It is obvious that all of us might have experienced symptoms of gastritis at any point of in our lifetime. The change in food pattern, lifestyle changes have added to the complexity of the problems.
Nowadays people have increased habit of taking fast foods, ready to use foods, canned foods, processed foods that have increased propensity to cause acid peptic disease than home made foods.
In this materialistic world, every body running after the jobs compromising their vital sleep and rest is another reason behind the surging incidence of gastritis. Type A personality with increased workload and peer pressure leading to skipping meals along with odd timing of intake of major meals are the other major contributing factors towards the acid peptic disorders.
Fasting, religious habits as seen in Indian women sometimes aggravate the problems underlying complications.
Overuse of painkillers, other medications also lead to gastric irritation and symptoms of gastritis.
Symptoms of acid peptic disease…
– Symptoms also known as heartburn although it is a misnomer.
– Pain in epigastric area
– Uneasiness, nausea may be associated
– Bloating, features of indigestion may be seen
– If symptoms not controlled, it may lead to peptic ulcers like gastric and duodenal ulcers. It is characterized by epigastric pain, bleeding, ulceration leading to perforation. These complications finally may require surgical intervention.
Management…
It can be managed conservatively by changing food habits and lifestyle patterns. Fast foods should not replace major meal even if in urgency. They are one of the major culprits of gastritis or acid peptic disorders. Skipping meals and timely intake of major meals are advised for prevention of acid peptic disorders.
Over the counter use of pain killers and other drugs should be avoided to prevent gastritis. Drugs especially the NSAID(non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs) like paracetamol, aceclofenac, ibuprofen irritate the gastric mucosa resulting acidity and overuse may cause peptic ulcers.
Underlying gastritis problems should be treated at the earliest to avoid complications like ulcers and bleeding.
Antacids and proton pump inhibitors like pantoprazole, rabeprazole, omeprazole are the mainstay of treatments.
Proton pump inhibitors
These are the mainstay of treatment. They inhibit the proton pump mainly involved in acid production. The main drugs in this category are omeprazole, pantoprazole, rabeprazole, esomoprazole. They are as single dose in the morning due to their long standing effect.
Antacids
Antacids neutralize the acidity effect. They are usually magnesium hydroxide and aluminum hydroxide. Magnesium hydroxide can cause diarrhoea and aluminum hydroxide can cause constipation.
Mucosal protectants
The mucosal lining is mainly damaged by the effect of acids. The surface protectants like sucralfate form a layer on the surface to neutralize the effect of acids.
Acid peptic disorders are better avoided than late to minimize complications.
Thanks…
