Stomach pain worries people because of many reasons, one of which may be gastritis.
Why stomach hurts?
There are many diseases that trigger pain in the stomach or near it. For the doctor it is important to determine the nature and localization of pain. Here is a list of some diseases and a description of the nature of accompanying pain:
- pancreatitis, cholecystitis and peptic ulcer of the duodenum cause sharp pain in the stomach. The pain that patients describe as sharp, usually talking about a perforated ulcer (the appearance of holes in the hollow body due to chronic pathologic process in the wall). This can occur when the stomach ulcer or duodenal ulcer;
- gastritis and stomach ulcers are usually accompanied by a burning sensation in the epigastrium (part of abdomen below the sternum). If the process ironiziruya, the pain is dull and aching. Gastritis and ulcer is clearly seen the correlation with the food intakes: pain a couple hours after a meal or on an empty stomach;
- the pain is "shooting", is a short (a few seconds) that occurs when breathing or standing up quickly from the bed, characteristic of a spasm of the diaphragm. Provoke spasm, circulatory disorders of the diaphragm;
- patients with malignant neoplasms in the stomach complain of a weak, but persistent pain. If the tumor had metastasized to the pancreas, the pain turns into encircling;
- for poisoning characterized by sharp, severe, cramping pain in any part of the abdomen;
- colitis (inflammation of the large intestine) is accompanied by intense pain in the upper abdomen, which usually weakens in a few days, but does not disappear completely.
This is the most common cause of abdominal pain. However, an accurate diagnosis can only ask a doctor after specific diagnostic studies. In addition to the above conditions, the pain occurs when the stratification of abdominal aortic injury after a blow to the stomach and intestines. There are times when the pain from a heart attack is moved to the epigastric region.
Some diseases require rapid response and immediate operative intervention to save the patient's life. For example, if time does not carry out the operation for perforation of gastric ulcer or duodenal ulcer, develop complications (peritonitis, sepsis) that directly threaten the patient's life.
Important! When abdominal pain of any localization can't drink with painkillers. The character of the pain will tell the doctor what body check, and the self-disappearance of pain may say that the pathological process progresses and an urgent need to do something, although subjectively the patient will seem to make it better. A similar condition may occur with the rupture of the appendicitis.
The symptoms of gastritis
Let us dwell on the gastritis. What is this disease and what other symptoms, besides pain, may indicate this diagnosis? Gastritis – inflammation of the inner lining of the stomach, due to several reasons. The main provoking factors of gastritis are:
- improper diet (lots of fatty and fried foods, one meal per day);
- the use of large quantities of alcoholic beverages;
- chronic stress;
- Smoking;
- the use of drugs that affect the stomach, for example, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (aspirin, ibuprofen);
- the impact of Helicobacter pylori.
Usually one reason to highlight is difficult, as the disease develops due to a combination of the above factors.
Symptoms of gastritis:
- pain is the primary complaint of patients with gastritis. Patients indicate localization of pain in the epigastrium (epigastric region). Often the pain occur a few hours after eating the food. There are hungry pain (pain appearing on an empty stomach or after a long period after eating). Uncomfortable sensations if the patient will eat fried, spicy, acidic or hot;
- belching, flatulence;
- rumbling in the abdomen;
- heaviness in the stomach;
- nausea, vomiting;
- coated with white bloom language;
- a slight increase in body temperature (37 degrees);
- stomach discomfort, which persists throughout the day.
As mentioned above, can cause gastritis can many factors. It is considered one of the leading bacterial theory, where a crucial role in the development of the disease is the bacterium Helicobacter pylori. However, wrong diet (e.g., one or two meals per day), addiction to a particular type of food (spicy or fried foods) irritate the stomach, causing pathological process.
Chronic gastritis
Acute gastritis is an acute condition caused by a single impact of the stimuli (harmful microorganisms, poor quality food, chemicals) on the mucous membrane of the stomach. There is an inflammatory process. In this case, shown diet, medication. Subject to all rules and effective treatment of acute gastritis will remain for the patient in the past. Under the influence of some factors (poor nutrition, chronic stress) periods of exacerbation become permanent. This means that the process moved into a chronic form.
Usually there is a seasonality of exacerbations. Patients hospitalized with exacerbation in the autumn and spring. This is due to lowered immunity in these months, the ability to resist bacteria was lower, which resulted in the inflammation.
Frequently chronic gastritis acute stressful situation. People who are not able to adequately regulate their emotional state, constantly faced with the pain in my stomach.
The doctor diagnosed chronic gastritis the patient should undergo a series of examinations:
- gastroscopy – examination of oesophagus and stomach using a special probe equipped with a camera;
- pH-meters – monitoring the acidity of the stomach during the day and more. The method allows to detect inflammation and to determine the nature of gastritis (hyperacid or hypoacid);
- the study of gastric juice, which is extracted by the probe;
- respiratory test for the detection of Helicobacter pylori;
- biopsy of the gastric mucosa in place of the pathological process to establish more accurate diagnosis;
- Ultrasound;
- x-ray examination;
- a blood test to find antibodies to pathogenic microogranism.
Acute gastritis does not usually cause complications. It is characteristic of chronic process. Of complications it is necessary to highlight:
- anemia (develops due to chronic bleeding due to damage of the stomach wall);
- peptic ulcer;
- benign or malignant tumors.
About cancer may indicate changes in the usual course of chronic gastritis - a change of location of pain and its nature. To the doctor you should immediately contact in the presence of additional symptoms: black stool, pale skin, frequent dizziness and headaches, fainting, tachycardia, shortness of breath. This may indicate a complication of gastritis.
How to treat gastritis?
The mainstay of medical treatment of hyperacid gastritis (inflammation of mucosa on the background of increased pH in the stomach) is to reduce the acidity of the stomach. The desired effect achieve next medicines:
- antacids – medicines that decrease stomach acidity, and adsorbing the enzymes responsible for the digestion of food and the production of hydrochloric acid (e.g., pepsin). Antacids produced in the form of tablets, powders, gels and suspensions.
- alginates – drugs that reacts with hydrochloric acid, constitute a special gel that covers the surface of the stomach.
To reduce pain used antispasmodics and analgesics. In any case, cannot be used for gastritis nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) because they have ulcerogenic action (provoke the development of ulcers).
Also protect the lining of the stomach gastroprotectia. As alginates these drugs form the inner lining of the stomach thin film which does not give hydrochloric acid can act to cause even more mucous. Gastroprotectia is often prescribed in conjunction with antisecretory drugs, since the latter themselves are able to influence the development of bacteria in the stomach cavity. Antisecretory drugs, such as proton pump inhibitors, reduce the secretion of hydrochloric acid.
One of the causes of gastritis - Helicobacter pylori the bacterium, and thus in the treatment it is advisable prescription of antibacterial agents. However, antibiotics have many side effects, they caution should be applied to children and the elderly, pregnant women and mothers during feeding. Simultaneously with antibiotics prescribed probiotics to normalize intestinal function. Antibacterials always cause goiter.
Prokinetics are drugs that accelerate the motility of the gastrointestinal tract, namely, normalizes the process of moving food through the stomach and on its excretion into the duodenum. A significant difference from other drugs: prokinetics used in the lowered acidity of a stomach and not elevated. Also, these drugs reduce nausea.
Every drug has contraindications, side effects, and considerations for different ages. Therefore, to appoint medical treatment can only specialist. Gastritis usually prescribed a combination of several drugs to relieve the unpleasant symptoms and affect multiple components of the process of formation and secretion of hydrochloric acid.
Diet for gastritis
In addition to taking special medications, people with gastritis should follow a policy of diet therapy. Gastritis with low acidity is to eat foods that trigger the secretion of hydrochloric acid that lowers the pH. To do this, in the period of exacerbation is used:
- meat and fish broth lean meats and fish;
- liquid porridge, soups without solids and coarse particles of food;
- vegetable puree;
- boiled lean meat, steam cutlets, roast meat and poultry;
- boiled eggs, scrambled eggs;
- cheese.
It is necessary to refuse milk, which may further reduce the acidity.
In gastritis with high acidity diet aimed at neutralizing hydrochloric acid. Also the food should be as gentle, so as not to injure further the mucous membrane of the stomach. So patients during periods of relapse should include in your diet:
- milk soup;
- soup on lean meat;
- low-fat milk (you can add in tea);
- boiled or steamed vegetables;
- boiled eggs;
- lean meat, poultry, fish (boiled or baked);
- white crackers.
For each type of gastritis is forbidden to eat:
- fatty meat and fish and, accordingly, the broth of fat meat or fish;
- pastry;
- fresh white and black bread;
- hard-boiled eggs;
- smoked products;
- canned food, pickles;
- spicy dishes;
- hot meals;
- fresh vegetables and fruits with thick and rough skin;
- confectionery;
- alcoholic beverages;
- fast food;
- any carbonated beverages;
- spices, sauces.
Any of the above products will cause more irritation of the stomach and break the positive dynamics of the therapy. Each cooked dish is supposed to be easily digested. It is desirable to grind food as much as possible to help the stomach to digest it.
A strict diet for chronic gastritis observed until symptoms resolve. It takes from one to three months. Then menu is greatly expanded, but the basic rules should be followed to prevent aggravation. Regardless of the stage of the disease the diet should be full of vitamins, minerals, balanced in protein, fat and carbohydrates.
Coffee for gastritis
Can coffee with gastritis? Usually doctors recommend to refuse the drink completely. This is due to the ability of caffeine, chlorogenic acids and other substances in the coffee to irritate the stomach and increase acidity. Regular consumption of coffee with gastritis, especially on an empty stomach, will lead to a worsening pathologic process and the formation of ulcers.
However, there are several recommendations that will help you to drink the beverage even in the inflamed mucosa of the stomach:
- can't drink coffee on an empty stomach. Only after eating, after at least half an hour, better an hour. Substances in coffee cause the secretion of hydrochloric acid. If along with coffee in the stomach is not received, the food, the acid begins to act on the wall of an organ;
- coffee should not be hot or cold. Warm to gently pass through the stomach;
- is instant coffee better to drink natural grain. In instant drinks are tannins, which further injure the stomach wall;
- coffee must not be strong;
- during the day the number of cups of coffee should not exceed two.
Coffee allowed to be used in hypoacid (reduced acidity) gastritis. However, drinking it is still in small quantities. Also in gastritis with low acidity is recommended to drink chicory, as this plant affects the production of hydrochloric acid. But it should be understood that the chicory is strictly contraindicated in people with hyperacidity gastritis.
Hyperacidity (acidity) gastritis in coffee is recommended to add milk. It cools the drink, making its effect on the mucous softer. Replace coffee cocoa, has a number of beneficial properties (increased tone and improved mood due to the presence in the composition of the endorphins).
During exacerbation of the disease coffee is better to refuse at all. This will help to quickly restore the gastric mucosa, not drawing out this process for many months.
Correctly composed diet will allow without consequences to experience acute gastritis. When the process has become chronic due diet reduces the risk of exacerbations even in autumn and spring. Diet in this disease is an important part of the therapy, without which good results almost impossible to achieve. Adherence to the diet will significantly improve the quality of life of the patient.