What is gastritis, causes, symptoms, diagnosed and treatment of gastritis

What causes gastritis?

Gastritis is inflammation of the lining of the stomach.

The stomach lining is usually strong enough to withstand acidic and spicy foods, alcohol and more. However, irritation may be caused by excessive alcohol use, chronic vomiting, stress or the use of certain medications such as aspirin or other anti-inflammatory drugs. Gastritis may also be brought on by:

·      Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori): A bacterium that lives in the mucous lining of the stomach. Without treatment, the infection can lead to ulcers and, in some people, to stomach cancer.

·      Pernicious anaemia: A form of anaemia that occurs when the stomach lacks a naturally occurring substance (intrinsic factor) needed to properly absorb and digest vitamin B12.

·      Bile reflux: A backflow of the contents of the duodenum up into the stomach, where bile in the intestinal fluids may irritate the stomach lining.

·      Infections caused by bacteria and viruses

If gastritis is left untreated, it can lead to severe loss of blood, or in some cases it can increase the risk of developing stomach cancer.

What are the symptoms of gastritis?

Symptoms of gastritis vary among individuals, and in many people there are no symptoms. However, the most common symptoms include:

•   Nausea or recurrent upset stomach

•   Abdominal bloating

•   Abdominal pain

•   Vomiting

•   Indigestion

•   Burning or gnawing feeling in the stomach between meals or at night

•   Hiccups

•   Loss of appetite

•   Vomiting blood or coffee ground-like material

•   Black, tarry stools

How is gastritis diagnosed?

To diagnose gastritis, your GP will review your personal and family medical history, will perform a thorough physical examination, and may recommend any of the following tests:

•       Upper endoscopy. An endoscope, a thin tube containing a tiny camera, is inserted through your mouth and down into your stomach to look at the stomach lining. Your doctor will check for inflammation and may perform a biopsy, a procedure in which a tiny sample of tissue is removed and then sent to a laboratory for analysis.

•       Blood tests. Your doctor may perform various blood tests, such as checking your red blood cell count to determine whether you have anaemia (meaning you do not have enough red blood cells). He or she can also screen for H. pylori infection and pernicious anaemia with blood tests.

•       Faecal occult blood test (stool test). This test checks for the presence of hidden blood in your stool, a possible sign of gastritis.

What is the treatment for gastritis?

Treatment for gastritis usually involves:

•       Taking antacids and other drugs to reduce stomach acid, which causes further irritation to inflamed areas

•       Avoiding hot and spicy foods and cutting down on excess alcohol

•       For gastritis caused by H. pylori infection, your doctor will prescribe a regimen of several antibiotics plus an acid-blocking drug (used for treating heartburn).

•       If the gastritis is caused by pernicious anaemia, vitamin B12 will be given by injection (because it is not properly absorbed by mouth).

Once the underlying problem disappears, the gastritis usually does too. You should talk to your doctor before stopping any medicine or starting any gastritis treatment on your own.

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http://www.webmd.boots.com/digestive-disorders/gastritisPic Credit: Google

Preventing a Heart Attack

Preventing a heart attack 

 “Making lifestyle changes is the most effective way to prevent having a heart attack (or having another heart attack)”.

There are three main steps you can take to help prevent a heart attack (as well as stroke):

• Eat ahealthy, balanced diet
• Avoid smoking
• Try to keep your blood pressure at a healthy level

Diet

Eating an unhealthy diet high in fat will make your atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) worse and increase your risk of heart attack.

Continuing to eat high-fat foods will cause more fatty plaques to build up in your arteries. This is because fatty foods contain cholesterol.

There are two main types of cholesterol:

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) – this is mostly made up of fat plus a small amount of protein; this type of cholesterol can block your arteries, so it is often referred to as "bad cholesterol"

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) – this is mostly made up of protein plus a small amount of fat; this type of cholesterol can reduce deposits in your arteries, so is often referred to as "good cholesterol"

There are also two types of fat – saturated and unsaturated. Avoid foods containing high levels of saturated fat, as they increase levels of bad cholesterol in your blood.

Foods high in saturated fat include:

•   Meat pies

•   Sausages and fatty cuts of meat

•   Butter

•   Ghee (a type of butter often used in Indian cooking)

•   Lard

•   Cream

•   Hard cheese

•   Cakes and biscuits

•   Foods that contain coconut or palm oil

Eating a small amount of unsaturated fat will increase the level of good cholesterol and help reduce any blockage in your arteries. Foods high in unsaturated fat include:

•   Oily fish

•   Avocados

•   Nuts and seeds

•   Sunflower, rapeseed and olive oil

Read more about healthy eating and facts about fat.

Smoking

Smoking is a major risk factor for heart attacks because it causes atherosclerosis and raises blood pressure.

If you decide to stop smoking, your GP will be able to refer you to an NHS Stop Smoking Service, which will provide dedicated help and advice about the best ways to quit.

You can also call the NHS Smoking Helpline on 0300 123 1014 (England only). Specially trained helpline staff will offer free expert advice and encouragement.

If you are committed to quitting but do not want to be referred to a stop smoking service, your GP should be able to prescribe medical treatment to help with withdrawal symptoms you may experience.

For more information about giving up smoking, read our stop smoking page.

High blood pressure

Persistent high blood pressure can put your arteries and heart under extra strain, increasing your risk of a heart attack.

High blood pressure can often be reduced by a healthy diet, moderating your intake of alcohol, maintaining a healthy weight and taking regular exercise.

Diet

The dietary advice above also applies if you have high blood pressure. In addition, cut down on the amount of salt in your food and eat plenty of fruit and vegetables.

Salt raises your blood pressure. The more salt you eat, the higher your blood pressure. You should aim to eat less than 6g (0.2oz) of salt a day, which is about a teaspoonful. Find out how to cut down on salt.

Eating a low-fat diet that includes lots of fibre – such as wholegrain rice, bread and pasta – and plenty of fruit and vegetables, has been proven to help lower blood pressure. Fruit and vegetables are full of vitamins, minerals and fibre, and help keep your body in good condition.

You should aim to eat five 80g portions of fruit and vegetables every day.

Read more about getting your 5 A Day.

Alcohol

Regularly drinking alcohol above the limits recommended by the NHS will raise your blood pressure.

Therefore, staying within these limits is the best way to reduce your risk of developing high blood pressure. The recommended limits for alcohol consumption are:

•   three to four units a day for men

•   two to three units a day for women

Read more about how many units are in your favourite tipple, track your drinking over time and tips on cutting down.

Alcohol is also high in calories, so you will gain weight if you drink regularly. Being overweight will also increase your blood pressure. Find out how many calories are in popular drinks.

Weight

Being overweight forces your heart to work harder to pump blood around your body, which can raise your blood pressure. Find out if you need to lose weight with the BMI healthy weight calculator.

If you do need to shed some weight, it is worth remembering that losing just a few pounds will make a big difference to your blood pressure and overall health. Get tips on losing weight safely.

Exercise

Being active and taking regular exercise will lower your blood pressure by keeping your heart and blood vessels in good condition. Regular exercise can also help you lose weight, which will help lower your blood pressure.

Low-impact activities such as walking, swimming and cycling are recommended. More strenuous activities, such as playing football and squash, may not be recommended. Check with the doctor in charge of your care.

For tips, read our pages on walking for health, swimming for fitness and the benefits of cycling.

Read more on how to prevent high blood pressure.

Words Credit: 

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Heart-attack/Pages/Prevention.aspx

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