Atrophic Gastritis And The Importance Of Eating Right

Thursday, April 26th, 2012 at 6:32 pm

Atrophic gastritis, also referred to as Type A or Type B gastritis, is a chronic inflammation of the stomach mucosa which can result in the impaired ability of the stomach to produce the substances needed for proper health and digestion. This condition comes on slowly and usually affects people later in their lives. Due to the fact that it can go unnoticed as it takes its course, it is important to understand the causes of it and some ways to prevent its onset and alleviate its symptoms.

Causes, Symptoms and Complications

Often this type of gastritis will come on as a result of chronic gastritis. A bacterial infection will weaken the protective layer of mucus in the stomach, allowing gastric acids to get through to the lining and damage it. The damaged stomach tissues are then replaced with fibrous and intestinal tissues, resulting in a limitation of the stomach’s abilities to secrete key substances necessary for proper functioning. Atrophic gastritis is also known to come on as a result of certain autoimmune disorders.

This condition usually exhibits few or no symptoms until it becomes more serious. There are some signs, however, which may indicate to one that he or she is developing problems. These symptoms include:

• Stomach pains
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Lack of appetite and weight loss
• Persistent indigestion

Those who experience one or more of these should see a doctor as soon as possible to determine whether they have gastritis.

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If left untreated, atrophic gastritis can result in serious complications. Pernicious anemia, or the inability of the body to absorb vitamin B12, is one problem that may occur. This can lead to a deficiency of the vitamin and is a contributing risk factor in the onset of dementia and stroke, especially among those of advanced age. Other complications include an increased risk of ulcers or stomach cancer.

Treatment through Medications

There is no cure for this condition, though several things can be done to deal with the symptoms and prevent it from interfering in one’s life. The main focus behind most medical treatments is to rid the body of the bacterial infection by using one or more of the following medications:

• Antibiotics – To eliminate bacterial infection.
• Coating Agents – To protect the lining of the stomach.
• Protein Pump Inhibitors – To fight the bacterial infection and suppress production of gastric acids.
• Vitamin B12 Injections – To help prevent development of pernicious anemia.

Adjusting Diet to Alleviate This Condition

Having the proper diet is an important part of dealing with this condition effectively. Many of the symptoms can be alleviated and further damage minimized simply by adopting a few practices in one’s eating habits. These adjustments aim at improving the efficiency of digestion and taking advantage of the body’s natural cycles of enzyme production.

Over-eating is perhaps one of the biggest problems that affects people every day. One should eat slowly so that the stomach has time to adjust and let him or her know when it is full. Also, eating slower and eating smaller portions helps the digestive process work more efficiently.

Eating on a regular schedule is also important. The body produces enzymes in cycles which adjust to the time it is usually used to eating as well as the types of foods that it receives. Too many different types of foods eaten at irregular times will cause digestive problems and can result in painful symptoms.

Certain foods combinations create conflicting enzymes within the stomach, thus making food harder to digest and more likely to cause problems. Food combinations to generally avoid include:

• Carbohydrates with acidic foods or proteins.
• Multiple types of proteins at the same time.
• Proteins with fatty or acidic foods.
• Starches with sugars or other starches.
• Milk and melons are unique and should be eaten by themselves.

As with any stomach condition, alcohol, caffeine, smoking and highly-seasoned or spicy foods should be avoided altogether. If one takes care with his or her diet, atrophic gastritis does not need to be a serious impairment to quality of life.

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