Symptoms of gastritis can vary a great deal between patients, but if you have persistent indigestion or a stomach upset, gastritis is a possibility. Meade Edmunds, MD, and his team at Edmunds Gastroenterology in Knoxville, Tennessee, are specialists in assessing the cause of gastritis and finding effective treatments to relieve the symptoms. If you’re suffering from digestive problems, call Edmunds Gastroenterology today to arrange a consultation, or book an appointment online by clicking the button.
Gastritis is an inflammation in the lining of the stomach. It has numerous causes and a variety of clinical presentations. Common causes include:
If left untreated, gastritis can increase your risk of stomach cancer.
Certain medicines, like aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), alcohol, and bacterial infections of the stomach with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) are associated with the development of gastritis. Other factors associated with gastritis, such as reflux or excessive gastric acid production, are much less likely causes but can result in gastritis.
The symptoms of gastritis include indigestion, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting of blood or coffee ground material, and abdominal pain which may be mild or severe. In some situations, gastritis associated with bleeding may present as dark, tarry stool.
The best test to diagnosis gastritis is an upper endoscopy. Biopsies are often taken at the time of endoscopy in order to check for H. pylori infection. Blood tests and stool studies may also be used to check for H. pylori.
If gastritis is diagnosed, taking antacids and acid-suppressant medicines may be useful to decrease acid production, thereby reducing the amount of gastric inflammation.
If H. pylori is present, this should be treated as it may predispose the patient to gastric ulcers, gastric cancer, and lymphoma of the stomach. Treatment involves taking a combination of antibiotics known to be effective in killing the H. pylori bacteria, as well as drugs that reduce the amount of acid in your stomach.
Other factors which may help to reduce gastritis include avoiding NSAIDs, smoking, alcohol, and caffeine. Stress reduction may possibly influence gastritis inflammation and medicines such as H2 blockers (ZantacⓇ and PepcidⓇ), and proton pump inhibitors (PrilosecⓇ, pantoprazole, PrevacidⓇ, and DexilantⓇ) are also useful in the treatment of gastritis.
If you’re having stomach troubles, it’s best to look into the cause without delay. Call Edmunds Gastroenterology to schedule a consultation today, or book an appointment online.
This information is not intended to diagnose or treat any condition. Please consult with your primary care physician or a specialist regarding your symptoms.
