Symptoms of Gastritis ! Online Medical Advice on Heartburn and Reflux


	Symptoms of Gastritis Symptoms of gastritis or heartburn are very common and often mistaken for heart attack symptoms. However it is quite a different condition and usually not as serious. Heartburn is caused by irritation of the stomach lining and lower part of the esophagus (food pipe) by acid produced in the stomach. It is often associated with certain types of foods and lifestyle factors. Drinking excessive amounts of coffee and alcohol, smoking, eating acidic or spicy foods, medications (NSAIDs) and obesity are all implicated in an increased incidence of these conditions. Chronic infection of the stomach by H. Pylori is also a well known cause. Reflux is a slightly different condition that involves structural defects between the stomach and the esophagus allowing the acidic stomach contents to “reflux” back up into the esophagus. This also causes similar symptoms to gastritis or heartburn, and is most commonly related to a hiatus hernia. Symptoms of heartburn Symptoms of gastritis or heartburn are varied but the most common symptom is a burning or squeezing sensation behind the breastbone at the front of the chest. For this reason it is commonly confused with a heart attack or angina. However it has other clinical features that help to differentiate it from pain related to the heart. These include: Burning sensation in the chest radiating into throat Bitter or sour taste in mouth Difficulty swallowing Worsening of symptoms shortly after a meal Worsening of symptoms when lying flat All of the above symptoms of gastritis and reflux are related to the acidic stomach contents irritating the stomach lining and esophagus. These usually cause an unpleasant feeling around the stomach or behind the breastbone, usually described as a burning or squeezing sensation. If the stomach contents are also “refluxing” into the esophagus, and possibly even the mouth, then symptoms such as a bitter or sour taste in the mouth may be experienced. The symptoms may also be exacerbated by filling the stomach up with food or liquid after a large meal, or by lying down. Both of which help stomach contents escape into the esophagus. Difficulty swallowing can also be related to other medical conditions such as a loss of motility of the muscles in the esophagus, but can also be caused by acidic stomach contents remaining in the lower part of the esophagus. Investigations for heartburn The gold standard investigation for gastritis, heartburn and hiatus hernia is an upper endoscopy or gastroscopy. This involves inserting a telescopic camera into the patient’s mouth (while they are under sedation) and passing it through the esophagus and into the stomach. The lining of the esophagus and stomach can then be directly visualized using the camera and damage to the lining (mucosa) of both structures can be identified. A hiatus hernia can also be identified using this method and biopsies may be taken for further analysis. Other tests that can be performed include blood tests to rule out other causes of chest and abdominal pain. A urea breath test or blood test should also be performed to check for H. Pylori infection, and finally a fecal occult blood test to screen for blood loss from the stomach or bowel Treatment of heartburn The mainstay of treatment for symptoms of gastritis and reflux involves lifestyle modification and diet change. It has been shown that weight loss is one of the most effective ways of reducing gastritis or reflux symptoms. Reducing the amount of alcohol intake and quitting smoking have also proved to be beneficial. The benefits of eating smaller meals and having the evening meal at least 2 hours before bedtime have also made a difference in people suffering from heartburn and reflux. There are a range of medications used to reduce the symptoms of gastritis and heartburn. These have been found to produce significant improvements in symptoms and include: Proton pump inhibitors- these include medications such as omeprazole, lansoprazole and rabeprazole. They act by reducing the amount of acid secretion in the stomach. Antacids- there are a wide variety of antacids that can easily be bought over the counter. These act by reducing the acidity of the stomach contents by there own low pH. Alginic acid- the most common of these is Gaviscon. This acts by forming a barrier between the stomach lining and the acidic contents, thereby reducing irritation of the lining. A course of antibiotics may also be indicated if H. Pylori infection has been proven. This is usually a one week course of 3 different types of antibiotics followed by another test to make sure the bacteria has been eradicated from the stomach. Surgical treatment of reflux is usually reserved for serious cases that are not responding to lifestyle changes or medications. The most common surgical treatment is a Nissen Fundoplication which involves wrapping the upper part of the stomach around the esophagus. This reduces a hiatus hernia if present and also strengthens the junction (sphincter) between the stomach and the esophagus. Prognosis of heartburn The prognosis of heartburn is very good and the symptoms of gastritis or heartburn usually resolve quite quickly with treatment. However prolonged gastritis and reflux increases the risk of peptic ulcer disease and a condition known as Barrett’s esophagus which may predispose to bleeding, scarring or potentially cancer. Therefore it is important to make lifestyle changes and seek treatment from your physician or GP if you suspect you may have gastritis.	Search above for medical information and advice on online-medical-advice.com Medical advice Have you got some of your own medical advice? Share your own health advice and medical information here! Medical Products Visit our online store (sold through Amazon), offering a range of quality medical products.
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