns to the usual food. But is modern food familiar to the body, is it natural? Not really. Various food additives, hot spices, harmful foods, chemicals, chewing gum and sweets often provoke digestive problems.
It is better to abandon gastronomic experiments in favor of their own health. For example, it is better to boil or bake potatoes, and not fry in a pan or deep fryer. During a festive feast, it is better to give preference to a healthy vinaigrette rather than a cake with mastic. Drinks should be clean water, not soda and alcohol.
It’s better to get used to simple dishes than to start treatment first after a while. In addition, stress should be avoided. As you know, all diseases from nerves.
What will happen if not treated
The person who only recently found out about gastritis can decide that everything will go away gradually, because the stomach sometimes hurts. Actually, you cannot do that. The fact is that an already injured mucous membrane of the stomach will continue to inflame. During a meal, if you do not chew it thoroughly, the walls of the organ are injured even more. If in the initial stage they could diagnose superficial gastritis, then after a while the doctor would detect damage to the deeper layers of the walls of the stomach. Thus, a person felt much worse, even chronic atrophic gastritis could develop. Symptoms with this type of disease are much more unpleasant:
- severe belching of food;
- burning;
- cardiac colic;
- bad taste and bad breath;
- nausea;
- drop in blood pressure.
If you continue to lead a normal lifestyle, then everything can end with a stomach ulcer up to a fatal outcome.
Can there be no symptoms?
Indeed, if a person had never complained about the digestive organs, then he could not have lost sight of the disease, since it necessarily gives symptoms for the first time. Chronic gastritis in adults is practically no different from adolescents and children, only the treatment methods differ.
Asymptomatic, the disease occurs only in those who have entered the stage of remission. This means that a person, having undergone a course of treatment, recovers, but for a while. Exacerbations often occur in spring and autumn, when the climate changes dramatically and the body weakens.
Maintaining health
The following symptoms of chronic gastritis can be avoided forever or for long, if you maintain health:
- a full-fledged way of life (modes of work, rest);
- an established diet (at the same time when the stomach asks for food);
- full sleep (at least 7-8 hours in a row);
- healthy and natural plant foods, cereals, seafood, dairy products;
- regular walks in the fresh air;
- vitamin therapy;
- rest in a sanatorium or on the sea;
- Avoiding unpleasant situations, depression and stress.
It is very difficult for a modern person to fulfill all the points, but it is necessary if you want to be healthy.
False symptoms
It should be noted that some symptoms may be false, for example:
- stomach pains;
- nausea and vomiting;
- loose stools.
Such troubles may indicate other diseases that are in no way associated with chronic gastritis. Symptoms and treatment, respectively, will be completely different and even, perhaps, with a doctor of a different profile.
Is it possible to do with folk remedies?
Synthetic drugs are not always beneficial to the body. Often there are side effects. In addition, not all patients have funds for expensive treatment. If the disease is not very neglected, then the gastroenterologist can prescribe the treatment of chronic gastritis with folk remedies. Symptoms during herbal medicine are sometimes even faster and more effective due to useful components in the decoction, extract of plant materials.
Used in the treatment of gastritis, beekeeping products, mummies, cedar gum, and other natural remedies. Only you should choose one from a trusted manufacturer.
In traditional medicine, experts suggest that most diseases cannot be cured. These include chronic gastritis. Symptoms and treatment in adults are often similar in general terms. For example, each patient has stomach pain and nausea. And as a part of complex therapy, the popular drug “De-nol” is prescribed.