Subatrophic gastritis is different from othersforms of this disease by the presence of atrophied areas of the gastric mucosa (most often, the glands and small areas of the mucosa itself atrophy). When the glands atrophy, the cells responsible for the production of pepsin and hydrochloric acid die. In the case of atrophy of the mucosa, some of its areas cannot function normally, as a result of which they are replaced by cells of the epithelial and connective tissues. Naturally, these cells are not able to produce the enzyme of gastric juice and, as a result, the stomach cannot fully perform its functions. Gastritis got its name because the patient's gastric mucosa becomes inflamed and very thin. Thus, subatrophic gastritis is characterized by a decrease in the production of hydrochloric acid and a decrease in the acidity of gastric juice, thinning of the tissues of the gastric membrane. In more severe cases, atrophy can affect not only a certain area, but the entire organ. To avoid such a situation, it should be remembered that the subatrophic type is only the initial stage of gastric atrophy, and with timely treatment it responds well to treatment. The main thing is that it does not become chronic.
Causes of the disease
To get rid of the problem, you should findfirst, the cause of its occurrence. Only in this case can a relapse be avoided in the future. Otherwise, gastritis can develop into a chronic form, which is fraught with quite serious consequences, including cancer. Often, the culprit is the Helicobacter bacterium (as in other manifestations of gastritis). Settling on the epithelium of the gastric mucosa, it causes an inflammatory process that leads to superficial gastritis. At this stage, it is important to identify it and begin treatment, but if this does not happen, the disease from the primary stage passes into other forms. With autoimmune gastritis, autoantibodies are formed that affect their own glands, which leads to their death. Subatrophic or chronic gastritis can be provoked by such factors as improper, insufficient nutrition, as well as overeating, use of hormonal drugs, alcohol, preservatives. Remember that treatment is half the battle. Your attitude to bad habits is important. Symptoms of subatrophic gastritis:
- Sharp deterioration of appetite;
- Lethargy, heaviness in the abdomen, an unpleasant aftertaste in the mouth, belching;
- Sharp loss of kilograms;
- Fatigue at low loads;
- Nausea, abnormal stool, flatulence.
With such an unpleasant disease, the patient's bodystops perceiving milk, as a result the body does not receive the required amount of nutrients. Exhaustion sets in, since the lack of vitamins and microelements is increasingly noticeable. Patients often note deterioration of vision, development of anemia, hair loss. In order to quickly identify the disease, it is important to take a close look at your body: exfoliated nails and dry hair can "speak" of the presence of the disease. And it is advisable to immediately begin treatment. If at least some of the above symptoms appear, you should consult a doctor. After diagnosis, he will make an accurate diagnosis, prescribe treatment, which includes proper, dietary nutrition, as well as taking special restorative drugs. The main thing is not to delay a visit to the doctor, since timely treatment is the key to a quick recovery. It is worth noting that atrophic gastritis may not make itself known for a long time, so the disease can often only be detected by endoscopic examination, during which the stomach, esophagus and duodenum are examined. Subatrophic gastritis is often accompanied by other diseases, such as cholecystitis, enterocolitis, pancreatitis.
Effective treatment of the disease
For the treatment to bear fruit, it is necessaryFirst of all, eliminate the causes of this disease. First, you need to consult a doctor and clarify whether your medical record contains a Helicobacter test. If not, you most likely need to do it. If the infection is detected, treatment will consist of taking antibiotics and medications that block the production of gastric acid. If, according to the test results, there is no infection, then you need to look for another cause (autoimmune process, taking anti-inflammatory drugs). Usually, it takes up to two to three months to diagnose and treat such diseases.
Prevention of gastritis: how to protect your stomach
Prevention of gastritis has a simple basis,However, following simple rules can help protect you from this unpleasant disease. The diet of a person who wants to avoid the onset or exacerbation of gastritis should be balanced and timely, contain a sufficient amount of trace elements, vitamins, fats, proteins, and carbohydrates. How should you eat to avoid subatrophic gastritis? It is important to follow a daily routine and eat 4 times a day in small portions. Do not overeat. It is recommended to have dinner 4 hours before bedtime so that the food has time to digest well, because at night the stomach rests, like the entire human body. Dry food is a good provocateur of gastritis. Try to avoid such snacks. Do not rush to eat, chew each bite thoroughly - it is better to eat less and chew well than to "throw" a huge amount of heavy food into your stomach. To avoid atrophic gastritis, it is better to avoid too hot and cold food, low-quality products, dyes and preservatives. Hygiene is an important component of a healthy stomach! To ensure that atrophic (the new name for subatrophic gastritis) does not become an unpleasant surprise, it is necessary to adhere to basic hygiene rules:
- Wash hands with soap and water;
- Rinse thoroughly under running water with vegetables and fruits;
- Prepare meat and fish until ready (but do not fry until the crust);
- Monitor the condition of your teeth;
- Carry out timely treatment of all diseases;
- To refuse from bad habits.
It should be remembered that atrophic gastritis canworsen as a result of taking certain medications. Therefore, before taking pills, for example for the flu, read the instructions, pay special attention to how they affect the stomach.
How does subatrophic gastritis develop?
In modern clinical practice, 2 are distinguishedforms of atrophic gastritis: multifocal and autoimmune. Multifocal gastritis is often called "environmental disease". The immediate causes of this pathological process have not been thoroughly studied, but a significant role is given to the influence of Helicobacter bacteria, lack of consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, the intake of nitrates and other toxins into the stomach. If treatment is not timely, polyps and ulcers of the mucous membrane may appear on the affected stomach. Health workers associate the development of the autoimmune form of subatrophic gastritis with genetic causes. In 10% of chronic gastritis, this form is diagnosed. The presence of an autoimmune variant of the disease is associated with an increased risk of tumors. Therefore, at the slightest suspicion of gastritis, you should consult a doctor who will prescribe treatment.
Danger of chronic disease
Without proper treatment, almost allsooner or later the disease becomes chronic. This also applies to subatrophic gastritis. Many people who ignore stomach discomfort self-medicate, which is completely wrong. Such “therapy” allows, at best, to achieve only short-term relief of unpleasant symptoms. However, during this time, gastritis continues to progress, gradually becoming chronic – it is harder to cure than an acute manifestation. As practice shows, a patient with chronic atrophic gastritis is forced to “sit” on a diet all his life and undergo a course of preventive treatment at least twice a year.
Danger in atrophic gastritis
Hypothetical course of atrophic gastritiscan develop in different ways. The first option is chronic gastritis, which leads to a decrease in the acid-forming function of the stomach. In this case, the patient requires replacement therapy, without which symptoms of indigestion will be observed. The second option for the course of the disease occurs as a result of chronic inflammation of the stomach lining, when there is a destruction of cellular renewal in the stomach, which, in turn, leads to the appearance of target cells in which carcinogenic substances settle. This leads to cellular mutations, the integrity of the gastric epithelium is disrupted.
We will experience this unpleasantness: what to do?
To prevent unpleasant things from happening in your stomachprocesses described above, it is necessary to listen to your body, periodically take tests, visit a gastroenterologist. In light of the latest "new" nutrition, not always pleasant, a huge number of stressful situations at work and lack of time, the stomach is often exposed to various diseases, among which atrophic (subatrophic) gastritis leads the first positions. Do not give it a chance to affect the mucous membrane of your stomach, and if this does happen, complete the course of treatment, do not be lazy to go for a check-up and treat yourself to healthy food. Be always healthy!