Acute alcoholic gastritis appears quickly and often disappears in a few days. Chronic gastritis due to alcohol, however, may last for months or even years. Its symptoms may not be as noticeable but can be very harmful in the long run.
Alcoholic gastritis is highly treatable. If you stop drinking alcohol, your stomach lining will repair itself in time.
Alcoholic Gastritis Treatments
Medications often include: Antibiotics to kill bacteria that cause gastritis. Antacids to reduce your stomach acid. Histamine (H2) blockers, which curb how much acid your stomach makes.
Alcoholic Gastritis
Gastropathy occurs when the mucosa are damaged, and gastritis describes inflammation of the mucosa. Both conditions can be chronic or acute, and when alcohol is identified as contributing to its cause, they can at least partly be reversed by abstinence.
Generally, acute gastritis lasts anywhere from 2-10 days and can be greatly improved with symptomatic treatment.
If you are diagnosed with chronic gastritis, its symptoms can be eased with lifestyle changes: relaxation techniques, avoiding NSAID painkillers and alcohol, not smoking, eating smaller portions more frequently instead of a big meal, and cutting down on known irritants in your diet such as fried, spicy or acidic foods.
Lingering gastritis
If you experience persistent symptoms of gastritis that don't go away despite the absence of NSAIDs, alcohol, stress, and radiation, then you most likely have a serious infection in your stomach or a severely damaged gastric mucosa.
If you wait to see a doctor for alcohol gastritis symptoms and continue to drink the more likely it may lead to permanent damage to the stomach and digestive system.
Simply put, alcohol irritates your gut. Regular drinking can cause alcoholic gastritis, which includes symptoms like stomach ache, abdominal pain, hiccups, indigestion, loss of appetite, bloating and nausea. Alcoholic gastritis can be chronic or short-lived.
Complications of Alcoholic Gastritis
For more serious cases, however, going without treatment can lead to additional health issues. Besides peptic ulcers and related anemia, for instance, alcoholic gastritis can result in the development of gastric polyps, abnormal growths of cells in the stomach lining.
Damage to the stomach lining is very common and will resolve on its own in most cases.
Can I Drink Alcohol With Gastritis? If you have gastritis, you must avoid drinking alcohol. Your stomach lining is inflamed and in a state of damage, and drinking alcohol can cause it to become worse.
Eat fermented food.
Fermented foods are a wonderful source of natural probiotics – live bacteria that go to work restoring the health of your gut microbiome. It's important to note that while a lot of fermented food is available in our grocery stores, not all contain natural probiotics.
Foods to help treat gastritis
Two foods that may help treat gastritis are broccoli and yogurt. Broccoli contains a chemical called sulforaphane, which has antibacterial properties. It also contains antioxidants, which can help protect against cancer.
Alcohol and gastritis don't mix. Alcohol irritates your stomach lining and can make gastritis worse. If you have gastritis, avoid alcohol or drink it in moderation. However, this may be easier said than done if you have an alcohol addiction.
Common symptoms of esophagitis include painful and difficult swallowing, as well as chest pain when eating. Although some common causes of esophagitis include backed-up stomach acid and infection, its causes and the condition itself can be aggravated by alcohol.
The symptoms of ulcers can vary from person to person, but commonly include: A dull, burning, or gnawing sensation in the stomach. Blood in stool or vomit, which occurs in severe cases. Bloating or burping after eating high-fat foods.
Water has a neutral ph. Drinking large amounts of water controls the acid levels of gastric juices, which helps accelerate the healing of gastritis. You should avoid drinking too much water immediately before and after meals, as it can be counterproductive.
Left untreated, gastritis may lead to stomach ulcers and stomach bleeding. Rarely, some forms of chronic gastritis may increase your risk of stomach cancer, especially if you have extensive thinning of the stomach lining and changes in the lining's cells.
Doctors commonly use "triple therapy," to treat H. pylori-related gastritis and ulcers, including a proton pump inhibitor to reduce acid production and two antibiotics. Bismuth salicylate (Pepto Bismol) may be used instead of the second antibiotic.
Gastritis occurs when the lining of the stomach becomes inflamed or swollen. Gastritis may last for only a short time (acute gastritis) or it may linger for months to years (chronic gastritis).
Acute gastritis goes away after the acute cause of it does. If you have an infection, in most cases your immune system will clear it out shortly, and then the inflammation will go down. If you briefly overdosed on alcohol or pills, your stomach lining will soon repair itself.
If you are overweight, gastritis symptoms such as bloating and acid reflux are more likely. Exercising to assist with weight loss will not only relieve the gastritis, but will help you shed pounds and burn calories. Don't exercise on a full stomach.