Gastritis: Here's What You Need to Know About This Medical Condition

Gastritis refers to a set of conditions where the lining of the stomach gets inflamed. Gastritis is most often caused by a bacterium that causes a number of stomach ulcers. This can also be caused by excessive alcohol intake or consumption of too many pain-relieving medicines. Gastritis can be acute or chronic and needs to be treated by a good gastroenterologist. If not treated in time, this condition can progress into life-threatening diseases like cancer. Good gastroenterologists in Indian hospitals, for instance, the best liver specialists in Gangaram Hospital in Delhi, are of the view that timely diagnosis and proper treatment can help in curing gastritis.

Gastritis may be diagnosed by one's doctor by simply talking to the patient about the symptoms. However, some tests conducted to confirm the diagnosis include the following:

• Tests for H. pylori: One may be asked to be tested for the bacterium H. pylori as this bacterium can cause gastritis. Blood, stool, and breath tests may be done to test for the presence of this bacterium in one's body.

• Endoscopy: This procedure involves passing a tube with a lens fitted on one end into the mouth, stomach and then the small intestine. This tube, which is known as an endoscope, helps the doctor look for inflammation in different areas of the alimentary canal.

• X-ray of the upper digestive tract: This test involves a series of X-Ray images to show any abnormalities present in the mouth, esophagus, and small intestine. It involves consuming a liquid containing barium which coats a part of the gastrointestinal tract, followed by X-Ray analysis.

Treatment of gastritis
Gastritis that is caused by consumption of medications like NSAIDs or alcohol may be relieved by stopping consumption of these substances. Chronic gastritis by H. pylori infection is treated by administration of antibiotics. Apart from these treatment methods, there may also be medications for regulation of stomach acidity which may relieve the symptoms of gastritis. These may block stomach acid production and promote healing of the lining of the stomach. Some of them may also reduce acid production or neutralize acidity by their antacid action.

Prevention of gastritis

Since prevention is always better than cure, it is important to follow measures including the following to prevent gastritis.

It is important to consult a good doctor when symptoms of gastritis appear. One might consult the best liver specialist in Gangaram Hospital or the best gastroenterologist in a Mumbai hospital, but it is necessary to get proper treatment in time to be cured of this disease.

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