Gastritis is the inflammation and damage to the stomach lining, and it can start with symptoms like nausea and stomach pain. As it progresses, you might notice signs of vitamin deficiencies. One of the most common causes of gastritis is an infection with a bacteria called Helicobacter pylori, or H. pylori.
If left untreated, gastritis can get pretty serious and might even lead to gastric cancer. But because it doesn’t always show symptoms early on, you might not even know you have it. The good news is that gastritis is usually treatable, with different approaches depending on what’s causing it.
There are three types of gastritis. Acute gastritis can turn into chronic gastritis if you don’t address the underlying causes quickly. The symptoms vary, too, depending on whether it’s acute or chronic. Acute gastritis causes sudden symptoms resembling a stomach virus. Some people don’t show symptoms at all, known as asymptomatic gastritis. Chronic gastritis often occurs in people with autoimmune disorders and shows up as iron-deficiency anemia and low vitamin B12.
Gastritis can affect how well your stomach absorbs nutrients, leading to deficiencies. Anemia symptoms might mean you need tests for anemia or other related conditions, so it’s best to check with your healthcare provider if you notice these symptoms.
While H. pylori is a well-known cause, sometimes no specific cause can be found. About 35% of the U.S. population carries H. pylori, and most of them will develop chronic gastritis. Other causes can include conditions like Crohn’s disease, vasculitis, and Menetriere disease, which lead to ulcers in the stomach lining.
To diagnose gastritis, a gastroenterologist might perform a biopsy using endoscopy, which is a procedure where a thin, lighted tool with a camera is used to look at your stomach lining. While endoscopy is precise, it’s also invasive.
Treatment depends on the cause. If it’s something like Crohn’s disease, doctors treat that condition instead of the gastritis directly. Supplements can help manage symptoms, especially if you have vitamin deficiency. If an H. pylori infection is the culprit, antibiotics and proton pump inhibitors are commonly used. You might need several antibiotic rounds to fully clear the infection.
Lifestyle changes can also help manage both acute and chronic gastritis. Although you can’t prevent all causes, good hygiene can help reduce the chance of getting an H. pylori infection since it’s transmitted through the fecal-oral route.
Gastritis can lead to complications, some mild like vitamin deficiencies, and others more severe, including the risk of developing ulcers that might bleed or even turn into cancer. For kids, gastritis can impact growth since it makes absorbing nutrients tougher.
If you suspect gastritis or have symptoms or risk factors, consult your healthcare provider about testing and treatments. Reducing alcohol intake may alleviate symptoms since alcohol is a known irritant, but no other specific drinks have been proven beneficial. Spicy foods might worsen symptoms if you have peptic ulcers from gastritis. Ultimately, treating gastritis often involves addressing underlying conditions and avoiding substances like alcohol and smoking that could make it worse.
