Alcoholic gastritis is caused by drinking too much, too often. The alcohol can gradually irritate and erode your stomach lining. This triggers gastritis symptoms.
Gastritis is when the inner lining of the stomach becomes inflamed (swells) and tender. Alcohol commonly causes this issue by irritating the lining of the stomach and damaging the cells it comes into contact with.
It is possible to treat gastritis using medicines that soothe and heal the stomach lining if other means don't work. For people who abuse alcohol on a regular basis and who develop either acute gastritis or chronic gastritis, one way to potentially reverse the damage is to stop drinking.
Alcohol can cause gastritis by irritating the lining of your stomach. Gastritis can happen while you are drinking, causing pain and sickness. Gastritis can also be a long-lasting condition.
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.
Drinking alcohol is associated with acid rising up from your stomach into your throat (known as acid reflux), or causing heartburn. Some evidence suggests alcoholic drinks can make your stomach produce more acid than usual, which can gradually wear away your stomach lining and make it inflamed and painful (gastritis).
Alcohol intolerance is a real condition that may occur suddenly or later in life. Here's why your body may start to reject drinking alcohol. If you have a pattern of suddenly feeling very sick after consuming alcohol, you may have developed sudden onset alcohol intolerance.
Signs & Symptoms of Alcoholic Gastritis
Common symptoms include: A burning or gnawing sensation in the stomach. Bleeding in the stomach, which may appear in vomit or stool. The vomit may be red or look like coffee grinds, while stool may be black, tarry, or have red blood in it.
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.
Making lifestyle changes, such as avoiding the long-term use of alcohol, NSAIDs, coffee, and drugs, may help prevent gastritis and its complications (such as a peptic ulcer).
According to the pH level, gin, tequila, and non-grain vodkas are the lowest acidity options; choosing drinks made with these alcohols will be best on your stomach.
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.
Eating a nutritious meal before drinking alcohol can help you avoid a hangover or getting too drunk. Foods high in protein and healthy fats, like yogurt and salmon, can help slow alcohol absorption. Avocados and bananas also contain plenty of potassium, which you might lose after drinking.
Alcohol can cause gastritis if consumed heavily for long periods, as well. Acute alcoholic gastritis is temporary and usually marked by vomiting, a burning sensation when drinking, and stomach pain.
Symptoms may include stomach pain, belching, nausea, vomiting, abdominal bleeding, feeling full, and blood in vomit or stool. In most cases you will be given antacids and other medicines to reduce your stomach acid. Avoid foods or drinks that irritate your stomach lining.
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.
Probiotics can help improve digestion and encourage regular bowel movements. Probiotic supplements introduce good bacteria into a person's digestive tract, which may help stop the spread of H. pylori. Eating foods that contain probiotics may also improve the symptoms of gastritis.
Alcohol intolerance occurs when your body doesn't have the proper enzymes to break down (metabolize) the toxins in alcohol. This is caused by inherited (genetic) traits most often found in Asians. Other ingredients commonly found in alcoholic beverages, especially in beer or wine, can cause intolerance reactions.
Finally, certain diseases can cause alcohol intolerance. The best-known condition to cause alcohol intolerance is Hodgkin's lymphoma; however, other conditions may also cause it. Alcohol intolerance is still normally uncommon in people with these types of conditions.
Following a period of reduced alcohol use or abstinence, alcohol tolerance can decrease to levels before regular use. This means that your brain and body are “out of practice” in terms of processing and responding to alcohol.
While you should avoid caffeine, some people with mild gastritis can tolerate weak tea or coffee with a splash of low-fat milk or non-dairy creamer. Water, herbal tea, non-dairy milk, and low-sugar/low-acid juices are your best options.
While both involve inflammation, the key difference between gastritis vs. GERD is where that inflammation occurs in your GI tract. Gastritis has to do with inflammation in the stomach while GERD pertains to inflammation in your esophagus.
The condition can be acute or chronic. For some it may be a lifelong condition. Gastritis can lead to stomach ulcers and an increased risk of stomach cancer. Often times it may be present without symptoms, isn't serious, and improves quickly with treatment.
In the management of chronic gastritis, changes in lifestyle habits are always taken into account, including avoiding alcohol and tobacco, managing stress, and eating high fibre foods (whole grains); low-fat foods (fish and lean meats), and foods with low acidity (vegetables and beans).