Among diseases of the digestive system gastritis and gastric ulcer disease occupy a leading position in frequency of occurrence.
Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract in our time is not new – the rhythms of life and poor diet (most often – on-the-go) slowly but surely doing their job.
The most common causes of visits to a gastroenterologist are gastritis and stomach ulcers. The first symptoms of these diseases are very similar, but the difference are all there, and it is important to distinguish them from each other, because one of these diseases – ulcer – can be deadly.
Which is which?
Both diseases affect the lining of the stomach. Only in the case of gastritis it is inflammation, but when the ulcers appear localized defects, often provoking internal bleeding. The presence of gastritis always means the risk of developing stomach ulcers.
Most often, the gastritis becomes the consequence of improper diet, love of fast food and spicy dishes. The ulcer often provoke stress, which overload the nervous system, which further causes spasms of muscles and blood vessels, particularly in the gastrointestinal tract. As a result, there is a malnutrition of the stomach, the gastric juice begins to eat away at the mucous membrane, from which it formed sores.
The differences in symptoms
At first glance, ulcers and gastritis not to distinguish, but if you listen to the difference in the symptoms clear.
The period of exacerbation. Gastritis pain can disturb during the year – it all depends on the diet. Gastric ulcer pain peak is in the fall or spring when the nervous and hormonal systems are especially susceptible due to changes in temperature and the change of length of a day.
When bother? For both diseases characterized by the so-called “hunger pain”. Only ulcer often tormented at night, gastritis also makes itself felt constantly.
Localization of pain. In the case of gastritis painful sensations arise in the same place – in the epigastric region, or what is called “the people” — in the stomach. Ulcer may reflect pain in back, side, stomach, above the navel, etc. – it all depends on the localization of foci of disease.
Pain after a meal. Gastritis sharp unpleasant sensations appear 3-4 hours after a meal, ulcer strong, nagging and exhausting pain occurs within an hour after eating, with nausea, vomiting, often with blood.
In addition, specific manifestations of gastritis include appetite loss, flatulence, weight loss for no reason, nausea, heartburn, belching with an unpleasant odor, excessive salivation, yellow or white coating on the tongue. Characteristic of ulcers include vomiting after eating and the presence of blood in vomit, frequent constipation, or disorders of blood, dizziness, weakness, and decreased performance (ulcer decreases the level of hemoglobin in the blood, and provokes these symptoms).
Treatment is important
Both diseases require immediate and adequate treatment because gastritis very quickly becomes an ulcer of the stomach, and that, in turn, carries a deadly threat. Diagnosis in any case is placed after the ultrasound of the abdomen and esophagogastroduodenoscopy (visual examination of the upper digestive tract through gastroscope — a fiber optic tube, a picture on the monitor).
Treatment of gastritis requires mandatory compliance with diet (no fried, spicy, salty, sour and sweet), as well as taking drugs to normalize the acidity of the stomach, relieve inflammation of the mucous membrane of the stomach, probiotics, and antibiotics. In the treatment of ulcers apply all of these funds, only added to them and even hormone therapy and drugs that help restore brain centers, in particular, are responsible for the regulation of the digestive system.
