The term gastritis describes inflammation of the stomach lining. Common causes include Helicobacter pylori infection, alcohol abuse, traumatic stress, autoimmune disease and excessive use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs. Gastritis may cause food and acid to backup into your esophagus after large meals and meals containing foods that increase acid production in the stomach or irritate the stomach lining.
Symptoms
Gastritis may or may not cause you to experience symptoms. A very mild case of gastritis may simply present as indigestion. Other gastritis symptoms include a burning or painful feeling in your upper abdomen that may increase or decrease with eating, vomiting, nausea or a feeling of fullness over the area of your stomach after eating. If you experience these types of symptoms for longer than a week, contact your physician. Seek immediate medical attention if you ever experience bloody vomit, bloody bowel movements or black bowel movements.
Treatment
Treatment for gastritis often requires the use of medications. Gastritis resulting from a H. pylori infection requires treatment with antibiotics. Other treatments include the use of antacids, histamine 2 blockers and proton pump inhibitors that help control the production of acid in your stomach. You should also stop using NSAIDs, which irritate the stomach lining.
Dietary Intervention
Changes to your diet and eating habits may also help control gastritis and the resulting acid and food reflux from the stomach. Eating smaller meals more frequently throughout the day helps decrease the amount of stomach acid you produce and decreases indigestion. Examples of smaller meals include oatmeal with fruit, veggie sticks, a cup of soup, a salad, a sandwich, a piece of fruit, or cheese with crackers. Aim to consume 5 to 6 of these small meals throughout the day to keep full without stretching your stomach and help prevent excess stomach acid.
Foods to Avoid
Avoid any foods that irritate your stomach. If you do not know what foods irritate your stomach, start keeping a food journal. Write down the foods you eat and the way your stomach feels afterward. Avoid any foods that irritate the stomach lining or cause the reflux of food. Common foods that cause indigestion include spicy foods, acidic foods, fried foods and foods high in fat. Other substances that may irritate your stomach and cause indigestion include alcohol, chocolate, coffee, mint, carbonated drinks and mint.
Weight Management
Excess weight places pressure on your stomach and increases your chances of experiencing the reflux of food back into your esophagus or mouth that often accompanies gastritis. If you carry excess weight, decrease the number of calories you consume each day and increase your physical activity to promote weight loss.
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