In my practice as a gut health dietitian I treat patients who come to me with gastritis⁠⁠. On Instagram @AndreaHardyRD, I talk all about gastritis – what it is, how it is diagnoses and the treatment options!

What is gastritis? I often get asked about inflammation of the stomach. 💥⁠⁠
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‘-itis’ means inflamed – and gastritis is just that – inflammation of the stomach lining. If left untreated, it can lead to ulcers in the stomach. 🤕⁠⁠
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Symptoms of gastritis include:⁠⁠
🔥 Burning aching or pain in the upper abdomen⁠⁠
🤢 Nausea⁠⁠
🤮 Vomiting⁠⁠
😖 A feeling of fullness in your upper abdomen after eating⁠⁠
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Causes⁠⁠
Bacterial infections, regular use of some painkillers and drinking too much alcohol can increase your risk of getting gastritis. Gastritis can be acute (comes on quickly) or chronic (comes on slowly over time). ⁠⁠
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How’s it Diagnosed?⁠⁠
✅ H. Pylori test (H. Pylori is a common bacteria that can cause gastritis)⁠⁠
✅ Endoscopy of your upper digestive system to look for signs of inflammation⁠⁠
✅ Barium swallow with X-rays to look for ulcers caused by inflammation⁠⁠
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How’s it Treated?⁠⁠
Luckily, both medication and diet can be used to treat gastritis!⁠⁠
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Medications used to treat gastritis include:⁠⁠
💊 Antibiotics to treat the infection⁠⁠
💊 Acid reducing or acid blocking medications⁠⁠
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Diet and lifestyle treatments for gastritis include:⁠⁠
🥘 Small, frequent meals⁠⁠
🍺 Avoiding irritating foods like caffeine, spicy foods, fatty foods, and alcohol⁠⁠
🧘 Reducing stress⁠⁠
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While diet itself won’t heal an underlying infection that could be causing gastritis, it can be a great way to manage the digestive symptoms that come along with it!⁠⁠