Gastritis is an often-painful condition caused by inflammation in the lining of the stomach. Read on to learn how it is diagnosed and treated, plus what complementary approaches might help manage it.<\/p>\n
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Gastritis is a condition characterized by inflammation of the stomach lining. It may be acute (sudden and short-term) or chronic (developing slowly and long-term). One type of gastritis called erosive gastritis breaks down the lining of the stomach, sometimes leading to ulcers<\/a>. Another type, called atrophic gastritis, causes a loss of glandular tissue in the lining of the stomach, often replaced by scar tissue; this type is often caused by an autoimmune reaction [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Gastritis can have a number of causes. These include H. pylori<\/em><\/a> infection, long-term NSAID use, alcohol abuse, cocaine<\/a> use, or autoimmune disease. Severe injuries, burns, sepsis, and some drugs can also cause acute erosive gastritis [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n H. pylori<\/em> is the most common cause of gastritis, and about 35% of the US population is infected with this bacteria [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n If your doctor suspects that you might have ulcers, they will go through a series of tests to confirm or refute their suspicions.<\/p>\n Endoscopic procedures use a tiny camera and light to visually inspect diseased tissues. To check for gastritis, endoscopy is typically performed by feeding the camera down the esophagus and into the stomach [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n At this time, the doctor may use the endoscope to take a tiny tissue sample (a biopsy) for lab analysis [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n If your doctor suspects an H. pylori<\/em> infection, they will likely order blood tests, urea breath tests, or stool tests. A breath test with higher CO2 concentration than normal indicates H. pylori <\/em>infection, while a stool sample is directly tested for the presence of the bacteria [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n This procedure uses a chalky liquid containing barium to coat the upper digestive tract and make it more visible to an X-ray. The patient typically fasts and stops drinking water before the procedure (your doctor will tell you how long you must be fasted) and drinks the barium liquid while sitting or standing in front of the X-ray machine [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Be sure to follow any and all prescriptions and recommendations from your doctor, which may or may not include therapies and strategies described here. Never use any of the following strategies in place of what your doctor recommends or prescribes.<\/p>\n Most researchers agree that diet doesn\u2019t cause most cases of gastritis; however, dietary modifications may be recommended to help support treatment and recovery [R<\/a>].<\/p>\nHow is Gastritis Diagnosed?<\/span><\/h3>\n
Upper GI Endoscopy<\/h4>\n
Lab Tests<\/h4>\n
Upper GI Series<\/h4>\n
How is Gastritis Treated?<\/span><\/h2>\n
Dietary Interventions<\/span><\/h2>\n