Improper diet and bad habits are the most common causes of gastritis. Irina Gubanova, general practitioner and gastroenterologist at INVITRO-Voronezh, told socialbites.ca about this.
According to the specialist, the symptoms of gastritis are quite diverse: bursting, pain or pressure, sometimes sharp in the form of colic in the epigastric region – the upper half of the abdomen, just above the navel. In addition, gastritis may cause nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, heartburn, frequent belching of sour or bitter air, rapid feeling of fullness, heaviness in the stomach, an unpleasant taste in the mouth, and sometimes bad breath.
“There is no doubt that the leading cause of disease is malnutrition. The main function of the stomach is the digestion of food. Most often gastritis is caused by irrational, unbalanced diet, frequent snacks or, conversely, infrequent large meals during the day or in the evening. Factors that cause gastritis are also poorly chewed food, too hot or cold dishes, fast food and dry food, the abuse of carbohydrates, fats or plant foods – fruits, vegetables in large quantities, which is typical in the seasonal period. . The abundance of smoked, spicy foods and spices in the diet is also undesirable,” he said.
The second, equally important factor is a violation of the nervous system, which leads to functional disorders of the stomach, impaired motility and secretion of the stomach. The third common cause of gastritis is an infection caused by the bacterium Helicobacter pylori, which attacks the protective layer of the stomach wall. Also, long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (nimesulide, ibuprofen, diclofenac, aspirin and others) and bad habits: alcohol and smoking can lead to gastritis.
“It can be confused with gastritis, stomach and duodenal disease, acute cholecystitis, cholelithiasis, pancreatitis, myocardial infarction. You should always consult a doctor for differential diagnosis and the appointment of the necessary treatment, ”the gastroenterologist warns.
The main and necessary method of treating gastritis is a diet, the purpose of which is to normalize acidity, eliminate and reduce inflammation, stabilize the secretory function of the stomach.
“It is better not to do the treatment on your own, you should immediately seek help from a gastroenterologist. With severe pain, you can take antispasmodics (for example, shpa-free) and antacids (phosphalugel and others). Omeprazole, Mezim and other drugs from the class of proton pump inhibitors and enzymes have definite indications and side effects, so they can only be taken as prescribed by the doctor, ”the doctor warned.
Formerly socialbites.ca Wrote about the most harmful eating habits from childhood.