Stomach inflammation? Let's learn exactly about gastritis!

Like all of us, we have probably said at least once in our lives, "I have gastritis." When we have a burning sensation in our stomach or stomach pain, we say that it is gastritis. But what exactly is gastritis? Should we all be afraid of it? Let's talk about it today, simply and clearly. Today you will find answers to many of your questions.

What exactly is gastritis?

Simply put, gastritis is an inflammation of the lining of our stomach . Think of our stomach as a small pouch. All the food we eat and drink goes into this pouch. The stomach secretes a very strong acid and enzymes to help digest this food.

Now, to prevent this harsh acid from damaging the stomach itself, the inside of the stomach is covered with a very special protective coating. In medical terms, we call this `(mucosa)`. This coating works like painting the walls of a house to protect them.

If this protective lining is damaged for some reason, our body's immune system sends cells to repair it. This process is what I called inflammation, which means swelling and redness. This is what we call gastritis.

Are there main types of gastritis?

Yes, gastritis can be divided into several main types. It is important for you to know this.

1. Sort by time of occurrence

• Acute Gastritis: This is the type that comes on suddenly and goes away in a short time . For example, this condition can occur after drinking alcohol heavily or taking a strong painkiller. This also gets better once the cause is gone.
• Chronic Gastritis: This is a long-term condition that develops slowly over time . Sometimes you may have this condition inside your body even if you don't have any symptoms.

2. Classification according to the damage to the stomach wall

To understand this, see the table below.

In addition, gastritis is also named according to the cause of its occurrence.

• Infectious gastritis (caused by an infection)
• Drug-induced gastritis
• Alcohol-induced gastritis
• Autoimmune gastritis (caused by the body's own immune system)

What are the symptoms of gastritis?

Most of the time, gastritis may not cause any symptoms. However, symptoms do occur when the stomach lining has been damaged to a point where it can no longer protect itself from the harsh acids in the stomach.

Commonly seen symptoms are:

• Loss of appetite , or feeling full even after eating a little.
• Feeling pain or discomfort in the upper abdomen.
• Bloating .
• Nausea and/or vomiting .

What are the main causes of gastritis?

We now know that gastritis is our body's response to a threat to the stomach lining. So what are these threats?

1. Infections:

The most common cause of gastritis is infection. In particular, the bacterial infection `H. pylori` (Helicobacter pylori) is very well-known. Nearly half of the world's population is infected with this bacteria. This can cause long-term (chronic) gastritis. In addition, viral infections can also cause short-term gastritis.

2. Chemicals:

• Painkillers: Long-term or excessive use of painkillers called `NSAIDs` (Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) (e.g. ibuprofen, diclofenac, aspirin) is a major cause of gastritis. Do not continue to take these without medical advice.
• Alcohol: Excessive alcohol consumption directly damages the protective lining of the stomach.

3. Autoimmune Disease:

This is a bit of a complicated situation. What happens here is that our body's own defense system, the immune system, mistakenly attacks healthy cells in the stomach . This causes long-term inflammation, called chronic gastritis.

4. Severe mental or physical stress:

During times of great stress, such as major surgery, a serious accident, or illness, the body is under a lot of stress. During this time, the body increases blood flow to vital organs like the brain and heart, while reducing blood flow to areas like the stomach. This can weaken the stomach's defenses and lead to gastritis.

What happens if gastritis is left untreated? (Complications)

Most of the time, gastritis is a temporary condition that resolves quickly with treatment. However, if it persists or is left untreated, it can cause serious problems.

• Peptic Ulcer Disease: If erosive gastritis continues, stomach ulcers can develop.
• Bleeding and Anemia: These wounds can cause bleeding and a condition called anemia, which is a decrease in blood volume in the body.
• Perforation: Although very rare, a non-healing ulcer can completely pierce the wall of the stomach. This is a very dangerous, life-threatening emergency (gastrointestinal perforation).
• Nutritional deficiencies: Long-term gastritis (especially atrophic gastritis) can reduce the body's absorption of nutrients like iron and vitamin B12.
• Stomach cancer risk: Although very rare , long-term gastritis, caused by conditions such as H. pylori infection, can cause changes in the cells of the stomach, slightly increasing the risk of developing stomach cancer in the future. This is why it is recommended to see a doctor if you have symptoms to find out the exact cause.

How do you find this, Doctor?

When you go to see a doctor, he will first ask about your symptoms, the medications you take, and your eating habits. Then, if necessary, he will refer you for some tests.

• Endoscopy: The best and most accurate way to diagnose gastritisThis is what happens here. A very thin, flexible tube with a camera attached is passed through the mouth into the stomach, and the inner wall of the stomach is viewed directly on a screen. At this time, a very small piece of tissue (biopsy) is taken from the stomach wall and examined under a microscope to determine exactly whether gastritis is present and what is causing it.
• H. pylori testing: A breath test, stool test, or blood test can be done to check for the presence of this bacteria.
• Blood tests: This helps to check for other problems, such as anemia.

How is gastritis treated?

Gastritis is treated by finding the cause and treating that cause.

Treatment methods vary depending on the cause:

• For H. pylori infection: This requires a combination of antibiotics and stomach acid-reducing medications (e.g., proton pump inhibitors - PPIs) for about 1-2 weeks.
• If it's due to painkillers: You can talk to your doctor and switch to a safer painkiller or change the way you take the medicine.
• If due to alcohol: The best treatment is to reduce or completely stop alcohol consumption.
• Dietary habits: Reducing spicy, oily, and acidic foods and drinks can help control symptoms.
• Acid-reducing medications: Your doctor will prescribe medications to reduce stomach acid and give the damaged stomach lining time to heal.

Most of the time, gastritis can be cured quickly with proper treatment. The most important thing is to seek medical advice without ignoring the symptoms.