One of the most common reasons people seek medical aid in different hospitals is chronic gastritis. Chronic gastritis means inflammation of the inner layer of the stomach. I have seen young, old and adolescents suffering from this problem. Men and women are equally affected.

Symptoms
 
There is dull to severe pain in the upper part of stomach which is burning in nature. At times the pain is radiated to the middle of chest, flanks or even all over abdomen. Pain is associated with nausea and bilious vomiting.

At times it may resolve spontaneously or after taking some food or cold milk. Severe gastritis can lead to vomiting with blood as there is extensive erosion of the inner lining of stomach. This is a very scary condition.

Little do people realize that this distressful condition is not a disease but only a functional disorder needing life style changes.

Causes

Smoking, alcohol, sodas, excess tea and coffee, fatty food, low fiber food are some of the common precipitating factors for this condition.

Taking a single heavy meal after staying without food for long time can also cause chronic gastritis, because the acid secreted from the stomach is not neutralised.

Chronic constipation puts a stress on the stomach and can aggravate gastritis. Drugs particularly pain killers and corticosteroids when used for a long time also cause gastritis.

Effects

Though not considered a serious disease technically, it has many repercussions both physically, financially and socially. Recurrent attacks of gastritis make a person sick physically, which in turn causes mental stress. 

Loss of work days due to sick leave, affects working of any organization. The long term consequences of chronic gastritis are hazardous. Apart from infection due to Heliobacter pylori, peptic ulcer is also caused due to chronic gastritis.

The peptic ulcer can lead to pyloric stenosis, where the person suffering vomits after eating or drinking anything as the food is unable to pass through the stricture in the stomach.

Peptic ulcer makes a person more prone to develop malignancy of the stomach.

Diagnosis

Chronic gastritis is easily diagnosed by gastroscopy in which the stomach is visualized by gastroscope. 

Treatment

It is better to prevent such a problem, rather than suffering from it and running from hospital to hospital seeking cure.

Firstly there is no root cure for this condition by medicines. Unless the precipitating conditions are corrected problem will be recurrent.

Medicines which are available for gastritis provide palliative relief, but not a cure. Long term use of these drugs can lead to achlorhydria, a state of absence of gastric acid.

This can cause chronic dyspepsia and even cancer. Young boys are prone to develop gynaecomazia (enlargement of breast) and sexual impotence as side effect of these drugs.

Prevention

Food taken should be rich in fiber like green vegetables and fresh fruits or whole grain cereals. Instead of taking one or two heavy meals, small quantities should be taken three or four times.

One wanting to be relieved of chronic gastritis needs to quit alcohol altogether. Sodas and soft drinks consumption also needs to be reduced.

Water is a better substitute for quenching thirst. Use of pain killers for every small pain somewhere is a bad habit and needs to be stopped.

Mental relaxation is very helpful to keep away or reduce gastritis. One can understand very well, what simple alterations in the life style can lead to prevention and relief from gastritis.

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