How to treat gastritis

Written by Yang Chun Guang
Gastroenterology
Updated on September 03, 2024
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Gastritis is mostly caused by Helicobacter pylori infection, or factors such as improper diet, medications, and emotional stress, which lead to gastric mucosal damage. In terms of treatment, it is best to first conduct a gastroscopy and test for Helicobacter pylori to determine the type of gastritis and whether there is an infection. Treatment should then be guided by the results. If it is not possible to conduct these tests, one can use proton pump inhibitors to suppress stomach acid, in combination with gastric mucosal protectants. If reflux gastritis is present, prokinetic drugs should also be used to inhibit reflux. (Use of medications should be under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Wu Peng
Gastroenterology
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What are the symptoms of gastritis?

Chronic gastritis often lacks specific clinical manifestations, and the correlation between the pathological histological examination results of the gastric mucosa and the clinical manifestations is also relatively poor. Some patients show changes in the mucosa indicative of gastritis during gastroscopy, and pathological histological examinations reveal inflammation, but they may have no or only mild clinical symptoms. The clinical manifestations of most chronic gastritis are merely upper gastrointestinal dyspeptic symptoms, such as a sense of fullness in the upper abdomen, irregular dull pain, belching, decreased appetite, weight loss, fatigue, and worsening upper abdominal discomfort after eating. Patients with chronic gastritis often have no obvious specific physical signs; some may have mild upper abdominal tenderness or discomfort upon palpation. Patients with gastric mucosal lesions may have positive fecal occult blood tests; however, vomiting blood or having black stool is very rare, and long-term poor appetite or minor bleeding might be accompanied by anemia. In severe cases of atrophic gastritis and pernicious anemia, significant anemia symptoms may be present.

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Symptoms of gastritis

Gastritis is an acute and chronic inflammation of the gastric mucosa caused by various reasons. The most common types of gastritis are acute gastritis and chronic gastritis. The common symptoms of acute gastritis include upper abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. Severe cases may experience vomiting blood, fever, dehydration, and even shock. Symptoms of chronic gastritis are not specific; many cases are asymptomatic. Those with symptoms may experience upper abdominal pain or discomfort, loss of appetite, belching, acid reflux, and nausea. Symptoms are often related to food intake, and a significant number of patients may not show any symptoms at all. Patients with gastric erosion may experience minor or major bleeding, and chronic minor bleeding can lead to iron deficiency anemia.

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Written by Si Li Li
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Can people with gastritis eat peaches?

The main symptoms of chronic gastritis include upper abdominal pain, belching, acid reflux, nausea, vomiting, etc. It can be definitively diagnosed through a gastroscopy, which may reveal edema, hyperemia, and erosion of the gastric mucosa, thereby confirming the diagnosis of chronic gastritis. Once diagnosed, targeted and standardized treatment should be administered. Moreover, dietary habits must be carefully managed. Smoking and drinking alcohol should be avoided, as well as consuming spicy, fried, barbecued, and greasy foods. Fruit intake should also be controlled; for instance, only half a peach per day is advisable to avoid overconsumption. Overeating can exacerbate the burden on the gastrointestinal tract, making chronic gastritis more likely to recur. Additionally, one should not consume fruit taken directly from the refrigerator as such cold foods are strictly discouraged.

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Written by Wu Hai Wu
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Does massage help with gastritis?

Gastritis might not necessarily be remedied by massage. Treatments for gastritis can include eradication of Helicobacter pylori, using medications to reduce gastric acid secretion, protecting the gastric mucosa, and enhancing gastric motility, among others. If the patient experiences depression or anxiety, anti-anxiety medications may also be used to adjust the patient's mood. The primary causes of gastritis may be infection by Helicobacter pylori, consumption of substances that damage or irritate the gastric mucosa such as aspirin or anti-rheumatic drugs, or ingestion of spicy and irritating foods, which harm the gastric mucosa. This results in inflammation, congestion, and edema of the gastric mucosa, where massage may not be effective. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a professional doctor.)

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Can gastritis cause bad breath?

Gastritis can cause bad breath; the reasons may include poor digestion and reduced gastric motility in patients after developing gastritis, or possibly due to infection with Helicobacter pylori. Besides gastritis, other stomach diseases can also cause bad breath, such as peptic ulcers, malignant gastric tumors, and erosive gastritis, among others. Apart from stomach diseases, diseases related to the liver, gallbladder, and oral diseases can also cause bad breath. Therefore, when patients experience bad breath, they should visit the department of stomatology to determine if there are any oral diseases, complete imaging examinations of the liver and gallbladder, and, if necessary, also complete gastroscopic examinations.