Burning, bloating and indigestion are common symptoms in cases of changes in the gastrointestinal system.
When there is inflammation in the inner lining of the stomach, the diagnosis is gastritis. What a lot of people don’t know is that gastritis is not always associated with the clinical symptoms mentioned.
According to experts, the clinical presentation of gastritis ranges from asymptomatic to dyspeptic conditions, when symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, heartburn, burning and abdominal discomfort are present.
“By definition, we will call functional dyspepsia the patient who has pain and burning at least once a week, for three weeks in the last three months. And that you have a normal endoscopy, that is, without the presence of ulcers, tumors or any other disease”, explains physician André Zonetti, PhD in Gastroenterology from the University of São Paulo (USP).
In the case of gastritis, the main factor of inflammation is the increase in stomach acidity.
“The stomach already has acid, it already has gastric juice, which is an acid. The elevation of this acid and the loss of the mucus barrier in our stomach will cause the patient to have this inflammatory process”, describes the doctor and specialist in bariatric endoscopy, Eduardo Grecco.
According to information provided by the Ministry of Health, the main causes that lead to gastritis are:
- Prolonged use of medications such as aspirin or anti-inflammatories;
- Alcohol consumption;
- Smoking habit;
- bacteria infection Helicobacter pylori;
- Autoimmune gastritis – occurs when the immune system produces antibodies that attack and destroy the body’s own gastric cells.
“In Brazil, almost 70% of the population has the Helicobacter pylori in the stomach. Practically 100% of them will have gastritis, they will have inflammation in the stomach part — a mild but chronic inflammation that stays in the stomach. And almost all of these patients will not have symptoms”, says Zonetti.
In the case of dyspepsia, although the patient has symptoms, there is not necessarily an organic cause that justifies them.
“This functional dyspepsia is influenced by several other things: sometimes food, sometimes emotional stress. So, if the patient becomes more nervous, he has a greater sensitivity, he ends up noticing these types of symptoms more”, adds the gastroenterologist.
Treatment and prevention
Although there is no direct correlation between poor diet and inflammation of the stomach mucosa, according to Zonetti, eating habits can influence the functioning of the digestive system, as well as worsen symptoms related to dyspepsia.
In the case of gastritis, the treatment will depend on whether there is the presence of H. pylori in the organism.
“If the patient has the bacteria, you treat the bacteria. If he doesn’t have it, you start, mainly, food reconditioning, which is fundamental, and the use of medications. Drug treatment usually lasts four to six weeks. After this period, you can repeat the endoscopy to look for the bacteria again, see if it was eradicated and check if the patient’s mucosa is ok”, he clarifies. greco.
According to experts, in the long term, the presence of bacteria and the absence of treatment of inflammation can lead to the development of ulcers and, associated with other factors, gastric cancer.
Regarding prevention, in general, the quality of food and the maintenance of healthy habits contribute to the proper functioning of the gastric system.
The Ministry of Health recommends:
- Respect meal times;
- Choosing to have small meals throughout the day instead of having a big meal after many hours of fasting;
- Chew food well;
- Give preference to less acidic fruits, vegetables and lean meats.
In addition, the guideline is that avoid :
- Taking painkillers;
- Coffee;
- Yerba mate Tea;
- Chocolate;
- Soft drinks;
- Excess salt;
- Canned;
- embedded;
- Alcoholic beverages;
- Black pepper;
- Milk and derivatives;
- Fried food;
- Excess fats.
SEE ALSO – How to treat gastritis:
Source: CNN Brasil
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