Gastritis

What is gastritis?

Gastritis happens when the lining inside your stomach gets irritated and swollen. Think of it like having a sore throat, but inside your stomach instead. This can make you feel uncomfortable and cause tummy problems.

What does gastritis feel like?

If you have gastritis, you might notice:

• Tummy pain or aching
• Feeling sick or actually being sick
• Feeling full and bloated after eating
• Not wanting to eat as much as usual
• Lots of burping or wind
• Feeling like food is stuck or uncomfortable

When to get help right away

Call 999 or go to A&E straight away if you:

• Throw up bright red blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds
• Have black, sticky, very smelly poo
• Get sudden, severe tummy or chest pain

Don't drive yourself - ask someone else to drive you or call an ambulance.

Get urgent help from your GP or NHS 111 if you:

• Have lost your appetite completely
• Feel full after eating tiny amounts
• Have lost weight without trying
• Feel like there's a lump in your tummy
• Find it painful or hard to swallow
• Keep being sick

These symptoms need checking quickly, so contact your GP surgery or call 111.

When to see your GP

Speak to your GP if:

• You've had tummy pain or indigestion for more than a week
• Your tummy pain is getting worse or keeps coming back

What causes gastritis?

Several things can irritate your stomach lining:

• A bug called H. pylori (helicobacter pylori) - a type of bacteria
• Taking too much ibuprofen or aspirin
• Drinking too much alcohol
• Being very stressed or unwell (like after an operation)
• Sometimes your body's defence system attacks your stomach by mistake

How doctors find out what's wrong

Your GP might arrange tests like:

• A breath test to check for H. pylori bacteria - you'll drink something special and then breathe into a bag
• Testing a sample of your poo
• A blood test

How gastritis is treated

Treatment depends on what's causing your gastritis:

• Antibiotics if you have the H. pylori bug
• Medicines to reduce stomach acid, like antacids or other acid-reducing tablets
• Stopping or changing painkillers like ibuprofen if they're causing the problem
• Cutting down on alcohol

If gastritis doesn't get better, you might be referred to a stomach specialist who could do a test called a gastroscopy to look inside your stomach.

What you can do to help yourself

Things that might help:

• Cut down on tea, coffee, cola and energy drinks
• Use an extra pillow at night to keep your head higher
• Lose weight if you need to
• Talk to your GP about painkiller use

Things to avoid:

• Don't eat 3-4 hours before bed
• Avoid acidic foods (like orange juice), fizzy drinks, spicy or fatty foods
• Don't drink alcohol
• Don't smoke

Getting help from your pharmacist

Your pharmacist can recommend medicines that reduce stomach acid and help with mild indigestion. Some are taken before eating, others after - always check the leaflet.

Remember, if gastritis isn't treated properly, it could lead to stomach ulcers. Always speak to your GP if you're worried about your symptoms.

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Based on NHS.uk guidance. Written by Dr Krishnan Pasupathi, NHS GP.