A disease like gastritis is often associated with many possible causes which result in the inflammation of the inner lining of the stomach. However contrary to many beliefs, there are a number of myths surrounding the disease. Some of the misconceptions are listed here.
Gastritis is not fatal.
Statistics show that, in many cases, gastritis can be controlled with simple over-the-counter medicines provided that the patient is making the necessary dietary changes. Sometimes, other factors like excessive alcohol consumption, eating very spicy or oily food and constant stress can make your gastritis worse. Even though gastritis is never the direct cause of death, however, gastritis can be deadly if left untreated or if not treated in time. Gastritis can cause severe loss of blood or anemia. It may even increase the risk of developing stomach cancer. Gastritis also causes bleeding during bowel movements and black stools. The many other painful symptoms of chronic gastritis include bloating and pain in the abdomen, nausea and vomiting, night time heartburn etc. Gastritis treatment is fairly simple and it’s not a long term process. Undergoing proper treatment under expert supervision will show visible results in less than a month.
Alcohol consumption does not make a difference for a gastritis condition.
Alcohol consumed in small amounts everyday is recommended by some medical experts for good health. But it’s a different scenario for gastritis patients. Regular alcohol consumption not only increases the risk of developing gastritis, alcohol consumption by gastritis patients can be fatal. Alcohol is not only an irritant, it also increases bile reflux. Increased bile reflux allows for the bile acid to flow down to the back of the stomach. Alcohol may also increase the abdominal bloating and nausea, causing lack of appetite etc. which are also signs of gastritis activity. Excessive alcohol is deadly and is a total no-no for anyone and not just gastritis patients. Even limited regular alcohol or wine consumption is bad for gastritis patients. 95 out 100 gastritis patients who drink are likely to develop stomach ulcer.
All abdominal pains and bloating are symptoms of gastritis.
Absolutely not! Pain in the upper abdomen or bloating can result from many other causes. The most common causes of abdominal pain and bloating are constipation, food poisoning, stomach flu, irritable bowel syndrome, appendicitis, bowel blockage, ulcers, kidney stones etc. In order for you to be diagnosed with gastritis, several other symptoms must be present simultaneously. The most common symptoms of gastritis include nausea or recurrent upset stomach, vomiting, indigestion, heart burn or gas, loss of appetite, vomiting blood, black stools etc. More than one of the above mentioned symptoms must be present along with abdominal bloating and pain in order for it be considered as gastritis.
Anti-inflammatory medicines do not affect gastritis.
Medical records and statistics indicate that long term usage of anti-inflammatory drugs, aspirin etc are bound to make a gastritis patients’ situation worse. It is always suggested to gastritis patients to avoid ibuprofen, aspirin and/or other anti-inflammatory medications, and/or narcotic pain medications. They are rarely prescribed by a physician to gastritis sufferers. Acetaminophen may be a better option, but it’s recommended to always consult the physician before using such medications. While undergoing treatment for gastritis, you’ll be asked to temporarily stop consuming all sorts of anti-inflammatory medications, analgesics, ibuprofen, aspirin etc.
Endoscopy is the only reliable diagnosis for gastritis.
This is another myth which holds not one bit truth in it. There are four major methods to diagnose gastritis. The most common one is, of course, upper endoscopy or EGD (esophagogastroduoendoscopy). But there are three other effective methods of gastritis diagnosis. CBC blood test is one of them. It is performed to determine red blood cell count in order to find out whether you have anemia. Another popular diagnosis is the H. pylori screening to check for infection and pernicious anemia. And last but not the least, is stool test or Fecal Occult blood test, which is a another sure way to determine whether the patient has gastritis or not. If the patient is suffering from gastritis, he or she will have small amounts blood in the stool.
Over-the-counter antacids are good enough to cure gastritis.
This is a very harmful belief and is far from truth. Even though physicians prescribe antacids in treatment for gastritis, they are not the only medicines a gastritis patient has to take. Besides, all over-the-counter antacids are not effective against chronic gastritis. Physicians prescribe several other drugs alongside antacids which help to reduce stomach acid. If the cause of your gastritis is an H. Pylori infection, you’re likely to be prescribed a regimen of several antibiotics along with an acid blocking drug, similar to the ones used for heartburn. If your gastritis is the result of Pernicious Anemia, shots of vitamin B12 are mandatory.
A bland diet is not mandatory for gastritis patients.
This is the mother of all myths related to gastritis and completely baseless. It’s pretty much common sense that anyone suffering from chronic heartburn or gastritis must change their eating habits. Spicy and oily foods will definitely slow down the healing process in case you’re under medication. It will worsen your condition and make your gastritis reappear in case you’ve just stopped medications or are not under treatment. A bland diet is must for gastritis patients when the disease is at it’s peak and you’re undergoing treatment.
Extreme stress and tension can cause gastritis.
False. Excessive tension and stress have shown to increase problems in people who are already patients of gastritis, but they do not cause gastritis in healthy people. Stress and tension can indeed increase the production of bile acid in the stomach, kill appetite, cause abdominal pain and vomiting: which are all similar symptoms of gastritis. But these symptoms are generally temporary and they do not increase gradually or become a chronic problem.
Gastritis treatment is a long term process.
Wrong again. Gastritis treatment takes fairly less time and you’ll see visible difference within a week given that you’re following your physician’s instructions obediently. Physician recommend following a bland diet routine for the initial months and you might also be asked to temporarily stop taking anti-inflammatory drugs, aspirin, ibuprofen etc. Following these instructions alongside the prescription drugs are bound to show results in a short time.
