“I have gastritis” is probably the most common phrase heard in any gastroenterology clinic. And it’s often incorrect: people use it to describe any burning sensation or heaviness in the stomach, when actual gastritis has a precise definition and specific causes. <\/p>\n
This guide explains what heartburn actually is, why it occurs, and when it\u2019s no longer something that can be treated with antacids.<\/p>\n
Gastritis is the inflammation of the mucous membrane lining the stomach<\/strong>. Strictly speaking, this diagnosis is confirmed by examining that mucous membrane during an endoscopy and, when necessary, by analyzing a small tissue sample. <\/p>\n Upper gastrointestinal discomfort without evidence of inflammation has another name: functional dyspepsia<\/strong>. The symptoms may be identical, but the management is different. That\u2019s why calling everything \u201cgastritis\u201d ultimately leads to treatments that don\u2019t address the cause. <\/p>\n Regarding emotional stress: It does not cause gastritis on its own in the strict sense, but it does amplify the perception of symptoms and disrupt digestive motility. Just because it is not the cause does not mean it has no influence. <\/p>\n It is important to note that chronic gastritis may not cause any symptoms<\/strong>. Some people with significant inflammation feel fine, while others with severe discomfort have healthy mucosa. <\/p>\n If you notice any of the following, seek medical attention immediately:<\/p>\n The primary tool is upper gastrointestinal endoscopy<\/a>, which allows for direct visualization of the mucosa and the collection of biopsies. The breath test<\/a>\u2014a simple, noninvasive procedure\u2014is also used to detect H. pylori<\/em>. <\/p>\n Identifying the cause is important: if H. pylori<\/em> is present, treatment eradicates it and the inflammation subsides. If the cause is anti-inflammatory drugs, the approach is completely different. <\/p>\n And here’s something important: over-the-counter antacids provide relief, but they don’t treat the underlying cause<\/strong>. Taking them<\/strong> for months without a diagnosis only masks the problem. <\/p>\n If you’ve been experiencing heartburn for some time and have never had your stomach examined, schedule an appointment<\/a>. Our board-certified gastroenterologists will determine whether there is actual inflammation, what’s causing it, and what treatment is appropriate. <\/p>\n This content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for a medical consultation or treatment recommendations from a healthcare professional.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" What gastritis really is, how it differs from functional dyspepsia, its main causes, and the warning signs that require medical attention.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":991428,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_title":"Gastritis: Types, Symptoms, and When to Have an Endoscopy | CEGAS","rank_math_description":"What is gastritis, its types and actual causes, how it differs from dyspepsia, and when to undergo an endoscopy. Gastroenterology in Panama. ","rank_math_focus_keyword":"gastritis symptoms","_joinchat":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[47],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-991469","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cegas.com.pa\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/991469","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cegas.com.pa\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cegas.com.pa\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cegas.com.pa\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cegas.com.pa\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=991469"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cegas.com.pa\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/991469\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":991470,"href":"https:\/\/cegas.com.pa\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/991469\/revisions\/991470"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cegas.com.pa\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/991428"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cegas.com.pa\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=991469"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cegas.com.pa\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=991469"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cegas.com.pa\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=991469"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Main Types<\/h2>\n
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Most Common Causes<\/h2>\n
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Symptoms<\/h2>\n
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Warning Signs<\/h2>\n
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How It Is Diagnosed<\/h2>\n
What You Can Do in the Meantime<\/h2>\n
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Assessment at CEGAS<\/h2>\n
Related Reading<\/h2>\n
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