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Gastritiis, or inflammation of the stomach lining, is a painful condition causing misery and discomfort to sufferers. If you or a loved one are troubled by gastritis, read on to discover how Integrative Medicine can help manage this challenging condition and prevent it from coming back.
What is Gastritis?
Your stomach produces acid as a natural process of digestion. This is because digestive enzymes need the stomach contents to be acidic so they can operate effectively. To prevent the acid from damaging the stomach wall, it’s lined by a protective layer, known as mucosa. However, if this lining breaks down and becomes inflamed, the acid secretions will cause pain and irritation to the stomach.
Gastritis can be acute, with a sudden onset, and usually a temporary duration. Or it can be chronic, developing gradually and persisting long-term. Furthermore, either type of gastritis may be erosive or non-erosive, depending on whether the irritation has caused ulcers to develop in the stomach wall.
What are the Symptoms of Gastritis?
- Burning, a dull ache or a sharp pain, located in the upper abdomen. This is usually most noticeable straight after eating.
- Bloating and a feeling of fullness after food
- Nausea, or vomiting, lack of appetite
- Indigestion or heartburn
- Burping, belching, or hiccups
If gastritis is erosive, the ulcers in the stomach lining may bleed. This can lead to blood in the stools, or vomiting blood which may appear black, like coffee grounds. If this happens to you, it’s important to seek medical advice.
Why Does Gastritis Develop?
- Acute gastritis can be caused by bacterial or viral gastrointestinal infections. These are usually short-lived.
- The most common cause of chronic gastritis is an infection by the bacterium Helicobacter pylori. This can easily survive the acidic conditions of the stomach, causing irritation and inflammation of the stomach lining. If you have H pylori, you’re not alone, because it’s estimated around 40% of the UK population carry the bacteria, although in some people it doesn’t cause symptoms. Certain parasitic and fungal infections can cause gastritis, too.
- Alcohol consumption irritates and inflames the stomach lining. Binge drinking can cause an episode of acute gastritis, while ongoing excessive alcohol consumption is linked with chronic gastritis.
- Some medications, such as NSAIDS like Ibuprofen or aspirin, cause stomach irritation.
- Chronic stress has a devastating effect on gut health and is linked with gastritis and inflammation of the stomach.
- Some cases of gastritis are the result of the immune system mistakenly attacking cells in the stomach lining, meaning gastritis can be an autoimmune issue. Specifically, the stomach’s parietal cells become damaged. These cells produce both stomach acid and a substance called intrinsic factor, needed for vitamin B12 absorption from food. Over time, a lack of B12 can cause a condition known as pernicious anaemia. This occurs when red blood cells are enlarged, with an abnormal shape. Because B12 contributes towards a healthy stomach lining, deficiency leads to a breakdown in the protective mucosa. This type of gastritis is more common in people who already suffer from one or more autoimmune disease.
However, any condition leading to chronic, ongoing inflammation in the body can increase your susceptibility to developing gastritis. These include food sensitivities and dysbiosis of the gut microbiome, the collection of bacteria living in your intestines.
What is the Conventional Treatment of Gastritis?
Usually, medicines such as antacids, proton pump inhibitors or H2 receptor antagonists are prescribed to suppress the production and reduce the activity of stomach acid. If H pylori infection is suspected, you may be given antibiotics.
These medicines are designed to alleviate symptoms, however they don’t address the reasons gastritis is occurring. In fact, with reduced stomach acid secretion, digestion will become further compromised, worsening microbiome imbalance. It might seem that too much stomach acid is to blame for your symptoms, however, if you don’t have enough stomach acid, bacteria in the stomach can multiply, producing gas. This will increase pressure within your stomach and can cause acid reflux, as well as irritating the stomach lining.
Establishing the Root Causes of Gastritis with Integrative Medicine
Gastritis is not simply an annoying condition, rather it’s a sign your gut is out of balance. As you’ve seen above, there are several potential causes of gastritis. Therefore, understanding the root causes of your condition is the key to easing your symptoms. This is where functional testing is so important. A GI Map test can be carried out in the privacy of your own home. This test will detect pathogenic bacteria, including H Pylori, imbalances in your microbiome, and any inflammation present in your gut. This way, your results will clearly highlight what’s throwing your gut off balance.
Meanwhile, a Multivitamin Test analyses a pinprick of blood to assess any nutrient deficiencies, including vitamin B12. Guided by these results, a Functional Nutritionist can recommend dietary modifications to reduce inflammation and feed your beneficial gut bacteria, while eliminating any foods provoking inflammation.
If stress is a factor in your condition, an Adrenal Stress and Cortisol Test will measure your levels of stress hormones and inflammatory markers to evaluate whether stress is affecting your immune health. If so, we have a range of specialist Mond/Body therapies at our fingertips, including, EFT, Neuro-Psychoeducation and Acceptance & Commitment Therapy.
For a complex health condition such as gastritis, a good starting point is an Integrative Health Assessment. This takes a thorough deep dive into your symptoms, diet, health history, and lifestyle to dig down into the causes of your health issues.
Your path to wellness is as unique as you are. Take your first step to a future without gastritis by contacting us today.
