Nervous gastritis: what are its symptoms and how to treat it

Unlike other stomach problems, nervous gastritis is not caused by bacteria, but by stress and anxiety. Let’s see what its symptoms are and how to treat it.

Stomach diseases often cause uncomfortable discomfort. Although there are many possible causes of stomach ailments, some of them seem to be caused only by emotional problems. This is the case of nervous gastritis or stress-induced gastritis.

It is a disorder with inflammation of the mucosa that lines the stomach, caused by stressful situations that are not adequately managed by the person. Although the symptoms are similar to those of any other gastritis, it has some peculiarities.

In this article we will study what its main signs are, as well as how it occurs and what we can do to combat it.

Causes of stress gastritis

Nervous gastritis appears when there is a lot of hydrochloric acid production in the stomach. And this production is stimulated by stress situations, as described in a publication by the National Center for Biotechnology Information.

When we talk about stress, we are not just referring to anxiety or emotional problems. Going through critical health situations, such as spending a long time in an intensive care unit, is also considered stressful. Patients hospitalized for long periods tend to develop this disease.

What happens is that stress increases certain substances and hormones in the body. Among them, acetylcholine and histamine. Both act on the stomach and induce it to produce more acid.

Nervous gastritis worsens when it becomes chronic. Prolonged stress causes less blood to reach certain parts of the body, including the stomach lining. With less circulation there, cells produce more free radicals. These radicals cause more inflammation and the symptoms become more complicated.

Finally, the increased amount of acid and decreased circulation could end up in an ulcer. The mucosa is injured and erosions appear that can bleed.

What are the symptoms of nervous gastritis?

Like many other disorders of the stomach mucosa, Nervous gastritis presents a series of interrelated symptoms. It must be taken into account that these symptoms can occur punctually (in the case of acute gastritis) or continuously (in the case of chronic gastritis). Next, we will see the most common ones.

Pain in the pit of the stomach

The most obvious symptom of this condition is stomach discomfort or pain, especially in periods of intense stress. The sensation is similar to a burning or stitch located where the breastbone ends. Sometimes this symptom calms with the ingestion of some food, but other times it lasts and is not modified by changes in position.

Premature satiety

People with this stomach disorder often report that their appetite decreases considerably during the periods when they are most affected. This way, It is common for patients to reduce the amount of food they eat per daywhich can further affect your well-being.

When the stomach is fasted for a long time, it is more likely to produce acid and it will not find food to use. Therefore, this acid continues to hurt the mucosa.

Feeling of heaviness

Also described as a feeling that food stays in the stomach for a long time. It is possible that changes in meal rhythms and the acid itself make digestion difficult. When the person consumes heavy foodswith high fat or carbohydrate content, the digestive system finds it difficult to sustain peristaltic movements.

The feeling of being full before finishing eating is a symptom of gastritis.

Heartburn or reflux

As with other stomach disorders, one of the most irritating symptoms of nervous or stress-induced gastritis is heartburn. It is a burning sensation perceived in the region of the esophagus, like a tiebehind the sternum.

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The technical name is “heartburn.” The presence of this symptom usually leads the doctor to request more complementary tests, since it may be a sign that gastroesophageal reflux has developed.

Nausea and belching

Burping, nausea and even vomiting They are a consequence of the malfunctioning of the stomach. Small portions of undigested food may also return.

Treatment of nervous gastritis

Because this disorder of stomach functioning is caused by emotional problems or stress, it is important to combine several approaches in the intervention. In general, treatments should be based on three variables:

Medical help. Management of emotions. Changes in diet.

1. Medical help

Like most diseases related to stomach inflammation, the symptoms of gastritis can be alleviated using medications such as omeprazole. These drugs, proton pump inhibitors or PPIs, protect stomach walls by reducing acid production.

Specifically, in stress gastritis that appears when a person is hospitalized for a long time, omeprazole is used intravenously. That is, it is added to the medication used to treat the disease that caused the hospitalization.

2. Management of emotions

Because the main cause of this type of gastritis is stress, the way to end it is learning to manage our negative emotions. To do this, different approaches can be useful, from the use of relaxation techniques to psychotherapy.

Education of the person with nervous gastritis is key. As Bustamente and collaborators emphasize, relapse and resumption of symptoms is very common. This happens because stress management techniques are not applied continuously and sustainably over time.

Managing emotions will reduce stress-induced gastritis.

3. Changes in diet

A proper diet can help eliminate the most bothersome symptoms of this disease. To do this, you must follow the nutritional indications that are recommended for any type of gastritis.

How to avoid nervous gastritis?

To avoid stress-induced gastritis, It is advisable to execute emotion management techniques, do physical activity and maintain a healthy diet.. Let us remember that there is a lot of relapse, so educating ourselves and understanding how to avoid the return of symptoms is essential.

In situations that generate anxiety, it is advisable to use tools that help us control the effects. Of course, it will be easier if we already practice adequate mental health hygiene, perhaps with the continued practice of yoga or even with adequate and restorative rest daily.

Daily tips that will help you are the following:

Avoid eating foods that contribute to stomach inflammationsuch as ultra-processed foods, full-fat dairy products, simple sugars, spicy foods and alcohol.Eat several times a day and in small quantities to avoid an empty or very full stomach.Prefers warm foodnot cold or very hot.Don’t take over-the-counter pain relieverssuch as aspirin or ibuprofen.Eat foods with probioticssuch as yogurt, kombucha, sauerkraut, and kefir.Do not smoke. This habit can damage the lining of the stomach and increases the risk of developing cancer.Chew food properly. Digestion begins in the mouth and there are enzymes in our saliva that act to facilitate the subsequent work of the stomach.

Go to the doctor even if you think you are controlling nervous gastritis on your own. A professional evaluation will always be necessary.