Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHow It Affects the StomachSymptomsDiagnostic TestingTreatment and PreventionHolistic ManagementFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
How It Affects the Stomach
Symptoms
Diagnostic Testing
Treatment and Prevention
Holistic Management
Frequently Asked Questions
Acutegastritisis the sudden inflammation of the lining of the stomach. It can causestomach painand discomfort that goes away in time.
This article will discuss acute gastritis symptoms and causes, how it differs from chronic gastritis, and ways to prevent it. It will also cover holistic and standard medical treatments.
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What Does Acute Gastritis Do to the Stomach?
The stomach’s lining (gastric mucosa) protects it against infection and stomach acid (a fluid that helps you digest food). Acute gastritis happens when the stomach lining is irritated and becomes inflamed. When the lining is not able to protect the stomach, an ulcer can form. Astomach ulcercan cause serious complications, such as stomach bleeding.
Acute vs. Chronic Gastritis
There are several differences between acute and chronic gastritis. One of the main differences is how long someone suffers from the condition. Acute gastritis lasts for a short period of time, whereas chronic gastritis can continue for months or years.Other differences include:
Acute gastritis:
Chronic gastritis:
Causes
Acute gastritis has several possible causes, including:
Less common causes include kidney failure, being on a ventilator, infection from cytomegalovirus, or herpes simplex virus.
The most common symptom of acute gastritis is abdominal pain. Other symptoms include:
Gastritis can cause stomach bleeding, which has a separate set of symptoms. These includeblack stoolsand vomit with a coffee-ground appearance.
A gastritis diagnosis can be determined based on information alone. If a cause cannot be found, however, further testing may be needed.
In some cases, anesophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), or upper endoscopy, will need to be done to see the inside of the stomach. This procedure involves placing a small instrument inside the esophagus and into the stomach. It allows healthcare providers to see the walls of the stomach and take small samples to be examined in a lab (biopsy).
Other diagnostic testing may include:
Gastritis can be a painful condition with waves of discomfort that come and go. Finding and avoiding triggers that cause stomach pain can help relieve symptoms. Some triggers include spicy foods, alcohol, and smoking. If these changes don’t make a difference, then gastritis is usually treated with medication that lowers the acid levels in the stomach.
There are three types of medications that are used to treat acute gastritis:
Acute gastritis is a condition that can be managed with lifestyle changes and medication. Identifying certain lifestyle causes—such as spicy foods, heavy alcohol use, and smoking—and making changes to avoid them can reduce your likelihood of developing acute gastritis.
It’s important to talk to a healthcare provider before treating gastritis with natural products. They may interfere with certain medications or have unintended effects.
Summary
Acute gastritis is a condition that comes on quickly due to stomach irritation and inflammation. Spicy food, alcohol, and anH. pyloriinfection are all possible causes. A healthcare provider can make a diagnosis based on reported symptoms or with additional diagnostic testing. Treatment involves removing anything that could irritate the stomach and medication, if necessary.
If you have stomach pain with no known cause, make sure to contact your healthcare provider. Acute gastritis can turn into chronic gastritis, which may lead to further complications. If you are diagnosed with acute gastritis, consider making lifestyle changes that can not only relieve your stomach symptoms, but also improve your overall health.
Frequently Asked QuestionsAcute gastritis can last for days to a couple of weeks. Symptoms tend to improve with treatment. A healthcare provider can prescribe the right medications to alleviate the symptoms of acute gastritis.The symptoms of acute gastritis include abdominal pain, bloating, belching, loss of appetite, and fullness. These symptoms can mimic other conditions. Talk to a healthcare provider to get an accurate acute gastritis diagnosis.Avoid eating foods that irritate the stomach, such as spicy foods, alcohol, coffee, and acidic fruit. If something hurts the stomach, then avoid it in the future.Learn MoreWhat to Eat If You Have Gastritis
Acute gastritis can last for days to a couple of weeks. Symptoms tend to improve with treatment. A healthcare provider can prescribe the right medications to alleviate the symptoms of acute gastritis.
The symptoms of acute gastritis include abdominal pain, bloating, belching, loss of appetite, and fullness. These symptoms can mimic other conditions. Talk to a healthcare provider to get an accurate acute gastritis diagnosis.
Avoid eating foods that irritate the stomach, such as spicy foods, alcohol, coffee, and acidic fruit. If something hurts the stomach, then avoid it in the future.Learn MoreWhat to Eat If You Have Gastritis
Avoid eating foods that irritate the stomach, such as spicy foods, alcohol, coffee, and acidic fruit. If something hurts the stomach, then avoid it in the future.
Learn MoreWhat to Eat If You Have Gastritis
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Johns Hopkins.Gastritis.MedlinePlus.Gastritis.Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG).Gastritis: Overview.Medical University of South Carolina.Gastritis.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease.Definition & facts of gastritis & gastropathy.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Smoking and the digestive system.Takeuchi H, Trang VT, Morimoto N, Nishida Y, Matsumura Y, Sugiura T.Natural products and food components with anti-Helicobacter pylori activities.World J Gastroenterol. 2014;20(27):8971-8978. doi:10.3748/wjg.v20.i27.8971
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Johns Hopkins.Gastritis.MedlinePlus.Gastritis.Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG).Gastritis: Overview.Medical University of South Carolina.Gastritis.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease.Definition & facts of gastritis & gastropathy.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Smoking and the digestive system.Takeuchi H, Trang VT, Morimoto N, Nishida Y, Matsumura Y, Sugiura T.Natural products and food components with anti-Helicobacter pylori activities.World J Gastroenterol. 2014;20(27):8971-8978. doi:10.3748/wjg.v20.i27.8971
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Johns Hopkins.Gastritis.MedlinePlus.Gastritis.Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG).Gastritis: Overview.Medical University of South Carolina.Gastritis.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease.Definition & facts of gastritis & gastropathy.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Smoking and the digestive system.Takeuchi H, Trang VT, Morimoto N, Nishida Y, Matsumura Y, Sugiura T.Natural products and food components with anti-Helicobacter pylori activities.World J Gastroenterol. 2014;20(27):8971-8978. doi:10.3748/wjg.v20.i27.8971
Johns Hopkins.Gastritis.
MedlinePlus.Gastritis.
Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG).Gastritis: Overview.
Medical University of South Carolina.Gastritis.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease.Definition & facts of gastritis & gastropathy.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Smoking and the digestive system.
Takeuchi H, Trang VT, Morimoto N, Nishida Y, Matsumura Y, Sugiura T.Natural products and food components with anti-Helicobacter pylori activities.World J Gastroenterol. 2014;20(27):8971-8978. doi:10.3748/wjg.v20.i27.8971
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