What should I do if atrophic gastritis causes severe weight loss?

Written by Wu Hai Wu
Gastroenterology
Updated on February 08, 2025
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Patients with atrophic gastritis should be highly attentive if they experience significant weight loss and should receive standardized traditional treatments. Additionally, dietary habits also require careful attention; it is important to quit smoking and drinking alcohol, and to avoid using medications that damage the gastric mucosa, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and steroids. Furthermore, eating habits should be regular, avoiding binge eating and foods that are too salty, spicy, or that are fried or deep-fried. Active treatment should also be directed against Helicobacter pylori, utilizing medications that protect the gastric mucosa, enhance its resistance to gastric acid, and improve the regenerative ability of gastric mucosal cells. Medications that inhibit bile reflux and improve gastric motility can also be employed.

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Written by Feng Ying Shuai
Traditional Chinese Medicine
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Where to apply moxibustion for atrophic gastritis?

For some symptoms of atrophic gastritis, moxibustion can be applied, such as on the Zhongwan acupoint located on the Ren meridian, as well as the Xiawan and Liangqiu acupoints. Moxibustion can also be done on the Zusanli acupoint along the stomach meridian, as well as on Neiguan and Gongsun acupoints, which are intersections of the eight meridians and can regulate atrophic gastritis. However, there is a particular method to follow during moxibustion; generally, acupoints on the upper body are treated first, followed by those on the lower body. For instance, start with the acupoints on the abdomen such as Zhongwan, Xiawan, and Liangqiu, followed by Zusanli, and then Gongsun. During moxibustion, the amount of moxa used should increase gradually, and the duration of treatment should extend from short to longer periods, indicating that the treatment period for atrophic gastritis might be longer.

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Written by Si Li Li
Gastroenterology
1min 3sec home-news-image

Can atrophic gastritis with HP positive lead to cancer?

Chronic atrophic gastritis has a certain risk of cancerous transformation. For patients with chronic atrophic gastritis, the first step in treatment is to administer anti-Helicobacter pylori therapy, which includes a proton pump inhibitor, two types of antibiotics, and a bismuth agent, with a treatment duration of 14 days. Additionally, treatments to suppress stomach acid, protect the stomach lining, promote gastric motility, and repair the stomach mucosa are necessary. Treatment methods also involve traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) diagnoses and oral administration of Chinese herbal medicine. External TCM treatments, such as thunder-fire moxibustion and moxibustion on the Zhongwan acupoint, or the acupoints of spleen-shu and stomach-shu on the back, which strengthen the spleen and benefit qi to nourish the stomach, can also play a significant role in treating this disease.

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Written by Si Li Li
Gastroenterology
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What should be done with chronic non-atrophic gastritis with erosion?

Chronic non-atrophic gastritis with erosion requires a biopsy of the eroded area during a gastroscopy for a pathological examination to determine the nature of the erosion, whether it is inflammatory, intestinal metaplasia, or atypical hyperplasia, etc. If the erosion is inflammatory, oral medication is needed for treatment, such as treatment against Helicobacter pylori, as well as acid suppression, stomach protection, promotion of gastric motility, and protection of the gastric mucosa. If intestinal metaplasia or moderate to severe atypical hyperplasia is present, endoscopic mucosal resection is recommended. This is because moderate to severe intestinal metaplasia or atypical hyperplasia has a certain rate of malignancy, and endoscopic mucosal resection is necessary for thorough treatment, as oral medication alone cannot completely cure this lesion.

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Written by Si Li Li
Gastroenterology
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Chronic non-atrophic gastritis with bile reflux treatment

Chronic non-atrophic gastritis with bile reflux is mainly characterized by symptoms such as upper abdominal distension, belching, acid reflux, nausea, vomiting, poor appetite, and indigestion. A diagnosis can be made if bile reflux into the stomach or bile patches on the stomach wall are observed during gastroscopy. A Carbon-14 breath test is also necessary to determine the presence of Helicobacter pylori infection. If the infection test is positive, a 14-day anti-Helicobacter pylori treatment is required. Additionally, treatment for chronic non-atrophic gastritis with bile reflux should include acid suppression, gastric protection, and promotion of gastric motility to protect the gastric mucosa, with a treatment duration of about four to six weeks. Bile reflux-associated chronic gastritis is primarily caused by poor gastric motility, thus increasing physical exercise is recommended as it can enhance gastric motility and improve the condition.

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Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
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What are the symptoms of atrophic gastritis?

Atrophic gastritis, also known as body-type gastritis, is mainly caused by Helicobacter pylori infection leading to atrophy of the gastric mucosa. Under microscopy, twisted blood vessels and alternating red and white mucosa can be seen. The main symptoms include nausea, vomiting, and decreased appetite. A reduction in parietal cells can lead to decreased secretion of intrinsic factor, thereby causing anemia with red blood cells. If atrophic gastritis is accompanied by ulcers, it can cause severe abdominal pain and bloody stools. It is important to adjust the diet, eat more soft and easily digestible foods, and consume fewer raw, cold, and spicy foods.