What are the causes and symptoms of chronic gastritis?

Ever felt the abdominal pain that literally makes you crawl till the aching stops? Do you feel nauseated after eating or experience heartburn or indigestion often? If yes, it may be gastritis that is causing you discomfort. Patients with chronic gastritis condition know how it feels to be suffering from this digestive disorder. It not only wreaks havoc on the digestive system but also affects the overall health and wellbeing of a person, if not treated properly. After all, a healthy belly equals a happier you! So, what makes this common condition a chronic gastritis problem?

Most of us have the habit of brushing off any illness that occurs, not thinking that it can perhaps get serious in the days to come. Gastritis is an inflammation of the protective lining of the stomach. There are two main types of gastritis – acute and chronic. Acute gastritis involves sudden, severe inflammation and chronic gastritis involves inflammation that lasts for years, if not treated. In some cases, chronic gastritis can lead to ulcers and an increased risk of stomach cancer. For most people, however, gastritis isn't serious and improves quickly with treatment. So always, remember to consult your doctor and get a quick diagnosis to avoid bigger health problems in the future.

Now, we are going to tell you about gastritis causes, its symptoms, and a few preventive tips that can prevent you from chronic gastritis condition.

Gastritis Causes

In Ayurveda, chronic gastritis is known as Urdhvaga Amla Pitta. It is primarily caused by an aggravation of Pitta Dosha (Ayurvedic humor representing Fire), which occurs mainly due to improper dietary habits and excessive consumption of alcohol or tobacco. Aggravated Pitta Dosha impairs the body’s digestive fire, leading to improper digestion of food, acidity and production of ama (toxins). Due to aggravated Pitta, this ama becomes heating in nature and gets accumulated in the body thereby increasing the levels of gases in the stomach, causing the condition of Gastritis.

There are several factors associated with chronic gastritis condition, a few of them are:

• Regular use of pain killers like aspirin and ibuprofen can reduce a key substance that protects the lining of your stomach and may cause both acute and chronic gastritis
• Older age, as stomach lining becomes thin as you become old
• Excessive smoking and drinking
• Physical and mental stress
• Weak immunity due to viral infections

Symptoms of Gastritis

Symptoms of gastritis may vary among individuals, and in many people, there are no symptoms. However, the most common symptoms of gastritis are:

• Abdominal pain and bloating
• Nausea and vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Indigestion
• Dark stools
• Hiccups
• Heartburn

If you have any of these similar symptoms of gastritis, you can consult an Ayurvedic doctor for a root-cause based personalised treatment for acute and chronic gastritis. While popping an antacid tablet can provide you temporary relief from the condition, it cannot treat your illness from the root. Ayurveda offers customized herbal medicines, diet and lifestyle recommendations and customized home remedies based on a thorough consultation with the doctor.

Here are some simple but effective preventive tips for gastritis:

People suffering from chronic gastritis often neglect their diet and eat anything and everything to keep their stomach full. They miss the point that food is a vital source of energy and proper digestion not only ensures good digestive health but also protects from various other illnesses. So, it is important to have a sound knowledge about what to eat and what to avoid in accordance to your prakriti or aggravated dosha, pitta dosha in case of chronic gastritis condition. An Ayurvedic Doctor can help suggest a customized diet for you, which can prevent and manage gastritis condition.

Below are a few points that you can keep in mind to prevent gastritis condition while being at home:

• The thumb rule is to avoid oily, spicy, and acidic foods
• Eat high-fibre diet and easily digestible foods like khichadi and lauki ki sabzi (bottleguard)
• Avoid eating pickles, vinegar food items (like tomato sauce) and salty food products
• Avoid having caffeine beverages like tea and coffee and alcoholic drinks
• Avoid overeating
• Keep your mind calm and relaxed. Practice breathing exercises and yoga to relieve stress.
• Make exercise a part of your daily routine. It will help improve your digestion, keep your weight under control and stimulate endorphins (happy hormones in the body).