Gastritis

What is gastritis?

Gastritis is when the lining of your stomach is irritated and swollen. The stomach lining helps prevent acids from damaging your stomach. Treatment or lifestyle changes may decrease your symptoms and help heal your stomach lining.

What causes gastritis?

Ask your caregiver about these and other causes:

• Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori): These bacteria (germs) are the most common cause of gastritis.
  
  
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): You may take NSAIDs for pain, swelling, or fever. NSAIDs include ibuprofen and aspirin. If you take too many NSAIDs or take them for too long, they may wear down the lining of your stomach.
  
  
• Alcohol: You may get gastritis if you drink too much alcohol or drink alcohol for a long time. Women should limit alcohol to 1 drink a day. Men should limit alcohol to 2 drinks a day. A drink of alcohol is 12 ounces of beer, or 5 ounces of wine. One and one-half ounces of liquor, such as whiskey, is 1 drink of alcohol.

What are the signs and symptoms of gastritis?

You may have gastritis but not feel sick. You may notice any of the following:

• Stomach pain: Your stomach may hurt, burn, or be tender when you press on it.
  
  
• Nausea or vomiting: You may feel sick to your stomach or vomit (throw up). Your vomit may be bloody or look like coffee grounds.
  
  
• Bloating and lack of appetite: You may not feel like eating, or you may feel full quickly when you do eat. Your stomach may feel full and tight.
  
  
• Bad breath: Your breath may smell foul.
  
  
• Fatigue: You may feel more tired than usual.

How is gastritis diagnosed?

Your caregiver will examine you and ask you about your symptoms. He may give you any of the following:

• Endoscopy and biopsy: This procedure uses a scope to see the inside of your stomach. A scope is a long, bendable tube with a light on the end of it. A camera may be hooked to the scope to take pictures. Caregivers may find problems with how your stomach is working. During an endoscopy, a biopsy (sample) may be taken from your stomach and sent to a lab for tests.
  
  
• Blood tests: You may need blood taken to test for an infection caused by H. pylori. The blood can be taken from a blood vessel in your hand, arm, or the bend in your elbow. You may need to have blood drawn more than once.
  
  
• Breath test: Caregivers test your breath to see if you have an H. pylori infection. Ask your caregiver for more information about this test.
  
  
• Stool test: A sample of your bowel movement is sent to a lab to learn if you have H. pylori.

How is gastritis treated?

Treatment will depend on what is causing your gastritis. You may be given the following medicines:

• Antacids: You may need antacids to decrease stomach acid. These are available over-the-counter.
  
  
• Proton pump inhibitors: These medicines reduce the amount of acid in your stomach. Tell your caregiver if you experience any side effects, such as headaches, diarrhea, or constipation.
  
  
• Antibiotics: You may be given antibiotics if you have an H. pylori infection. Antibiotics help kill the germs that cause infection. Always take your antibiotics exactly as ordered by your caregiver. Take this medicine until it is completely gone, even if you feel better. The medicine may not kill all of the germs if you stop taking it too soon.

How can I manage my gastritis?

• Avoid NSAIDs. NSAIDs may irritate your stomach. It may help to take them with food, but you may not be able to take NSAIDs at all.
  
  
• Avoid alcohol. Alcohol can make your gastritis worse. Talk to your caregiver if you need help quitting.
  
  
• Do not eat foods that bother your stomach.
  
  
• Quit smoking. Cigarette smoke can make your gastritis worse. If you smoke, it is never too late to quit. Ask your caregiver for more information about how to stop smoking if you have trouble quitting.

What are the risks of having gastritis?

• You may have an allergic reaction to the antibiotics. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) may decrease your body's ability to absorb certain nutrients, such as vitamin B12 and calcium. This can cause weakness, bone fractures, and memory loss. PPIs also can cause lung or stomach infections, diarrhea, constipation, and headaches.
  
  
• Without treatment, your symptoms may not go away or may become worse. Some types of gastritis may destroy your stomach lining. This may affect how your body digests food. Your stomach may become blocked. This can cause pain. If irritation becomes worse, you may develop ulcers (tears in your stomach lining). Gastritis can cause stomach bleeding. Gastritis may happen suddenly, or it may be a long-term problem. If you have gastritis for a long time, you may get stomach cancer. You may get a perforation (hole) in your stomach, which can be life-threatening. Ask your caregiver if you have any questions or concerns about your condition or treatment.

Where can I find more information?

Contact the following:

• American College of Gastroenterology
  P.O. Box 342260
  Bethesda , MD 20827-2260
  Phone: 1- 301 - 263-9000
  Web Address: http://www.acg.gi.org/
  

• American Gastroenterological Association
  4930 Del Ray Avenue
  Bethesda , MD 20814
  Phone: 1- 301 - 6542055
  Web Address: http://www.gastro.org
  

When should I call my caregiver?

Call your caregiver if:

• You feel weak or more tired than usual.
  
  
• Your pain has not improved after several days.
  
  
• You have a fever.

When should I seek immediate help?

Seek care immediately or call 911 if:

• You have severe stomach or back pain.
  
  
• You vomit blood (may be red or look like coffee grounds).
  
  
• You have black or bloody bowel movements.
  
  
• You develop chest pain or become short of breath.

Care Agreement

You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your caregivers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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