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- What is gastritis?
- Symptoms of gastritis
- Causes of gastritis
- Prevention of gastritis
- Risk factors for gastritis
- Complications of gastritis
- When to see a doctor about gastritis
- Diagnosis of gastritis
- Conventional treatment of gastritis
- Alternative/complementary treatment of gastritis
- Living with gastritis
- Caring for someone with gastritis
Gastritis may be unpreventable in certain circumstances:
- Bacterial overgrowth - if the helicobacter pylori bacteria overgrows in the stomach, it can cause severe irritation to the lining of the stomach, erosion in the lining of the stomach (gastritis) and even gastric ulcer. Certain ethnic groups tend to have more incidence of helicobacter pylori overgrowth and subsequently gastritis
- Gastric infection - people who get a really severe bacterial gastroenteritis (food poisoning) infection may vomit repeatedly. If the vomiting continues unabated, it can cause gastritis symptoms, which may be difficult to prevent
- Medications - there are a number of medications which cause an over-production of stomach acids and irritate the stomach lining. This effect is often temporary, but it can continue unabated in some people and continue to produce gastritis symptoms over the long term. The medications that most commonly cause problems are: aspirin, non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), naprogesic, but there are many others that can cause gastritis (including antibiotics)
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There are ways to prevent gastritis from occuring:
- Healthy digestion - a healthy digestive system is less likely to be at risk for developing any gastrointestinal disorder, including gastritis. Ensure you eat adequate amounts of natural, unprocessed foods and have proper fibre intake. Fibre, from plant sources, is essential for a healthy digestive system
- Limit alcohol intake - excessive alcohol intake is a known factor which causes gastritis, so limit alcohol intake to 1-2 drinks per day, with at least 2 days alcohol free each week. People with an addiction to alcohol should seek treatment to limit alcohol intake and to prevent gastritis (as well as a number of other health conditions asssociated with excessive alcohol intake)
- Reduce stress - excessive or prolonged stress can cause an overproduction of acid in the stomach, which can irritate the stomach lining and produce gastritis symptoms. People who feel stressed need to engage in stress reduction strategies to control their emotions and feel calmer
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< 3: causes 5: risk factors > Last reviewed: 10 November 2007 || Last updated: 27 January 2009
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NOTE: Mega doses of any type of vitamin, mineral, amino acid or herbal supplement cannot cure illnesses and in fact can be very dangerous and produce toxic side effects and interfere with medicine you are taking. Always ensure you consult your doctor before taking any type of complementary supplements.
Disclaimer: This guide is not intended to be used for diagnostic or prescriptive purposes. For any treatment or diagnosis of illness, please see your doctor.
