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Gastritis Symptoms

Gastritis: Symptoms


Top Symptoms

1. Black and tarry stools

Very often, there is bleeding in stomach and digestive tract due to the destruction of the stomach lining. Once the lining is gone, the tissues underneath get exposed and are susceptible. Ulceration and bleeding result in stools becoming maroon and also black at times. They are also smelly and very sticky.

2. Pernicious anemia

Pernicious anemia is both a cause and symptom of gastritis. It is a type of megaloblastic anemia and such anemia occurs in gastritis patients. The absorption of vitamin B12 in the ileum of the digestive tract requires the presence of a protein known as intrinsic factor. Intrinsic factor is a component of the gastric juice, which is secreted in part by the gastric parietal cells. Since these gastric parietal cells are affected or eroded due to gastritis, pernicious anemia could result. Pernicious anemia, in turn, reduces the secretion of gastric acid, which is necessary for absorption of vitamin B12 from foods.

3. Hiccups

Hiccups are a series of breathing spasms caused due to sudden contraction of breathing diaphragm. They come unexpectedly and last only for a fraction of a second. In case of gastritis, however, the cause is different. When the stomach lining is severely eroded, it could also affect the nerves in the region. This nerve irritation or nerve damage expresses itself in hiccuping.

4. Loss of appetite and gnawing feeling

The lack of digestion ensures that though one has swelling abdomen, there is never the satisfaction of having eaten. It is a paradoxical situation where one has gnawing pains and pangs of hunger but has no appetite. The gnawing of the stomach increases because when there is no food to digest, the excess acids produced only irritate the stomach lining especially in the inflamed areas. If the condition goes untreated for long, it could lead to severe ulcers and, in worst cases, stomach cancer.

5. Indigestion and heartburn

The indigestion in gastritis could also lead to heartburn. Also known as pyrosis, this acid indigestion manifests as a burning sensation behind the breastbone in the chest and in epigastrium. The pain that arises in the chest will often radiate to the throat, neck and even jaw. There is an acid reflux in the stomach and this further causes inflammation of the stomach lining. Since heartburn is also a result of ischemic heart disease, there is a scope for confusion when it is a symptom.

6. Vomiting

Emesis or forceful expulsion of contents is a sure symptom that accompanies gastritis. This is the body’s defensive mechanism to prevent poisoning and overloading of the stomach. Since the stomach has lost its digestive abilities, a lot of undigested bolus remains in it. This is painful and the entire throat and esophagus burn with the effort of expulsion. The gag reflex and coughing usually prevent this expulsion from getting into the respiratory tract but if and when it happens, it could be dangerous.

7. Abdominal bloating and pain

Since digestion is hampered due to the loss of gastric glandular cells, gas gets formed in the belly. This leads to bloating or abnormal increase in the size of abdominal area. Release of the accumulated gas through belches provides little or no relief as the lining of stomach has itself undergone inflammation and general swelling. Thus, the abdomen always feels full and distended and can often be accompanied by borborygmus (stomach growling). The bloating can also cause severe pain that may shoot upward and back at times. The stomach will cramp and pain caused is often mistaken for a heart pain.

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