Causes of Gastritis - Possible Factors and Triggers

What are the possible causes of gastritis?

The stomach has a mucus-lined barrier which protects its walls from the acids the body produces to help digest food. Gastritis develops when this protective layer becomes weakened, usually by damage, and digestive juices irritate and inflame the lining.

Bacterial infection, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), stress, alcohol use in excess, autoimmune diseases such as HIV / AIDS, bile reflux or Crohn's disease, parasitic infections, liver failure, and kidney failure are all factors for gastritis. Also, those older in years are more susceptible, as the lining of the stomach thins with age; they are also more prone to infections.

In understanding the causes of gastritis, it is important to know that gastritis is not actually a single disease but a condition that often has many causes affecting people in different ways. However, most gastritis sufferers complain of pain or discomfort in the upper belly region, which is called dyspepsia. Left untreated, it can lead to ulcers and / or stomach bleeding.

Gastritis can be acute - brief and / or sudden illness (e.g. caused by alcohol abuse); or chronic - a longer-lasting condition (accompanies conditions such as HIV / AIDS, Crohn's disease, some connective tissue diseases, or failure of either the liver or kidneys). This is another point to note in learning about the causes of gastritis.

How about some possible chemical causes of gastritis?

More than 300 products, drug and otherwise, contain aspirin, and aspirin is an irritant; non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) - ibuprofen or naproxen - are also irritants of the stomach lining, as are steroids like prednisone. But also such things as potassium supplements and iron tablets have been known to be evasive. Even a baby aspirin a day can be harmful to some people.

Cancer chemotherapy medications and corrosives can be irritants, and some types of alcohol can be just as harmful. Stress is a factor also, especially in those critically ill or injured.

Pernicious anemia, chronic vomiting, tuberculosis, bacterial infections (H pylori - most common cause), infections that cause bladder problems or pneumonia, viral infections, fungal (yeast) infections, parasites and / or worms are all factors and possible causes of gastritis as well.

Pain from gastritis occurs in the pit of the stomach, travelling from the belly to the back. Terms like gnawing, burning, aching or sore straight through are used to describe the pain of gastritis, with a feeling of discomfort always present.

Symptoms occur according to the root cause but can include belching, which will relieve the pain briefly; nausea and vomiting, which can be bloody depending on the condition of the ulcers; bloating; rapid heartbeat; faintness or shortness of breath; and even chest pains. Also, blood may be found in bad smelling bowel movements.

Persistent bleeding (left untreated) will lead to symptoms such as anemia, fatigue, light headedness and eventually weakness. If the ulcer continues, it can penetrate the wall and spill into the cavity of the abdomen, where the infection spreads with further inflammation and pain.

Besides the causes of gastritis, it also helps to know that gastritis takes on different forms. Radiation gastritis occurs when radiation has been delivered to the lower chest or upper abdomen, while Eosinophilic gastritis usually erupts as a result of an allergic reaction to a worm infestation and is characterized by an accumulation of white blood cells in the stomach. Lymphocytic is another gastritis which generally develops in organs outside of the stomach.

The good news is that most forms of gastritis improve quickly when a treatment is set in motion.

Having read about the possible causes of gastritis, you may wish to learn more about this ailment by reading the other related gastritis articles and pages on this website.

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