Causes of gastritis (inflammation of the stomach) that you should know

Gastritis is a digestive system disease caused by inflammation of the stomach. Many people have thought that the only cause of gastritis is the habit of eating spicy foods. In fact, the cause is not only that.

Bacterial infections, certain medical conditions, and an unhealthy lifestyle can also make the stomach lining become inflamed. Here are a number of factors that cause stomach ulcers that you should be aware of.

Medical conditions and health problems that cause gastritis

Inflammation of the stomach can originate from various factors. Often times, the cause is the following medical conditions or health problems.

1. Bacterial infection H. pylori

Helicobacter pylori are bacteria that naturally live in the digestive tract. These bacteria are usually harmless. However, if the amount is excessive, H. pylori can attack and infect the lining of the stomach.

If it gets worse, the infection can cause sores in the stomach and small intestine which then cause gastritis. Infection H. pylori also makes the pH of the gastric fluid more acidic and triggers the formation of holes in the stomach and intestines.

The lining of the stomach is supposed to be protected by mucus and immune cells. However, bacteria H. pylori interfere with the immune response in the area, causing gastric inflammation. This is what then causes a gaping wound on the walls of the digestive organs.

Symptoms of gastritis due to bacterial infection H. pylori generally in the form of abdominal pain and flatulence. In severe cases, the stool changes color to black because the stool is mixed with blood in the upper gastrointestinal tract.

Infection H. pylori can be diagnosed with a simple blood test and breath test. However, people with gastritis with a history of stomach cancer or other cancer risk factors should undergo screening to avoid the risk of developing cancer later in life.

2. Autoimmune disorders

Autoimmune disease is a condition when the immune system turns to attack healthy organs and tissues. In fact, the immune system should attack incoming foreign substances such as parasites, bacteria or viruses.

Some examples of autoimmune diseases are type 1 diabetes, rheumatism, and psoriasis. By the same token, their immune system may also be a cause of gastritis.

In people with autoimmune disorders, the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells in the stomach. Over time, this can change the structure and reduce the amount of mucus that protects the stomach lining, triggering inflammation.

3. Bile leak

Bile is a fluid that is produced by the liver to digest fat, break down cholesterol and old red blood cells, and remove toxins from your body. Bile is first stored in the gallbladder after it is produced.

When there is fatty food, the stomach will signal the gallbladder to release bile. This fluid will flow through two small tubes (cystic duct and common bile duct) to the top of your small intestine (duodenum).

Bile and food mixture in the duodenum will enter the small intestine through the pyloric valve. The pyloric valve is usually only slightly open to release bile.

If the pyloric valve cannot close tightly, bile can leak and flow into the stomach, causing inflammation. This happens because bile is not designed to be "accepted" in the stomach organs.

4. Stress is prolonged

Research written in a book entitled Stress-Induced Gastritis in 2019, severe stress could be the cause of gastric inflammation. This is because when you are stressed, the brain will increase the production of a number of enzymes such as histamine and gastrin.

Increasing the amount of these enzymes then changes the pH level of the mucus layer of the stomach. The condition of the stomach that becomes "less acidic" then triggers more stomach acid production. This mechanism aims to restore gastric pH to normal.

Unfortunately, excess stomach acid production can erode the stomach wall. This is exacerbated by prolonged stress, because stress also accelerates the erosion of the stomach.

According to one study in the book, stress decreases the immune lining of the stomach against toxins. Once toxins enter the human digestive system, the stomach becomes susceptible to bacterial infections and other disorders.

Bad lifestyle which is the cause of gastritis

Apart from infections and health problems, improper lifestyle and actions can also cause stomach ulcers. Here are a few examples.

1. Drinking alcohol too often or too much

Alcohol is not a liquid that the human digestive system can completely digest. Therefore, consumption of alcohol that is too frequent or in excessive amounts can be a cause of gastritis for some people.

According to a study in the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, alcohol has an effect on the rapid erosion of the stomach lining. This thin lining of the stomach will be more sensitive to the acidic fluids that are normally produced to digest food.

Alcohol also increases gastrin production and reduces the production of the hormone pepsin. In an unusual amount, certain hormones can support irritation of the stomach wall.

Symptoms of inflammation of the stomach due to excessive alcohol consumption include pain in the upper abdomen, nausea and vomiting. If this habit is not changed, the patient is at risk of experiencing severe complications in the form of heavy bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract.

2. Take long-term pain relievers

Taking non-steroidal pain relievers (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, mefenamic acid, and aspirin can be a cause of gastritis. These effects usually arise because the drug is used too often or on a long-term basis.

NSAID drugs actually work to reduce pain by inhibiting the production of prostaglandins. However, in the stomach, these drugs also slow down the production of mucus that protects the stomach lining and changes its structure.

If the mucus lining of the stomach continues to thin and prostaglandin production decreases, the risk of ulcers forming in the stomach increases. This wound will make the stomach wall inflamed because there is nothing to protect it from acidic fluids.

3. Smoking habits

Smoking is known to be a cause of gastritis. Quoted from the National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Disease, smoking has been shown to increase the production of substances that damage the structure of pepsin, namely stomach enzymes that function to break down protein.

Not only that, smoking can also reduce oxygen-rich blood flow to the lining of the stomach. As a result, there is a disruption in the production of gastric protective mucus and sodium bicarbonate which neutralizes stomach acid.

Smoking also increases the risk of inflammation of the stomach wall which eventually forms a wound, aka ulcers (stomach ulcers). Symptoms of gastritis caused by smoking include heartburn and burning pain in the chest.

The various causes certainly make various ways to deal with gastritis. Therefore, immediately consult a doctor if you think you experience symptoms of gastritis and have factors that increase the risk.

Apart from the main treatment, doctors will usually recommend lifestyle changes to be healthier. You must avoid foods that trigger heartburn symptoms, such as spicy foods, stop smoking, and drink alcohol.