Gaby
As autumn brings a surge in activity, stress levels also rise, sharply reducing the hormones necessary for digestion. Coupled with seasonal dietary changes, this can exacerbate chronic digestive disorders. What signals should you not ignore to prevent stomach discomfort from escalating into dangerous consequences?
The Root of the Problem
Poor eating habits, excessive consumption of unhealthy foods, and stress that diverts blood flow away from the stomach are considered precursors to gastritis and peptic ulcers. Gastroenterologists describe seasonal changes in the health of patients with gastrointestinal issues as disruptions in blood supply to the stomach and intestines. The release of the stress hormone adrenaline into the bloodstream causes constriction and spasms of blood vessels, as well as impaired functioning of the gastrointestinal muscles.
In turn, the poorly nourished mucous membranes are adversely affected by increased secretion of gastric juice: its intense production irritates the lining.
Moreover, in autumn, we begin to feel a deficiency of essential vitamins (with a critical lack of B12), which reduces the protective capabilities of the mucous membranes. All these factors push the gastrointestinal tract into a state of stress, intensifying the painful conditions of the digestive organs during the transitional season.
Disruption of Balance
While stress is considered a powerful trigger for inflammatory processes in the gastrointestinal tract, doctors primarily attribute peptic ulcers to the bacterium Helicobacter pylori. This microorganism disrupts the balance in the protective mechanisms of the duodenum or stomach, leading to trophic disturbances in their mucous membranes. The formation of ulcers complicates the functioning of the digestive organs when gastric mucus fails to cope with hydrochloric acid and pepsin—the enzyme responsible for protein digestion.
Following the discovery of this harmful bacterium by Australian researchers (the role of Helicobacter pylori in the development of gastritis and ulcers became known only in the late 20th century), peptic ulcer disease began to be regarded as an infectious pathology worldwide. This pathogen is linked to 80% of gastritis cases, 85% of duodenal ulcers, and 95% of stomach ulcers.
Seasonal exacerbations of chronic inflammation of the mucous membranes can be stimulated by “contributing factors”: alcohol dependence, smoking, depressive syndromes, imbalances in gut microbiota (deficiencies in lactobacilli and bifidobacteria), the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and the overconsumption of hot or cold foods. To avoid gastritis, it is essential to focus on a healthy lifestyle, a balanced diet, and psychological comfort.
How to Avoid Gastritis
It’s important to remember the provoking factors so you can eliminate them from your life.
Causes of gastritis include:
– prolonged stress;
– unbalanced diet, with an emphasis on acidic, alkaline, or spicy foods;
– food poisoning;
– allergic reactions to food;
– irritation of the mucous membranes from strong alcoholic beverages, drugs, or medications;
– viral and bacterial infections, chronic infections in the gastrointestinal tract and oral cavity, and tonsillitis.
To prevent exacerbation of gastritis, all foods that trigger active secretion of gastric juice should be removed from the diet. It is necessary to eliminate spicy, smoked, salty, fried, and sour foods, as well as to avoid spices, sauces, and seasonings that enhance flavor. Coffee and strong tea should be banned alongside alcohol. Meals should be small and frequent (every three hours). Fasting is unacceptable with gastritis, as an empty stomach primarily suffers from being eroded by gastric juice. Undernourishment is particularly dangerous for those with ulcers.
Main Symptoms of Gastritis
Gastritis is a disease of the stomach lining, where the inflammatory process disrupts the digestion and absorption of food. In the case of autoimmune gastritis, the body mistakenly triggers the production of substances that harm the stomach due to an immune system failure.
Autumn’s alarming “warning signs” from the gastrointestinal tract include:
- feeling of fullness in the stomach
- poor appetite
- quick satiety with small amounts of food
- sour taste in belching
- foul breath
- heartburn
- bloating and tightness in the upper abdomen
- weakness and nausea
- irregular bowel movements
- cramps in the epigastric area and right upper quadrant
- abdominal pain of varying intensity.
Symptoms of stomach gastritis manifest in characteristic signs of varying severity: milder in chronic cases and more complicated during exacerbations. While during remission, manifestations of chronic gastritis may be limited to heartburn, heaviness in the epigastrium, and unstable stools, exacerbation of gastritis presents more pronounced symptoms: severe pain in the epigastric region, intoxication, fever, and bloody vomiting. In cases of hemorrhagic gastritis, acute anemia caused by gastric bleeding is also present. In this dangerous state, there is a risk of damage to the submucosal layer of the stomach wall: perforation and the development of purulent inflammation (phlegmon). The most severe consequence is the formation of tumors (including adenocarcinoma).
What to Do If You Have Gastritis
In the early stages, this disease can be successfully treated, but complications pose a threat to the digestive system and even life: the progression of gastritis to peptic ulcer disease can lead to severe bleeding and may act as a catalyst for cancer. To determine the causes of symptoms and prescribe appropriate treatment, a comprehensive examination is conducted based on test results. If there is a disruption in the microbiota, probiotics and prebiotics will be prescribed, and if Helicobacter pylori is detected—antibiotics. If the cause of the illness is stress, the doctor will prescribe sedatives. First and foremost, a plan to eliminate the underlying cause of the disease will be proposed.
Medication treatment involves a wide range of complex action drugs: gastroprotectors (stimulators of restorative processes in the damaged mucous membrane), antisecretory agents (medications to reduce gastric gland secretion), and antacids (neutralizers of hydrochloric acid in gastric juice). Symptomatic treatment will also be prescribed to alleviate discomfort: infusion therapy (drip administration of nutrients, replenishing fluid losses, and rapid correction of acid-base balance), antispasmodics, analgesics, and antiemetics.
Prevention and Diet
Exacerbation of chronic gastritis is a reason for immediate consultation with a gastroenterologist, who will prescribe a diet of small, frequent meals (5-6 times a day in small portions). The doctor will emphasize the importance of moderate food temperatures (30-40°C) and will create an individual meal plan, excluding alcohol, marinades, and other harmful products that increase acidity. Foods that are spicy, sour, sweet, fatty, fried, smoked, hot, cold, and hard (you may need to switch to pureed foods) are prohibited with gastritis. Diet is a key element in achieving maximum treatment effectiveness. Without adherence to it, the significance of medication therapy will be nullified.
Foods that can lower or raise acidity in the stomach. With increased acidity, fresh and pickled cucumbers, fresh and fermented cabbage, tomatoes, sorrel, horseradish, onions, mushrooms, corn, legumes, spinach, citrus fruits, grapes, pomegranates, and more should not be consumed.
Agents that lower pH levels include neutralizers of the aggressive action of gastric acid: antacids are medications based on aluminum and magnesium salts, while alginates are based on alginic acid. Alkaline mineral water is prescribed to reduce increased acidity. Meanwhile, soothing peppermint tea can relieve stomach cramps with gastritis but may be harmful in cases of peptic ulcer disease.
To prevent autumn exacerbations of gastritis, enzymes that improve pancreatic function are prescribed. Pancreatin preparations contain three enzymes: amylase breaks down carbohydrates and sugars, protease breaks proteins into amino acids and peptides, and lipase accelerates fat digestion. By facilitating the digestive process, enzyme preparations eliminate bloating and improve overall well-being.
