Inflammation of the stomach

Gastritis is the medical term for the inflammation of the stomach and this condition is marked by the inflammation of the mucus membranes on the stomach lining.

Causes of stomach inflammation

There are many causes for the occurrence of gastritis and among the most frequent ones is a bacterial infection causes by the bacteria Helicobacter pylori. The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, may also cause gastritis, but there are cases where excessive consuming of alcohol leads to the appearance of the stomach inflammation. Furthermore, several medical conditions are responsible for gastritis, such as bile reflux disease, autoimmune gastritis and percinicious anemia. Some other causes of gastritis are a surgery, trauma or injury and burn.

Symptoms of stomach inflammation

The inflammation of the stomach may be acute or chronic. When gastritis is acute, the symptoms emerge suddenly and are cured easily. On the other side, when chronic gastritis is in the question, the symptoms appear gradually and tend to last for a long period of time. The most common symptoms of the inflammation of the stomach are nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain, as well as indigestion, loss of appetite and change in the color of the stools. Moreover, people who suffer from gastritis usually lose body weight and have bloating and burning sensation in the stomach, although there are even cases where internal bleeding occurs. In such cases, vomiting of blood and black colored stools appear.

Treatment of stomach inflammation

In the majority of cases, the doctors prescribe antacids, such as Maalox and Mylanta. Antacids are very effective in eliminating acidic substances that are produced in the stomach. The alternatives for antacids are acid blockers, such as Ranitidine and Cimetidine and they are effective in relieving abdominal pain by reducing the amount of stomach acids created by the stomach lining. The inflammation of the stomach caused by the bacteria is usually treated by antimicrobial drugs and proton pump inhibitor medicines, since they are very powerful in destroying the bacteria and reducing the production of acids in the stomach.

Diet for stomach inflammation

A healthy diet is very important for those who suffer from gastritis, which is why it is highly recommended to enrich your diet with vitamin B, calcium and proteins, such as dark green vegetables, whole grains, lean meats and beans. Furthermore, carrot and spinach juice, as well as yogurt are also highly recommended, because they are very beneficial for the soothing of the stomach.