What is Gastritis?

Gastritis is an inflammation or irritation of the inner lining of the stomach, called the mucosa. The mucosa protects the stomach from stomach acid, enzymes, and germs. Gastritis develops when something irritates the stomach lining and causes it to become red and swollen. The immune system detects a threat and triggers an inflammatory response to fight it and heal the mucosa.

Acute Gastritis vs. Chronic Gastritis

Gastritis can occur suddenly and get better within a few days to weeks — this is called acute gastritis. It can also develop slowly and last for months to years — this is called chronic gastritis.

Causes

Causes of acute gastritis include:

Bacterial and viral infections
Alcohol or drug use
Excessive pain medication use, specifically nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs, including ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), and aspirin
Reduced blood supply to the stomach mucosa due to trauma, surgery, or a critical illness such as uremia, ischemia, sepsis, shock, or severe burns
Chemotherapy or radiation therapy
Bile reflux into the stomach (bile is a fluid that helps your body digest food)

The main cause of chronic gastritis is infection with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacteria. Approximately half the world’s population has chronic gastritis related to Helicobacter pylori infection. Other causes of chronic gastritis include autoimmune gastritis where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the cells of the stomach lining. Autoimmune gastritis can occur spontaneously or in association with other autoimmune diseases.

Types of Gastritis

Erosive gastritis is associated with ulcers (sores or wounds) in the gastric mucosa and is often caused by acid, bile, alcohol, drugs, or chemical exposure.

Nonerosive gastritis is associated with irritation (redness and swelling) of the gastric mucosa without erosive changes. A type of non-erosive gastritis called atrophic gastritis is associated with thinning of the stomach lining.

Other types of gastritis are named after the specific cause. For example, there is infectious gastritis caused by harmful bacteria or viruses, alcohol-induced gastritis, stress-induced gastritis, drug-induced gastritis, autoimmune gastritis, and eosinophilic gastritis.

Symptoms of Gastritis

Mild gastritis may not cause any symptoms.

When gastritis is more severe or longer lasting, it can cause the following symptoms:

Nausea
Vomiting
Indigestion
Hiccups/belching
Stomach pain
Bloating
Loss of appetite

Gastritis can cause stomach ulcers if the stomach lining gets worn down and cannot protect itself against acids and enzymes. Symptoms of stomach ulcers may include melena (black, tarry stools) and/or coffee grounds emesis (blood in vomit) due to internal bleeding.

What Does Gastritis Pain Feel Like?

Gastritis pain is typically located in the upper middle part of the abdomen (this is called the epigastric area). People with a stomach ulcer tend to have pain in a more specific location. The pain can be gnawing, aching, or burning in nature and often gets better after meals.

Diagnosis and Management

Medical Diagnosis

Your healthcare provider may suspect gastritis based on your symptoms, medical history, and physical examination. They can make a confirmed diagnosis of gastritis based on further testing.

Common Diagnostic Tests

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), diagnostic tests for gastritis may include:

Upper gastrointestinal series or barium swallow (X-rays)
Upper endoscopy and tissue biopsy (this involves inserting a thin tube with a camera attached to it through the mouth into the stomach to look at the stomach lining and obtain a tissue sample)
H. pylori breath test
Blood tests
Stool test

Importance of Professional Guidance

Gastritis symptoms are nonspecific and can be due to many different causes. It is important to consult a healthcare professional to get a proper diagnosis and treatment. Leaving gastritis untreated can lead to complications such as:

Peptic ulcer disease (gastric ulcers)
Iron deficiency anemia due to a bleeding ulcer
Scar tissue in the stomach leading to narrowing and blockage of the stomach outlet (pylorus) into the small intestine. This is called gastric outlet obstruction.
A hole in the stomach wall (gastric perforation), which can allow bacteria to enter the abdominal cavity and cause peritonitis, septicemia, and sepsis
Atrophy (thinning) of the gastric mucosa, leading to problems with digestion and reduced absorption of nutrients like vitamin B12, iron, and folic acid, resulting in pernicious anemia.
Gastric intestinal metaplasia, which are changes in the cells of the stomach lining due to chronic gastritis. This is associated with an increased risk of gastric cancer (stomach cancer).

Natural and Home Remedies for Gastritis

The Role of Diet and Nutrition

If you don’t have any symptoms related to gastritis, you can eat a normal diet. But if you have symptoms of gastritis, dietary changes can help to improve your symptoms.

Foods and Drinks to Avoid for Gastritis Relief

Alcohol
Coffee
Sodas (carbonated beverages or fizzy drinks)
Acidic foods (such as citrus fruits, coffee, and chocolate)
Spicy foods
High-fat or fried foods such as French fries, onion rings, chicken nuggets, fish sticks, doughnuts
High-fat meats such as hamburgers, sausages, bacon, and salami
Ultra-processed foods that are rich in salt, sugar, and saturated fat. These may include burgers, pizza, cookies, cakes, candy, pastries, breakfast cereals, and cereal bars.

What Foods Improve Gastritis?

Minimally processed, whole foods can help in healing from acute and chronic gastritis. This includes eating more fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, nut butters, lentils, beans, olive oil, eggs, and lean meats. It’s also important to ensure you are eating healthy, balanced meals with different food groups including proteins, carbohydrates, and healthy fats.

What is the Best Drink for Gastritis?

The best drinks for gastritis are water and clear liquids like teas and broths that do not irritate the digestive tract.

What Dietary Supplements Should I Take for Gastritis?

Talk to your doctor or registered dietitian about the need to take a multivitamin or other dietary supplements. Your provider may order tests to check for nutrient deficiencies. Gastritis can damage the stomach lining and affect the body’s ability to absorb certain nutrients. This can result in deficiencies of certain vitamins and minerals such as vitamin B12, folic acid, and iron.

Lifestyle Changes for Long-Term Relief

Eat several small meals and snacks throughout the day instead of 2 or 3 large meals.
Wait 3 hours between meals and snacks.
Avoid eating at least 3 hours before bedtime.
Quit smoking, if you smoke tobacco.
Reduce stress with meditation, yoga, deep breathing, and massage therapy.
Avoid overusing over-the-counter pain medications such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Alve), and aspirin; also, avoid taking them on an empty stomach.

Herbal Treatments

Some of the herbal supplements that may benefit people with gastritis include garlic extract, green tea, black tea, and Manuka honey. However, more research is needed to study the efficacy and safety of these herbal treatments. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are interested in using an herbal supplement to ensure its safety and that there are no drug interactions with your current medications.

Medical Treatments

Treatment of gastritis depends on the underlying cause. Treatments also include medications to reduce stomach acid and promote healing of the stomach lining.

Medications for Gastritis

Medications used to treat gastritis reduce acid production or neutralize stomach acid and allow the mucosa (lining) to heal. Treatment options include:

Antacids (Tums, Milk of Magnesia, Gaviscon, Maalox, Mylanta, Rolaids) to help alleviate symptoms and neutralize stomach acid. Another antacid, bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol), protects the stomach lining. Pepto-Bismol is unique because it can be given as part of the “triple therapy,” with an antibiotic and a PPI for chronic gastritis caused by H. pylori infection.
H2 blockers (Pepcid, Tagamet) to reduce stomach acid
Proton pump inhibitors or PPIs (Prilosec, Protonix, Prevacid, Nexium, Aciphex) to reduce stomach acid and promote healing of the mucosa
Antibiotics for H. pylori infection
Probiotic supplements for gastritis arising from bacterial infections. Talk to your doctor before taking probiotics to improve gastritis.

Other Treatments for Gastritis

Alternatives to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for pain and inflammation
Treatment for alcohol or cocaine addiction
Targeted therapy for an autoimmune disorder
Major surgery for gastrointestinal bleeding, bile reflux, or ischemia

Preventive Measures

Personal Hygiene

Gastritis isn’t contagious. But infections like H. pylori that cause chronic gastritis can spread through the fecal-oral route. Practicing good personal hygiene can lower your risk of contracting H. pylori. Implementing small healthy habits like washing hands after using the bathroom and while preparing and handling food can make a big difference.

Avoiding Triggers

Certain triggers can make gastritis worse and should be avoided, such as alcohol, spicy foods, greasy foods, smoking, and certain medicines like over-the-counter painkillers (ibuprofen, naproxen).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the fastest way to cure gastritis?

There is no overnight cure for gastritis. However, the best approach to heal gastritis is to find out the underlying cause and treat it. You can get fast but temporary relief from gastritis pain with over-the-counter (OTC) medications that neutralize stomach acid and soothe the irritated stomach lining. Examples include OTC proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) such as Prilosec (omeprazole), Prevacid (lansoprazole), and antacids like Pepto-Bismol. Make sure you see your healthcare provider before self-medicating to find out the cause of your symptoms.

Does gastritis ever go away?

Acute gastritis goes away after the cause is treated; for example, after your immune system clears a bacterial infection, the inflammation goes down. Similarly, a brief bout of alcohol consumption can trigger gastritis. The body’s natural healing process can cure acute gastritis completely in most cases.

Chronic gastritis does not go away without medical treatment. Some conditions that cause chronic gastritis are curable. Others can be managed with treatments to reduce inflammation in the stomach lining.

How can I ensure permanent relief from gastritis?

Acute gastritis, for example, due to a bacterial or viral infection, often goes away on its own. Chronic gastritis requires medical care and treatment. You can ensure permanent relief from chronic gastritis by following your doctor’s treatment plan for the underlying health condition that has caused gastritis.