Chronic Atrophic Gastritis

Chronic atrophic gastritis is a condition, in which the stomach lining is swollen, causing severe pain. This disorder does not occur suddenly, it occurs slowly, over a period of time. The mucous membrane is a thick layer of mucus that absorbs food and releases chemicals to protect the stomach from the harmful effects of the powerful digestive juices present in the stomach. If the mucous membrane of the stomach is damaged or injured, inflammation of the stomach occurs. In addition to the swelling, the gastric glandular cells are either no longer present or there is reduction in the depth and size of the gastric glands. This condition is commonly observed in elderly people as their mucous membranes are weak.

Causes of Chronic Atrophic Gastritis

The mucous membrane (stomach lining) acts like a barrier that protects the underlying tissues from getting damaged by the alkaline and acidic substances, such as digestive enzymes and gastric acids, involved in digestion. When this protective shield gets damaged or is weakened, chronic atrophic gastritis develops, disrupting the digestion process. There are a number of factors that can weaken the mucous membrane. They are as follows:

Pain Relievers: Using painkillers regularly can lead to chronic gastritis. Pain relievers such as ibuprofen and aspirin, when used frequently, can destroy the protective lining of the stomach and cause chronic gastritis.

Alcohol Abuse: Excessive consumption of alcohol or alcohol abuse can also damage and erode the stomach lining, thus leaving your stomach without any protection from the digestive juices.

Bacterial infections: Helicobacter pylori is a bacterium that commonly infects the stomach and is considered to be the main cause of chronic atrophic gastritis. H. pylori can damage the stomach lining by penetrating through the stomach's inner protective coating.

Attack of Antibodies (An Autoimmune Disorder): Antibodies present in our body are necessary to fight against fungal and bacterial infections. However, when these antibodies attack the stomach lining, the stomach's protective shield can be damaged.

Surgery: Removal of a part of the stomach during a surgical procedure can also lead to chronic atrophic gastritis.

Symptoms of Chronic Atrophic Gastritis
Stomach pain and discomfort are the most common symptoms of chronic atrophic gastritis. In addition to the pain, patients also suffer from stomach upsets and indigestion problems. Patients with chronic atrophic gastritis often experience recurrent pain in their upper abdomen. Other symptoms of this disease are as follows:

• Occasional vomiting
• Unexplained nausea
• Meal related bloating
• Abdominal pain due to indigestion
• Weak appetite (desire for food decreases considerably)
• Weight loss
• Sore tongue
• Restlessness
• A feeling of stomach becoming full after consuming only a small amount of food
• Formation of stomach ulcers (an open painful wound); if the ulcers bleed, the person may vomit blood. Persistent bleeding can make the person weak and tired.
• Black, tarry stools

Treatment for Chronic Atrophic Gastritis
If left untreated, the condition of the patient worsens and becomes serious. Over a period of time the stomach may lose its ability to produce digestive juices. The patient is also at a greater risk of having stomach cancer in case of extensive thinning of the stomach lining. The production of stomach acid causes irritation to the the inflamed tissue of the stomach. Treatment is aimed at reducing the inflammation of the stomach lining. Medicines are prescribed to neutralize the effect of acids. Antacids such as Mylanta and Maalox can reduce the pain considerably. If antacids don't work, acid blockers such as Ranitidine (Zantac) and Cimetidine (Tagamet) are used to minimize the production of acid in the stomach.

In order to treat the H. pylori infection, a combination of anti-secretory agents (proton pump inhibitors) and anti-microbial agents (antibiotics), such as bismuth subsalicylate or ranitidine bismuth citrate are used. These help in eliminating the bacteria and relieving the pain. Patients diagnosed with this disease are known to have deficiencies of vitamin C and vitamin B12. Hence, treatment also involves increasing the intake of these nutrients with the help of a healthy diet. Certain herbs can also help to combat this illness.

People suffering from chronic atrophic gastritis should follow a healthy diet in order to reduce the severity of symptoms. Spicy foods, as well as fatty or fried foods should not be consumed. Eating frequent meals in small amounts is recommended. Smoking and alcohol can cause considerable damage to the protective mucous membrane of the stomach, thereby causing irritation to the stomach. Hence, alcoholic drinks and smoking must be strictly avoided. There are also some dietary supplements available in the market that promote the well being of the mucous membranes. Eating healthy, nutritious food, and following an exercise routine regularly, not only accelerates the healing process, but also decreases the risk of chronic atrophic gastritis.