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Chronic Gastritis
What should I do if chronic gastritis flares up?
If chronic gastritis flares up, patients need not be overly anxious. Standard treatment can quickly cure chronic gastritis. Following an acute flare-up of chronic gastritis, the first step involves using medications such as magnesium carbonate, aluminum sucrose sulfate, and aluminum-magnesium suspension to protect the gastric mucosa. Then, use H2 receptor antagonists or proton pump inhibitors to suppress stomach acid secretion and increase the pH level inside the stomach. Sometimes, traditional Chinese medicine is also quite effective in treating chronic gastritis, such as Qi Stagnation Stomach Pain Granules, Wen-Wei Shu, Yang Wei Shu Capsules, and Xiang Sha Yang Wei Pills. (Please use medication under the guidance of a doctor.)
Is chronic gastritis easy to treat?
Chronic gastritis is relatively common in clinical settings and generally responds well to standardized treatment, so there is no need for excessive worry. As the name implies, chronic gastritis is caused by various factors that lead to inflammatory changes in the stomach, which may manifest as congestion and edema of the gastric mucosa, erosion, and even the formation of multiple superficial ulcers. Common symptoms of chronic gastritis include abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, and belching, usually with a long history. The abdominal pain typically occurs in the upper abdomen and is related to food intake, which may improve after eating. Nausea and vomiting generally involve gastric contents, sometimes including blood. Patients undergo gastroscopy and biopsy to further confirm chronic gastritis, and tests for Helicobacter pylori are commonly performed. If the treatment involves Helicobacter pylori and results are positive, treatment to protect the stomach and eradicate Helicobacter pylori is recommended.
The likelihood of chronic gastritis turning malignant
Generally speaking, the chances of chronic gastritis turning malignant are very low. However, if chronic gastritis involves atrophy, there is still a certain risk of malignancy. Therefore, patients with atrophic gastritis should undergo regular gastroscopy and pathological biopsy. At the same time, patients with chronic gastritis should eat more fresh vegetables and fruits rich in vitamins, consume mild foods, and avoid drinking strong tea, coffee, and spirits, as well as quit smoking. Foods that are overly acidic, overly spicy, overly salty, or overly hot should also be avoided as much as possible.
How many days does chronic gastritis need for IV therapy?
The treatment of chronic gastritis generally depends on whether there is a Helicobacter pylori infection. If there is an infection, the usual approach is a quadruple therapy to eradicate the bacteria, which includes a proton pump inhibitor, two types of antibiotics, and a bismuth compound, lasting for a 10 to 14-day treatment course. If there is no Helicobacter pylori infection, the treatment primarily focuses on symptomatic relief, such as suppressing stomach acid, protecting the gastric mucosa, and enhancing gastric motility, depending on the specific conditions of the patient. As for the duration of intravenous therapy for chronic gastritis, if the patient does not exhibit significant vomiting, intravenous therapy is generally not necessary, as oral medication is sufficient to achieve therapeutic goals. If the patient has severe vomiting and cannot eat, intravenous therapy might be needed. This would focus mainly on suppressing stomach acid and maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance, typically requiring two to three days, and prolonged intravenous therapy is not necessary. (Please follow the doctor's prescription for medication.)
What foods should be avoided with chronic gastritis?
Chronic gastritis commonly presents symptoms such as bloating, stomach pain, belching, acid reflux, nausea, vomiting, etc. These symptoms may recur periodically. A definitive diagnosis of chronic gastritis can be made through gastroscopy. Treatments include acid suppression, gastric protection, enhancement of gastric motility, and protection of the gastric mucosa. Special attention should be paid to diet in cases of chronic gastritis. What should be avoided in the diet? Firstly, smoking and drinking alcohol are prohibited, as well as drinking strong tea and coffee. Foods that are fatty, rich, or greasy should not be consumed, and neither should fried, grilled, spicy, or cold dishes. Foods such as milk, soy milk, sticky rice, and sweet potatoes can lead to excessive secretion of stomach acid and some can cause gas, resulting in symptoms of bloating. Therefore, these types of foods should also be consumed less, or even avoided. So, what should we eat? It is best to consume foods that are easy to digest, such as porridge and soups, as well as noodles that are cooked until very soft. Meat is also acceptable but should be cooked or stewed until very tender, as this will not overburden the stomach and will not adversely affect chronic gastritis.
How to treat dry heaving in chronic gastritis?
Patients with chronic gastritis who experience dry retching should consider whether it is due to insufficient gastrointestinal motility or excessive secretion of gastric acid. It is recommended to avoid overly spicy and irritating foods, eat regularly and in proper amounts, and maintain a pleasant mood without being disturbed by anxiety, sadness, and anger. Eating more fresh vegetables and fruits rich in vitamins is also advisable. At the same time, try to avoid using drugs that damage the gastric mucosa, such as hormones, antirheumatics, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, etc.
Can chronic gastritis be cured?
Chronic gastritis is generally difficult to cure completely. The current treatment principle is to eliminate the cause, alleviate symptoms, and prevent or reduce the recurrence of the disease. Treatment mainly focuses on protecting the gastric mucosa, suppressing gastric acid secretion, and eradicating Helicobacter pylori infections. Post-treatment care is also very important. It is advisable to eat a diet that is light, soft, and easy to digest, avoid spicy, stimulating, and greasy foods, and steer clear of strong tea, coffee, and alcoholic beverages. Engaging in appropriate outdoor exercises and managing emotions also play a positive role in the treatment of chronic gastritis.
Do people with chronic gastritis lose weight?
If patients with chronic gastritis often experience emotional anxiety and tension, leading to insomnia, irritability, reduced food intake, and indigestion, this may result in weight loss. Patients with chronic gastritis should not binge eat; they should eat regularly, maintain a diverse diet, and consume plenty of vitamin-rich fresh vegetables and fruits. They should avoid spicy and irritating foods, such as strong tea, coffee, and hard liquor. It is also important to quit smoking and avoid medications that damage the gastric mucosa.
What are the symptoms of chronic gastritis?
Common symptoms of chronic gastritis include stomach pain, bloating, belching, acid reflux, nausea, vomiting, heartburn, poor appetite, indigestion, and early satiety. These symptoms can be confirmed by a gastroscopy. If the gastroscopy shows gastric mucosal hyperemia, edema, or erosion, it can be diagnosed as chronic gastritis. It is also recommended to conduct a Carbon-14 breath test to determine if there is an infection with Helicobacter pylori, which has been confirmed as a major cause of chronic gastritis and peptic ulcer diseases. If the infection is positive, a 14-day treatment for Helicobacter pylori is required. Additionally, the treatment for chronic gastritis should include acid suppression and stomach protection, promoting gastric motility and repairing the gastric mucosa, and the treatment usually lasts about four to six weeks.
Does chronic gastritis cause pain?
Chronic gastritis is relatively common in clinical settings and is frequently seen in the gastroenterology outpatient department. Chronic gastritis can manifest in various ways and may cause stomach pain, typically presenting as upper abdominal pain, which is generally considered pain above the navel. The nature of the pain can be bloating, colic, dull pain, or burning pain, or patients may simply experience discomfort. Of course, patients may also have other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, dry heaving, belching, and hiccupping, but generally do not exhibit alarming symptoms such as anemia, vomiting blood, bloody stools, or fever, etc. The diagnosis of chronic gastritis generally relies on gastroscopy, which can reveal congestion, edema, and erosion of the gastric mucosa under gastroscopy, and in some cases, distinct ulcers and tumors. The treatment mainly focuses on protecting the stomach and symptomatic management, generally with good results.