Acute gastritis is inflammation of the stomach lining causing severe pain and burning in the upper abdomen. It can be caused by medication, lifestyle factors, or aging. Diagnosis involves various tests, and treatment includes antacids and prescription drugs.
Acute gastritis is a medical condition that occurs when the lining of the stomach becomes inflamed and causes severe burning or pain in the sufferer’s upper abdomen. It usually has to occur suddenly and without warning to be considered “acute.” Healthy people normally have a thick lining of mucus in the stomach that protects the organ wall from the harsh acids used to help break down food for digestion. Gastritis occurs when this lining wears away or weakens and is usually quite painful. It is also very treatable in most cases, but treatment almost always begins with determining the cause. Many medications can cause mucus erosion, as can some lifestyle choices such as smoking or excessive alcohol consumption. Sometimes it is also a natural consequence of aging. Sometimes simple antacids or other over-the-counter remedies can bring relief, but in more serious cases, medical attention may be needed.
Understand stomach chemistry
The human stomach plays a very important role in the digestive process, but it depends on a delicate balance of acids and other substances to do its job properly. Food usually begins to break down in the mouth with the chemicals in the saliva. The stomach goes one step further by churning foods and isolating their major components. This is no easy task and requires many different acids and compounds, many of which are quite abrasive and aggressive.
A person’s diet can sometimes upset the balance, as well as different substances and compounds that enter the stomach cavity. The inner wall of the stomach is lined with a thick layer of mucus which protects against erosion, but when proportions are disrupted this layer can cease to be as effective. When stomach acids and other contents come into contact with the raw organ wall, people often experience sharp, shooting pain. This problem is medically known as gastritis.
Basics of gastritis
Generally, there are three separate forms of gastritis. The acute version usually occurs suddenly, often in response to a specific food or compound. It will normally go away on its own once the offending agent has been digested and out of the body. A “sub-acute” condition has a longer life span and may have been going on for some time; it’s often caused by a number of different things. When the condition is chronic, it is usually thought to have an indefinite duration and may have almost no change over time.
main symptoms
Sharp pain is usually the first thing people notice when acute gastritis occurs. Nausea and vomiting are also common, as is a feeling of abdominal bloating or tightness. Indigestion and a burning sensation between meals have also been reported by a number of patients, along with black, tarry stools.
Role of anti-inflammatory drugs
There are a number of different things that can cause acute gastritis, but drugs and medications are among the most common in part due to how quickly they are absorbed into the bloodstream. Regular use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen is one of the most frequently cited culprits. While these pain relievers are generally safe for occasional use, taking them daily can cause an erosion of the protective mucus-lined barrier.
lifestyle factors
Severe stress and smoking are also contributing factors, and often heavy and prolonged alcohol consumption is also included as a cause. These activities can cause the normally harmless bacterium helicobacter pylori, which occurs naturally in the stomach, to attack the protective lining of the stomach. An infection resulting from Helicobacter pylori is the most likely reason for a diagnosis of gastritis.
As a result of aging
The condition could also simply be a consequence of aging. As humans age, they naturally experience a thinning of the stomach lining, making them more susceptible to a Helicobacter pylori infection and some autoimmune diseases. People in this category who have a lot of stress in their lives, who smoke or drink heavily are usually at particular risk.
Diagnosis and treatment
Diagnosis is not always easy, as in many cases the initial symptoms mimic those of normal indigestion or temporary stomach pain. Healthcare professionals usually make their diagnoses based on several tests, including blood tests, urinalysis, X-rays, stomach biopsy, endoscopy, and stool sample.
Treatment options are many, and choosing the best one usually depends a lot on how severe the sufferer’s symptoms are and whether there are other competing health issues to address. Mild gastritis can often be treated with an over-the-counter antacid in tablet or liquid form. Antacids are meant to neutralize the stomach acids that cause pain and provide immediate relief. If over-the-counter drugs are ineffective, some prescription drugs can help limit the amount of acid your stomach makes.
The most effective drugs to limit or stop the production of stomach acid are known as proton pump inhibitors. The body’s proton pump is responsible for releasing acids from the acid-secreting stomach cells, but inhibitors, as the name suggests, prevent this from happening. If acute gastritis is the result of a Helicobacter pylori infection, many doctors will use a combination of medications, typically antibiotics and a proton pump inhibitor.
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