The gastric mucosa is responsible for protecting the gastric wall from gastric acid and various digestive enzymes secreted by the stomach. Gastritis refers to a condition in which the gastric mucosa is inflamed, and is largely divided into acute gastritis and chronic gastritis. Among them, acute gastritis refers to sudden inflammation of the gastric mucosa due to various factors such as eating habits and bacterial infection. It is classified into various forms such as acute exogenous gastritis, acute infectious gastritis, acute erosive gastritis, and acute cellulitis. Acute gastritis is known to be caused by various causes. Inflammation can be caused by eating a lot of spicy food, binge eating, binge drinking, overeating, and eating fast food. In addition, it can be caused by infection by Helicobacter pylori and various bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi, and it is said that it can also be issued by drugs that damage the gastric mucosa, such as pain relievers, anti-inflammatory drugs, and aspirin. In addition, severe mental stimulation and stress, severe burns or brain injuries, sepsis, etc. are known to appear immediately after blood flow to the gastric mucosa is reduced. Now, let’s learn more about the various symptoms, treatment, and prevention of acute gastritis in more detail.
Main symptoms of acute gastritis
When acute gastritis occurs, the main symptoms that appear are sudden pain in the mediterranean region, vomiting, and nausea. In addition, symptoms such as indigestion, discomfort in the stomach area, abdominal bloating, loss of appetite, belching, and nausea may also appear. Bleeding in the digestive tract, although not in large amounts, may also cause vomiting of blood. Since the gastrointestinal mucosa is not developed with sensory nerves, it is said that even if inflammation is confirmed by endoscopy, it may not appear as a direct symptom. It is known that acute gastritis recovers without any sequelae if the cause is accurately identified and treated. However, if left unattended for a long time or if treatment is delayed, symptoms may worsen and cause great difficulties in life, and may progress to chronicity, making treatment more difficult. In particular, in the case of acute erosive gastritis caused by misuse of caustic agents, it can cause various complications if not taken promptly. In addition, in the case of acute cellulitis caused by infection with suppurative bacteria, if prompt measures are not taken, the infection can spread to adjacent organs, resulting in fatal and life-threatening consequences. Therefore, when symptoms appear, it is important to identify the causative food and drug, stop immediately, and proceed with treatment as soon as possible. In addition, since acute gastritis is caused by eating habits and lifestyle, it is very important to prevent and improve the risk factors that cause symptoms.
Treatment and prevention of acute gastritis
1. Diagnosis and treatment
In order to diagnose acute gastritis, a gastroscopy is performed to check for mucosal bleeding and congestion. The treatment of gastritis is applied differently depending on the degree, cause, and symptoms of inflammation according to the diagnosis result. If there are no symptoms, most of them do not receive any special treatment. In addition, antibacterial treatment due to Helicobacter pylori infection, one of the causes of acute gastritis, is recommended if there is a family history of gastric cancer or severe bleeding due to aspirin or painkillers.
2. Controlling Spicy and Spicy Food Intake
Since acute gastritis is caused by bad eating habits, it is recommended to reduce excessive intake of spicy, salty, irritating foods and foods containing excessive seasoning. In particular, during the treatment of acute gastritis, it is essential to limit the intake of spicy and irritating foods, and it is also recommended to avoid consumption of fruit juices and vinegars with high acidity. Irregular eating habits also cause inflammation of the gastric mucosa and are a factor that greatly affects the occurrence of gastritis, so it is recommended to eat at a certain time every day.
3. Refrain from binge drinking
The habit of drinking large amounts of alcohol at once is also a habit that causes acute gastritis, so it is recommended to avoid it. Also, it is recommended to refrain from smoking and caffeine intake, as they may worsen the symptoms of gastritis. Also, for acute gastritis, it is important not to abuse it even with drugs such as pain relievers, anti-inflammatory drugs, and aspirin. can be considered.
4. Consistent intake of foods that are good for gastritis
In order to prevent acute gastritis and improve symptoms quickly, it is important to eat foods that are good for gastritis regularly. Various foods such as cabbage, apple, lotus root, carrot, and leek help to relieve inflammation of the gastric mucosa and protect the gastric mucosa from toxic substances. Cabbage, in particular, is known as a representative food good for the stomach, so when consumed regularly, it has a good effect in preventing not only gastritis but also gastric ulcer and gastric cancer. In addition, since acute gastritis can be caused by severe mental stimulation and stress, it is important to take sufficient rest, sleep, and hobbies to relieve stress.
