Gastritis is inflammation of the lining of your stomach that often develops without causing symptoms. When left untreated, gastritis may lead to other health problems like an infection or stomach cancer. Long Island Gastroenterology Specialists in North Wantagh, and South Wantagh, New York, takes a comprehensive approach to care, diagnosing, and treating gastritis using advanced tools and therapies. Call the office nearest you or schedule an appointment online today.
Gastritis is a condition that affects the stomach, causing inflammation of the gastric lining. Though not everyone with gastritis has symptoms, the condition may cause indigestion, bloating, and nausea.
Gastritis may occur suddenly or develop slowly over time. When left untreated, gastritis may lead to other health problems such as anemia, peritonitis (infection), or stomach cancer.
You develop gastritis when something damages or weakens the stomach lining. Causes of gastritis include:
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a bacteria that causes gastritis. It’s one of the primary causes of chronic gastritis and stomach ulcers.
Autoimmune gastritis is an immune system malfunction. The inflammation occurs because the immune system mistakenly attacks the healthy tissue.
Chronic use of certain medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and corticosteroids, irritates the lining of the stomach, leading to inflammation.
Excessive alcohol use irritates and erodes the lining of the stomach, causing inflammation.
The experts at Long Island Gastroenterology Specialists conduct a thorough history and physical when you come in with concerns about indigestion or abdominal pain so they can better understand the possible causes.
If they suspect gastritis, they may perform a number of tests to confirm and determine the cause of the inflammation. Testing might include:
If your gastroenterologist suspects your gastritis is from an H. pylori infection, they do a breath test.
They also run blood and stool tests to check for the bacterial infection.
An upper endoscopy allows your gastroenterologist to evaluate the lining of your stomach and assess the severity of your inflammation. They also take tissue samples to check for infections.
The providers at Long Island Gastroenterology Specialists customize your gastritis treatment plan based on the underlying cause of the inflammation. Treatment might include:
Most patients experience improvements in symptoms soon after starting treatment. Your gastroenterologist at Long Island Gastroenterology Specialists may recommend minimizing use of NSAIDs and alcohol to prevent a recurrence.
When left untreated, gastritis may lead to other health problems. For a team approach to your digestive health, call Long Island Gastroenterology Specialists or schedule an appointment online today.