Digestive Health Heartburn Diagnosis Your Guide to Living With Gastritis By Sharon Gillson Sharon Gillson is a writer living with and covering GERD and other digestive issues. Learn about our editorial process Sharon Gillson Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Robert Burakoff, MD, MPH on March 23, 2020 linkedin Robert Burakoff, MD, MPH, is board-certified in gastroentrology. He is the vice chair for ambulatory services for the department of medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York. Learn about our Medical Review Board Robert Burakoff, MD, MPH on March 23, 2020 Print Gastritis is an inflammation of the stomach lining. It may occur gradually and persist for a prolonged time. Although it doesn't cause heartburn, some of the symptoms are similar to those produced by heartburn, and it's treated in a similar way to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), by taking medication to reduce stomach acid. Symptoms of Gastritis The most common symptoms of gastritis are: Upper abdominal pain, which may worsen with eatingLoss of appetiteAbdominal indigestionNauseaVomiting, which may include vomiting blood or material that looks like coffee groundsDark stools Symptoms of Gastritis Causes Tom Kelley Archive / Stringer / Getty Images There are several causes of gastritis. The most common are: Taking aspirin or anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofenDrinking alcoholSmokingInfection of the stomach with Helicobacter pylori bacteriaErosion of the protective layer of the stomach lining There are also less common causes of gastritis. These include: Eating or drinking caustic or corrosive substances (such as poisons)Backflow of bile into the stomach (bile reflux)Autoimmune disorders (such as pernicious anemia)Excess gastric acid secretion (which can sometimes occur from stress) Viral infection, especially in people with a weak immune system Gastritis can occur suddenly (acute gastritis) or gradually (chronic gastritis). Diagnosis There are several tests that may be used to diagnose gastritis. These are the three main ones: Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy: The doctor eases an endoscope, a thin tube containing a tiny camera, through your mouth (or occasionally nose) and down into your stomach to look at the stomach lining. The doctor will check for inflammation and may remove a tiny sample of tissue for tests (a biopsy).Complete blood count (CBC): The doctor may check your red blood cell count to see whether you have anemia, which means that you do not have enough red blood cells. In gastritis, anemia can be caused by bleeding from the stomach.Fecal occult blood test: This test checks for the presence of blood in your stool, a sign of bleeding somewhere in the digestive tract.Breath test: A breath test can be performed to look for H. pylori, which is a potential cause of gastritis. Treatment Stomach acid irritates the inflamed tissues of the stomach. Treatment usually involves taking drugs to reduce stomach acid, which can help relieve symptoms and promote healing. Antacids or other medications, such as Pepcid (famotidine), which decrease or neutralize gastric acid in the stomach, or proton pump inhibitors such as Prilosec, will usually eliminate the symptoms and promote healing. Gastritis caused by pernicious anemia is treated with vitamin B12. You may also be encouraged to avoid certain foods, beverages, or medicines. If your gastritis is caused by an infection, that problem may be treated as well. For example, the doctor might prescribe antibiotics and proton pump inhibitors to clear up H. pylori infection. Once the underlying problem disappears, gastritis usually does too. Talk to your doctor before stopping any medicine or starting any gastritis treatment on your own. Complications If gastritis isn't treated, it may lead to stomach ulcers and stomach bleeding. Some forms of chronic gastritis may increase your risk of stomach cancer. Other complications include: Gastrointestinal bleedingGastric erosionAnemiaDehydration Living with Gastritis Eating, diet, and nutrition do not play a role in causing or preventing gastritis, according to researchers. But as you are healing and taking medication to reduce stomach acid, you may want to avoid foods that can increase stomach acid production. There are several foods and beverages that can trigger your heartburn, and increase acid production. You may want to avoid these and consume foods that can decrease heartburn and acid production. Several lifestyle modifications can help you manage the symptoms of gastritis: Eat six small meals instead of three big meals. This keeps your stomach from getting too full, and reduces gastric pressure.Avoid alcohol. Alcohol increases the production of stomach acid.Use an antacid. Antacids, such as Tagamet, decrease or neutralize gastric acid in the stomach. They will usually eliminate the symptoms and promote healing.Don't smoke. Smoking stimulates the production of stomach acid. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Get nutrition tips and advice to make healthy eating easier. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Symptoms & causes of gastritis & gastropathy. Updated August 2019. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Diagnosis of Gastritis & Gastropathy. Updated August 2019. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Treatment of gastritis & gastropathy. Updated August 2019. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Definition & facts for gastritis & gastropathy. Updated August 2019. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Eating, diet, & nutrition for gastritis & gastropathy. Updated August 2019.