Gastric irritations, otherwise known as gastritis, is a condition in which your stomach lining becomes inflamed. This is a problem because the stomach lining is meant to secrete mucus which would prevent the stomach from being damaged by the strong acids that it also produces to aid the digestion of foods and protect the body from infection and gastric irritation.
Causes of Gastric Irritation
Several factors could cause gastric irritation. It could be the presence of certain harmful bacteria in your stomach such as the Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). Excess alcohol intake is another likely cause as well as chronic vomiting.
Sometimes, the use of certain medications like aspirin or other anti-inflammatory drugs could also lead to gastric irritation. In some cases, chronic stress has also been a factor that causes this inflammation.
Certain illnesses such as diabetes and kidney failures can also result in the inflammation of the stomach lining. Bile reflux, i.e the backflow of bile into the stomach is another known cause of gastric irritation.
Symptoms of Gastric Irritation
Firstly, the symptoms of gastritis vary from one individual to another, and some do not even show any symptoms at all. However, these are the most common symptoms
- Upper abdominal pain
- Nausea
- Intermittent burning feeling in the stomach, especially at night
- Indigestion
- Early satiety. This is a situation when your stomach feels full after just a few bites of food
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Bloating
- Belching and hiccups
Types of Gastric Irritation
If the goal is to be comprehensive, there are at least eight (8) different types of gastritis. In a broader sense, however, there are grouped under 2 types. Gastritis can be either acute or chronic.
Acute gastritis is an irritation of the stomach lining that tends to only last for a short period time. chronic gastritis on the other hand requires more caution as it can last for a very long period of time and can lead to cancer if not handled properly and on time. It is essential that you reach out to your healthcare practitioner for advice on the right medication to use.
Classification of Gastritis
For classification purposes, gastritis can be grouped under three types
Type A: This happens when the immune system destroys stomach cells. This type of gastritis can increase your risk of vitamin deficiencies, anemia, and cancer.
Type B: This category of gastritis is caused by Helicobacter pylori bacteria as has been mentioned earlier. It can lead to stomach and intestinal ulcers, and cancer. It is the most common type of gastritis.
Type C: This is the type caused by bile, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or alcohol. it can result in stomach lining erosion or bleeding.
Gastritis, whether chronic or acute can be treated or at least well managed. If you have any cause for concerns, you should visit your doctor, carry out tests, and then the right treatment will be prescribed to you.
