From gastritis to stomach ulcers, all about stomach diseases

What is gastritis?

Gastritis can be classified according to endoscopic findings: superficial gastritis with a lot of redness in the stomach, atrophic gastritis with a lot of atrophies, suppurative gastritis with a lot of metaplasia, hypertrophic gastritis with thickening of the stomach wall, and erosive gastritis with a wound that looks like the stomach wall has been scratched.

Sometimes, patients ask me questions about hemorrhagic gastritis, which is blood in the stomach. The stomach organ is the first line of contact with food coming in from outside, so you can rest assured that blood can be seen within a normal range.

The diagnosis of gastritis is usually made with the naked eye, so the results can change at any time.

What is a stomach ulcer?

A stomach ulcer is a wound in the stomach lining. A shallow wound that looks like a scratch on the gastric mucosa is called erosion, and when this wound goes down to the lower layer of the mucous membrane or even lower, it is an ulcer. Erosions do not leave a trace when they heal, but ulcers are deep wounds, so even if they are treated, they will leave scars.

What is Helicobacter bacteria?

Helicobacter is a bacterium that attaches itself to the stomach lining and lives there. You might think that because you live in the stomach, you like stomach acid. You can think of Helicobacter as a stubborn bacterium that can survive in a stomach acid environment without dying, rather than liking stomach acid. In fact, Helicobacter prefers the mucus layer in a neutral environment with a pH of 5~6 rather than inside the stomach with a pH of 1~2.

Helicobacter is involved in more than 90% of duodenal ulcer cases and 70% of gastric ulcer cases. Duodenal ulcers are almost always caused by Helicobacter, and the majority of gastric ulcers are caused by Helicobacter bacteria, except for those caused by drugs such as aspirin and anti-inflammatory drugs.

3 treatment options for stomach ulcers

Gastric ulcers are relatively simple to treat, but they are difficult to distinguish from stomach cancer, and recurrence is frequent. Therefore, it is important to first confirm that it is not cancer and to prevent recurrence.

There are three treatment options for stomach ulcers.

First, you need to get rid of the Helicobacter bacteria.

Second, aspirin or anti-inflammatory drugs should only be taken for a specific reason.

Third, quitting smoking is a must.

If you don't adhere to the above three points, your stomach defense factors will be vulnerable, and stomach ulcers may appear frequently. In particular, Helicobacter bacteria can be prevented from recurring by 80% by taking antibiotics for 1~2 weeks.

If a relapse occurs despite these treatments, medications may be used. Think of it as a very rare case.

Good food on top

Cabbage, one of the most representative of stomach health, is a vegetable that helps protect the gastric mucosa, and in fact, gastrointestinal medicines are made from cabbage's carbezin. However, if you have an upset stomach, it's best for your stomach to eat a balanced diet of vegetables, fruits, and foods that don't contain artificial flavors or sweeteners, rather than relying solely on cabbage. We also recommend a balanced diet by reducing meat consumption and increasing vegetarian diets.