Very many in the morning complain of an acidic taste in the mouth, discomfort in the stomach and an uncharacteristic plaque on the tongue. In fact, this is the first signal that hydrochloric acid begins to corrode the gastric mucosa. Unfortunately, most ignore such unpleasant symptoms. In fact, they indicate the presence of a disease such as hyperacid gastritis. In the near future, in the absence of competent treatment, the probability of developing serious health problems is high.
Disease Description
Hyperacid gastritis is understood as inflammation of the gastric mucosa, which develops against the background of its increased acidity.
Many people know from the course of school anatomy that digestive juices and directly hydrochloric acid are involved in the process of digesting food. However, if the acid is produced more than normal, it begins to literally corrode the walls of the stomach. If a patient with a diagnosis of hyperacid gastritis does not undergo a full course of treatment, the disease is most often complicated by an ulcer, which is not so easy to get rid of. Moreover, in especially serious cases, surgical intervention may be required.
Main reasons
- Stress, prolonged psychological stress.
- Improper diet (eating spicy and fatty foods, fast food, sodas, snacks).
- Smoking and alcoholic drinks.
- Overuse of certain drugs (anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics).
- The bacterium Helicobacter Pilory (getting inside the stomach, in the process of its life, it gradually destroys its mucous membrane).
How is hyperacid gastritis manifested?
Symptoms of this disease should alert everyone and become an occasion to contact a gastroenterologist. Initially, patients have aching pain in the stomach area. However, after eating, the discomfort is dulled, but after a couple of hours it occurs again and does not subside until the food again enters the stomach.
Another characteristic symptom is heartburn. It occurs if acid enters the esophagus. Heartburn, as a rule, appears after eating the following foods: pastries, brown bread, sour fruits, smoked meats. In addition, excessive production of hydrochloric acid can provoke intense physical activity.
What else indicates hyperacid gastritis? Symptoms (in addition to all of the above) may be as follows:
- whitish coating on the tongue;
- increased sweating;
- irritability;
- nausea;
- constipation
- muscle spasms.
If such signs appear, you need to consult a gastroenterologist. At the appointment, the doctor first of all collects a complete medical history of the patient. After that, he appoints a urine and blood test, sounding (to determine the acidity of the gastric juice).
If the patient complains of severe pain in the stomach and heartburn, most likely, an additional procedure called FGS is required. It allows you to accurately assess the degree of damage to the mucous membrane.
What is the difference between the chronic form of the disease?
Chronic hyperacid gastritis is characterized by the formation of atrophic hyperemic areas directly in the gastric mucosa. These areas are characterized by increased swelling and even deformation of the inner part of the mucosa, and the blood vessels themselves are also involved in the pathological process.
Heperacid gastritis is highly treatable. However, if after some time the symptoms appear again, then we can talk about the chronic form of the disease. This means that the patient must adhere to special treatment and adjust his usual diet throughout the rest of his life. In fact, gastroenterologists do not recommend treatment on their own during periods of exacerbation, even if the patient has already managed to thoroughly examine his ailment. The thing is that illiterate therapy can subsequently entail the development of very serious complications.
What should be the treatment?
First of all, it should be noted that with a disease such as hyperacid gastritis, treatment is complex. After making the final diagnosis, the doctor prescribes the appropriate drug therapy to relieve pain. It can be anti-inflammatory drugs (Tinidazole, Metronidazole), antacid preparations (Rennie, Fosfalugel, Rutatsid), drugs that lower the acidity of gastric juice.
If the tests show that the cause of the disease lies in the bacteria Helicobacter Pilory, a course of antibiotic treatment is required (Amoxicillin, Omeprazole, Clarithromycin). It is important to note that in each case, drugs are prescribed individually. The doctor takes into account the condition of the patient, his age, the presence of concomitant diseases.
Additionally, antispasmodics (Papaverine, No-shpa) and anticholinergics (Bellalgin, Bellastesin) can be prescribed.
Diet
Hyperacid gastritis cannot be overcome solely with drugs. Changing your usual diet is an essential component of therapy. Specialists strongly recommend for the entire treatment period to abandon those products that provoke the development of the disease. First of all, these include all fatty and fried foods, smoked meats, pastries, spices, alcoholic drinks and mushrooms.
The diet for a disease such as hyperacid gastritis should be built on products that undergo the most gentle heat treatment. This means that it is better either to cook steamed or bake in the oven.
You can eat low-fat varieties of meat and fish, some vegetables (preferably in pureed form), dairy products, cereals on the water. The amount of salt and spices should be reduced.
Particular attention must be paid to the frequency of food intake. It is recommended to eat about five to six times a day, but in small portions.
To treat this disease, doctors also recommend reconsidering their usual lifestyle. It is necessary to include sports, long walks in the daily routine. It is better to try to avoid stressful situations, which often become the cause of the development of other, more serious diseases. Be healthy!