Digestive Disorders Comparison: Pointers on Gastritis and GERD
Gastritis and GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) are two common conditions that affect the digestive system. While they share some symptoms, they have distinct causes and require different treatment approaches.
Causes
Gastritis
Gastritis is characterised by inflammation of the stomach lining. Common causes include:
- Helicobacter pylori infection, a bacterial stomach infection that is prevalent worldwide but not everyone infected develops gastritis.
- Regular use of pain relievers such as aspirin and ibuprofen.
- Alcohol abuse.
- Severe stress.
- Autoimmune diseases, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, and Crohn’s disease.
- Older age is also a risk factor.
GERD
GERD is a chronic condition where stomach acid flows back into the esophagus, causing irritation. The main cause is dysfunction of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), which allows acid reflux from the stomach to the esophagus. Other factors contributing to increased acid reflux or impaired clearance include dietary triggers, obesity, and hiatal hernia.
Symptoms
Gastritis
Symptoms of gastritis can include stomach pain or discomfort, nausea, vomiting, a feeling of fullness or bloating, and, in severe cases, bleeding (which may not always be symptomatic).
GERD
Common symptoms of GERD include heartburn (burning in the chest), chest pain, regurgitation of acid into the mouth or throat, and sometimes difficulty swallowing or chronic cough when the reflux irritates the upper airway.
Treatments
Gastritis
Treatment for gastritis depends on the cause. If the cause is H. pylori infection, antibiotics may be prescribed, along with acid-reducing medications like proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) or antacids to allow the stomach lining to heal. Lifestyle factors such as alcohol use and stress should also be addressed.
GERD
Treatment for GERD focuses on reducing acid production with PPIs or H2 blockers, making lifestyle and dietary modifications to reduce reflux triggers, and, in severe or refractory cases, surgery. Alternative treatments such as prokinetics and alginates can also be used to improve esophageal motility or sphincter function.
Comparison
| Aspect | Gastritis | GERD | |-----------------|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------| | Cause | Stomach lining inflammation from H. pylori, NSAIDs, alcohol, stress | Acid reflux from stomach into esophagus due to LES dysfunction | | Symptoms | Stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, fullness | Heartburn, chest pain, acid regurgitation | | Treatment | Antibiotics (if H. pylori), acid blockers, remove irritants | Acid blockers (PPIs), lifestyle changes, surgery in severe cases |
Common causes between the two include acid-related irritation and NSAID use, contributing to gastritis or reflux symptoms. However, the primary underlying mechanisms differ: inflammation of the stomach lining in gastritis vs acid injury to the esophagus in GERD.
Importance of Diagnosis and Treatment
Untreated gastritis can lead to peptic ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeding, while untreated GERD can lead to complications such as ulcers and bleeding in the esophagus, problems swallowing, and other complications outside the esophagus.
A doctor can use upper gastrointestinal endoscopy to diagnose either gastritis or GERD. For GERD, a doctor may use esophageal pH monitoring to check a person's stomach acid level over time. For gastritis, other tests include a physical exam, blood test, stool test, and urea breath test to check for Helicobacter pylori bacteria.
If medication and lifestyle changes do not help reduce a person's GERD symptoms, doctors may recommend surgical options such as fundoplication or gastric bypass surgery.
- Science has proven that Helicobacter pylori, a bacterial stomach infection, can cause gastritis, a condition marked by inflammation of the stomach lining.
- Regular use of pain relievers such as aspirin and ibuprofen, alcohol abuse, severe stress, autoimmune diseases, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, Crohn’s disease, older age, and certain medical conditions can also lead to gastritis.
- GERD, on the other hand, is characterized by the dysfunction of the lower esophageal sphincter, causing stomach acid to flow back into the esophagus.
- Dietary triggers, obesity, and hiatal hernia are other factors that contribute to increased acid reflux or impaired clearance in GERD.
- The symptoms of gastritis may include stomach pain or discomfort, nausea, vomiting, a feeling of fullness or bloating, and in severe cases, bleeding.
- Common symptoms of GERD include heartburn, chest pain, regurgitation of acid into the mouth or throat, and sometimes difficulty swallowing or chronic cough.
- Treatment for gastritis depends on the cause, with antibiotics prescribed if the cause is a bacterial infection like Helicobacter pylori.
- Lifestyle factors such as alcohol use and stress should also be addressed in the treatment of gastritis, along with the use of acid-reducing medications.
- The treatment for GERD focuses on reducing acid production with medications like proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and H2 blockers.
- In severe or refractory cases of GERD, surgery may be required as an alternative treatment.
- GERD and gastritis share some similarities, as acid-related irritation and NSAID use can contribute to both conditions.
- However, the primary underlying mechanisms for these conditions differ, with inflammation of the stomach lining in gastritis and acid injury to the esophagus in GERD.
- Untreated gastritis can lead to peptic ulcers, gastrointestinal bleeding, and other complications, while untreated GERD can result in esophageal ulcers, bleeding, problems swallowing, and other complications outside the esophagus.
- A doctor can use upper gastrointestinal endoscopy to diagnose either gastritis or GERD, and may use additional tests like blood tests, stool tests, and urea breath tests to check for Helicobacter pylori bacteria.
- If medication and lifestyle changes do not help reduce a person's GERD symptoms, doctors may recommend surgical options such as fundoplication or gastric bypass surgery.
