By: Arthur Cooper
Submitted: 2011-06-01 10:12:16 | Word Count: 664
Gastritis is a condition that affects the lining of the stomach. The stomach lining has a very important role in digestion. The lining is what houses the cells that produce stomach or gastric acids and enzymes. This is what the body uses to naturally break down foods for the extraction of nutrients. Stomach acid is essential for making foods useful to the body. The lining of the stomach also produces mucus for its own protection. Mucus shields the stomach lining from acid, thus preventing corrosion of the stomach. If the lining of the stomach becomes inflamed, it will produce less mucus, acid and enzymes. This makes the digestion process difficult.
Types
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There are three types of gastritis. Acute gastritis refers to gastritis that happened suddenly. It is usually very severe. Chronic gastritis describes gastritis that occurs consistently over a long period of time. This can last for several years. Erosive gastritis doesn’t cause as much inflammation of the lining as acute and chronic gastritis. Erosive gastritis may be acute or chronic and has the tendency of destroying the stomach lining, even without inflaming it.
Causes
The lining becomes inflamed because of many reasons. The main cause of gastritis is alcohol consumption, infection, use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, burns, surgery, injuries, diseases, disorders and illegal drug use. Many of the causes are avoidable.
Symptoms
There are many symptoms of gastritis, but you don’t have to have symptoms to have gastritis. Unfortunately, many people that are experiencing gastritis don’t know it because they may not have any of the symptoms.
Erosive gastritis has several symptoms. It may cause bleeding, ulcers and erosions. Erosive gastritis can also cause you to have dark or bloody stool, and bloody vomit. Overall, all kinds of gastritis tend to cause pain in the stomach. This pain is generally localized in the upper abdominal region. You may feel cramping in this area, especially after a meal. People with gastritis may vomit periodically. Another common symptom is nausea, which usually accompanies vomiting.
The most harmful symptom of gastritis is the deterioration of the stomach lining. Erosive gastritis is prone to destroying the stomach lining. Without the lining, your stomach is vulnerable to gastric acid. This can damage the stomach severely and intensify the problems in your digestive process. Symptoms of gastritis may not be present in everyone with gastritis so it is important to get regular physical health exams and screening. To prevent yourself from being affected by gastritis you should try to eat a balanced, nutritious diet and avoid alcohol. If you already have gastritis, you should sit down with your doctor to discuss a diet and lifestyle plan.
If you are experiencing any of the symptoms of gastritis you should seek the help of a trained medical profession. These symptoms should not be ignored. Gastritis that is untreated could develop into chronic gastritis, which may end up affecting you for the rest of your life. The symptoms of gastritis are very similar to the symptoms of other diseases and disorders that are related to the digestive system.
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