Gastritis, acute or chronic, is an inflammatory disease of the gastric mucosa. More than half of the world's adult population suffers from chronic gastritis , and the number of such people is growing every year. In most cases, a person first has acute gastritis, the symptoms of which are very characteristic. And, if treatment was not started in a timely manner or was incorrect, gastritis goes into a chronic form, tormenting with systematic exacerbations.
Gastritis: symptoms and diagnosis
The manifestation of gastritis is possible at almost any age. The following symptoms should alert the person and his loved ones:
- sudden, sharp or aching pain under the spoon, in the upper abdomen, which can both aggravate and become dull during eating;
- nausea, in some cases - vomiting;
- deterioration of appetite, up to a complete rejection of food intake;
- belching with a specific unpleasant odor;
- heartburn;
- flatulence and a feeling of fullness of the stomach;
- headache, dizziness;
- weight loss.
Gastritis, the symptoms of which are very diverse, can be accurately diagnosed; only a gastroenterologist can determine its shape and acidity as a result of a full examination, which includes blood and feces analysis, ultrasound examination, esophagogastroduodenoscopy (examination of a part of the organs of the gastrointestinal tract using a fiber optic tube) , biopsy of the mucosa, examination of the gastric secretion, etc. Making the correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment will help prevent possible complications, such as me You and cancer, improve the quality of later life.
Causes of Stomach Disease
In recent years, to the long-established number of causes of gastritis, another one, considered by many scientists as the main one, has been added - the presence of the Helicobacter pylori bacteria in the human body. It is because of it that gastritis often develops and treatment, accordingly, should be aimed at its destruction.
Among the secondary causes of gastritis are:
- systematic eating disorders;
- the use of food that is excessively irritating to the gastric mucosa (spicy food, rough, too hot or cold, etc.);
- insufficient chewing and dry food;
- excessive consumption of hard liquors;
- long-term use of drugs that irritate the gastric mucosa (prednisone, butadione, salicylates, sulfonamides, many antibiotics, etc.);
- harmful working conditions;
- stress and frequent psychological stress;
- endogenous intoxication;
- hereditary predisposition.
Prevention and treatment of gastritis
To prevent gastritis, it is necessary to eliminate, as far as possible, the causes that cause it. So, it is known that the Helicobacter pylori bacterium is transmitted from person to person through oral and domestic routes. Most often this happens in early childhood, when adults feed the baby with their spoon, lick the nipple. It is important to have a proper and balanced diet according to the regimen, it is preferable to frequent meals with a small amount. Products should be fresh, well cooked, with a minimum content of preservatives and other non-natural substances. Ingestion of large pieces of food not sufficiently processed in the oral cavity is unacceptable. Dry food, fast foods should be a rare exception when healthy food is not available. Strong alcohol should not be abused and medications should be taken uncontrollably. You need to take care of your inner calm and peace of mind, avoiding stressful situations.
Naturally, in order not to miss the onset of gastritis, the symptoms can not be overlooked. Abdominal pain and several associated symptoms from the list above are already a serious reason for contacting a specialist who, depending on the type of gastritis detected and the lowered or increased acidity of the gastric juice, will prescribe the treatment. What to do with gastritis? Of course, follow all the doctor's recommendations, especially the strictest diet, which can be slightly weakened after a period of exacerbation.