Chronic Gastritis
Is chronic gastritis easy to treat?
The treatment of chronic gastritis primarily aims to alleviate symptoms and reduce the recurrence of the disease; it is generally difficult to cure completely. The medications chosen are mainly for protecting the gastric mucosa and inhibiting gastric acid secretion. If there is an infection with Helicobacter pylori, it should be completely eradicated. Additionally, attention should be paid to dietary adjustments, consuming soft and easily digestible foods, and avoiding spicy, stimulating, and greasy foods. It is important to engage in appropriate outdoor exercise, develop good living habits, and regulate emotions, as excessive tension, irritability, and anger can exacerbate chronic gastritis.
How to treat chronic gastritis?
For the treatment of chronic gastritis, it is generally considered necessary to decide the treatment plan based on whether there is a Helicobacter pylori infection. This can be determined through a C13 or C14 breath test. If the test is positive for H. pylori, it indicates a bacterial infection. The typical treatment in this case would involve a quadruple therapy that includes a proton pump inhibitor, two types of antibiotics, and a bismuth agent. If there is no H. pylori infection, symptomatic treatment is generally sufficient, such as inhibiting stomach acid, protecting the stomach lining, increasing gastric motility, etc. Additionally, it is necessary to develop good dietary and living habits. Furthermore, emotional factors are closely related to the activity of chronic gastritis, so maintaining a positive mental attitude is beneficial for digestive system diseases.
What are the symptoms of chronic gastritis?
Chronic gastritis does not have specific symptoms, and the severity of the symptoms does not necessarily correspond to the severity of the disease. Common symptoms include pain in the upper middle abdomen, belching, acid reflux, nausea, vomiting, heartburn, a feeling of fullness after eating, poor appetite, and indigestion. In severe cases of atrophic gastritis, patients may experience symptoms such as anemia and weight loss. Some patients may also experience psychological symptoms such as anxiety and depression. If a patient experiences the above symptoms, it is recommended to promptly conduct a gastroscopy to confirm the diagnosis. It is also advisable to conduct a carbon-14 breath test to determine the presence of Helicobacter pylori infection, as this infection is a major cause of chronic gastritis. After confirming the diagnosis, appropriate treatment should be administered.
Can people with chronic gastritis eat bananas?
Patients with chronic gastritis can moderately consume bananas without any issue. Generally, it is advised that patients with chronic gastritis eat a diet that is easy to digest and clean, avoid overeating and binge eating, and avoid consuming spicy and irritating foods. In fact, chronic gastritis is quite common in clinical practice, with most patients presenting with abdominal discomfort. Of course, some patients might experience a decrease in appetite. The abdominal discomfort is primarily characterized by dull pain, bloating, or even burning pain in the upper abdomen. This may be accompanied by some nausea and vomiting, among other symptoms. For such patients, it is crucial to conduct a thorough liver function test and gastroscopy. Liver function tests are mainly to rule out abdominal discomfort caused by hepatobiliary diseases, while gastroscopy is the gold standard for diagnosing chronic gastritis, hence its increasing use in clinical practice.
Symptoms of acute exacerbation of chronic gastritis
Common symptoms of acute exacerbation of chronic gastritis include abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, vomiting, etc. Among these, abdominal pain is the most common clinical presentation, manifested as upper abdominal distension, burning pain, or dull pain, generally associated with unhygienic dietary habits, and acute attacks are more common among some healthy individuals or young people. The diagnosis of chronic with acute exacerbation mainly relies on medical history and gastroscopy. Under gastroscopy, the gastric mucosa can be observed to show acute inflammatory changes, presenting as gastric congestion, edema, and even erosion formation. Regarding treatment, it mainly consists of dietary adjustments and the selection of medications. Dietary recommendations include adopting a liquid and light diet, and medications may include acid suppression and gastric mucosal protection drugs. Of course, if the patient has significant abdominal pain, a small dose of pain reliever can be used, generally over a short course of treatment. Indeed, chronic gastritis is a common disease in clinical practice, so it is essential to adjust your diet and develop good living and eating habits regularly.
Is chronic gastritis contagious?
Chronic gastritis is not a contagious disease, so it is not infectious. Chronic gastritis is a disease caused by various pathological factors leading to mucosal damage, and it is directly related to Helicobacter pylori infection. The treatment mainly aims to eradicate Helicobacter pylori, alleviate symptoms, suppress gastric acid secretion, protect the gastric mucosa, and reduce the recurrence of the disease. Additionally, during treatment, attention should be paid to dietary adjustments, eating soft and easily digestible foods, and avoiding spicy and irritating foods. Appropriate outdoor exercise and maintaining a pleasant mood have a positive effect on the treatment of chronic gastritis.
Can chronic gastritis be contagious?
Is chronic gastritis contagious? Gastritis, especially chronic gastritis, lacks specific symptoms. Common types of chronic gastritis include chronic superficial gastritis, chronic erosive gastritis, and chronic atrophic gastritis. Diagnosis is mainly made through gastroscopy. Most patients may experience symptoms like upper abdominal pain, loss of appetite, post-meal fullness, acid reflux, and belching, which can be quite apparent, especially in patients with atrophic gastritis, who may have more pronounced symptoms, as well as anemia, weight loss, and diarrhea. Additionally, upper abdominal pain associated with mucosal erosion can be more severe. If the condition is serious, it may also involve bleeding, vomiting blood, or black stools. If there is no Helicobacter pylori infection, gastritis is not contagious and can be cured with proper treatment.
Does chronic gastritis require surgery?
Whether chronic gastritis requires surgery also depends on the condition of the disease. If the symptoms are not particularly obvious—such as nausea, vomiting, or acid reflux—and the gastroscopic examination shows atypical symptoms, treatment through medication or dietary adjustments can be considered instead of surgery. However, if there is significant atypical hyperplasia or intestinal metaplasia found during the gastroscopy, suggesting potential malignancy, these conditions may require surgical treatment under gastroscopy.
What should be noted for chronic gastritis with erosion?
For chronic gastritis and gastric erosion, it is important to control the diet by eating fresh vegetables and foods that are easy to digest. Avoid overly spicy and cold foods. Additionally, adjust your daily routine to avoid staying up late and maintain a reasonable schedule. Also, control your emotions to prevent excessive stress and fatigue. Appropriate medical treatment should be considered, such as using medications to protect the stomach lining, reduce stomach acid secretion, and appropriately using antibiotics for treatment. Most importantly, regular check-ups are crucial. (Please take medications under the guidance of a doctor.)
What should I do about acid reflux from chronic gastritis?
There are many causes of chronic gastritis. The first is chronic gastritis caused by acid reflux, followed by the consumption of irritant beverages, eating irritating foods, and some medications that cause changes to the gastric mucosa. Bile reflux can also cause irritation and inflammation of the gastric mucosa. Other factors include changes in the environment, mental stress, and various irregularities in life, all of which can lead to chronic gastritis. If a patient experiences acid reflux, it is necessary to suppress stomach acid by administering acid-suppressing medications, as well as medications that protect the gastric mucosa to prevent chronic gastritis caused by acid reflux.