Gastritis and Peptic Ulcer

What is Gastritis and Peptic Ulcer?

Gastritis is acute or chronic inflammation of the mucous membrane lining the inner walls of the stomach.

Now the peptic ulcer is the destruction of the mucosa lining the internal walls of the stomach and / or duodenum, forming crater-shaped openings, so that the deep tissue (connective tissue) and blood vessels are exposed to the action of stomach acid (hydrochloric acid) leading to bleeding, which occur in rare cases with black stools when they are bulky.

Causes

The Gastritis or Peptic Ulcer Disease is caused by several factors, of which the most important are:

• Infection with the bacterium Helicobacter pylori.
• Stress;
• Poor eating habits;
• Toxic substances like alcohol and tobacco;
• Chronic use of medications that irritate the gastric mucosa (eg. Anti-inflammatory drugs);

Symptoms

It is observed in gastritis, the following symptoms: pain and burning in stomach, bad breath, headache, heartburn, difficult digestion, rough tongue, weakness, nausea and vomiting.

In the ulcer, which has its characteristic symptom of blood in the stool, the pain is stronger, lasting about two hours after a meal and in some cases pain relief will come only after repeated vomiting.

Risks / Complications

- The untreated gastritis can develop into an ulcer;
- The ulcer continued blood loss can lead to anemia, especially in fertile women (who lose blood each month during menstruation) and the elderly.

Recommendations

For the treatment of gastritis and / or Peptic Ulcer is effective is very important to follow these recommendations:

• Make snacks in small portions and frequent intervals (every three hours);
• Respect mealtimes. Take some time for breakfast, lunch and dinner at ease;
• Avoid very cold or very hot.
• Eat slowly and chew all foods well.
• Avoid lying down after a meal more bulky or high-fat;
• Eliminate aggravating factors such as alcohol, tobacco, coffee, soft drinks;
• Avoid eating foods such as mustard, vinegar, ketchup, pepper, curry and other sauces strong;
• Try to rest and reduce the pace of work and anxiety, avoiding stressful situations.
• Seek medical gastroenterologist.

Prevention

To lessen the symptoms, it is important to a healthy diet, avoiding certain foods such as:

• Citrus fruits: orange, lemon, cherry, pineapple ...;
• Vegetables acids: cucumber, tomato, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, peppers ...
• Condiments and seasonings such as pepper, cinnamon, vinegar, tomato ketchup, sauces, processed, etc..;
• In canned and preserved as sausages, sausage, bacon, bologna, ham, mayonnaise, sour cream ...;
• Food and beverages containing caffeine (coffee, tea, chocolate, cocoa, cola drinks);
• Soft drinks, carbonated beverages and alcoholic beverages;
• Foods high in fat such as dairy products, fried foods and fatty meats.

Eating every three hours and eating healthy is the first step to prevent gastritis.

Treatment

Treatment of Peptic Ulcer or Gastritis is made taking into account the factor triggering the disease.

Since more than 70% of cases of gastritis and ulcer due to infections are caused by the bacteria H. pylori should be performed to treat the infection fighting, along with other drugs, as directed by your doctor.

But the treatment will only be satisfactory if the patient adhere to treatment, avoiding feeds that are not recommended, using medication correctly prescribed, and following all the guidelines suggested.