What diseases can chronic gastritis lead to?

Gastritis is a common disease that is often caused by poor diet, stress and heredity. Many people do not treat it and continue to eat unhealthy foods.

Because of this, the consequences of gastritis appear, which are often dangerous to health and even life. It is much easier to start treatment for the disease on time and follow preventive measures to avoid complications.

If now the manifestations of the disease are not very disturbing, this does not mean that the condition will not worsen in a few years or months.

Classification of gastritis, possible complications of each type

According to the nature of the course, gastritis is divided into acute and chronic. Chronic, in turn, is classified according to the localization of the pathological process in the stomach:

• “A”—damage to the fundus (body);
• “B” - damage to the antrum (lower part);
• “AB” - damage to the mucous membrane of the body of the stomach and its lower part;
• “C”—prepyloric lesion.

All parts of the stomach can be involved in the pathological process; this condition occurs with a long progressive course of the disease and is designated by the term “pangastritis”. Let's consider the possible consequences and complications of gastritis for each type.

Acute gastritis

The acute stage of the disease is characterized by inflammatory changes in the gastric wall and severe clinical symptoms. In the absence of treatment, complications develop quite quickly against the background of the disease, especially if the cause of its occurrence is poisoning with chemicals, or there is a purulent process - this is:

• cicatricial deformities of the stomach;
• development of purulent peritonitis, pleurisy;
• abdominal abscesses;
• blood poisoning.

With proper, timely treatment, recovery usually occurs within 7 days.

GALINA SAVINA: “How easy it is to cure gastritis at home in 1 month. A proven method is to write down the recipe. » Read more >>

Autoimmune form - “A” and “AB”

Type “A” occurs most often in older people, refers to signs of aging of the body and is characterized by pathological changes in the body of the stomach with subsequent spread to its lower part (type “AB”). As a result, its cells die, and the mucosal glands gradually atrophy. Gastritis types “A” and “AB” have the following consequences:

• 12 deficiency anemia;
• nervous system disorders;
• pale skin;
• vitamin deficiency and its symptoms: thinning hair, brittle nails.

With severe destruction of the glands of the gastric mucosa, there is a high probability of developing a malignant tumor or cancer.

Helicobacter associated - “B”

This type is most common and accounts for 85% of all gastritis. It develops mainly at a young age as a result of unfavorable internal (infections, fungi, viruses) and external factors (diet errors, bad habits) and can develop into peptic ulcer disease. Moreover, the symptoms in the acute stage of gastritis and ulcers have almost the same clinical picture. With a sharp pathological change in the gastric mucosa, B12-deficiency anemia also develops.

With a long course (more than 15–20 years) in a group of patients, superficial (initial stage) gastritis turns into atrophic, and ultimately cancer can develop against this background.

Reactive - "C"

A condition caused by the constant reflux of intestinal contents, causing damage to the gastric lining, and the subsequent development of dystrophic changes. In severe cases, patients experience the following complications:

• severe weight loss, up to anorexia;
• the appearance of edema;
• internal gastric bleeding.

Severe lesions are also accompanied by the formation of ulcers, cysts, and pathological replacement of gastric cells with intestinal cells occurs, which is diagnosed as a precancerous condition.

Forecast

If left untreated, gastritis can lead to stomach ulcers and internal bleeding. In rare cases, some forms of chronic gastritis can increase the risk of stomach cancer, especially if the lining of the stomach is thin naturally or due to age.

Whether chronic gastritis can be cured or not depends primarily on the cause of the disease. If gastritis is caused by H. pylori, then with the eradication of the bacterial population, the patient’s life improves - the mucous protective barrier is again intact, and the inner walls of the stomach cease to become inflamed.

As for atrophic changes in stomach tissue, the data are contradictory. Some scientists report that they cannot be converted; others happily report an improvement in the condition of the tissues after the disappearance of the evil residents. Much still depends on whether the bacteria managed to cause complications - a stomach ulcer or even a malignant tumor. They will have to be dealt with using other methods.

The end result of all gastritis is pangastritis.

All types of chronic gastritis have a long, multi-year course, with periodic alternation of periods of remission with phases of exacerbation. Over the years, the disease progresses: damage to the mucous membrane of one part of the stomach spreads to other areas, ultimately affecting all its parts (pangastritis).

With pangastritis, destruction of the glands of the mucous membrane occurs, along with this, bleeding periodically occurs. It takes up to 20 years from the onset of the disease to the development of pangastritis.

Atrophic changes in the entire gastric mucosa during pangastritis are a precancerous condition, which ultimately leads to malignancy of the process. The development of the disease can be represented by the following chain in sequential changes in the gastric lining:

inflammation – cell destruction – replacement of gastric cells with intestinal ones – dysplasia – cancer.

Chronic gastritis itself, which occurs without complications, does not significantly affect the duration and quality of life of patients.

Auscultatory signs of acute bronchitis

If the first alarming symptoms occur, you should contact a pulmonologist. The doctor must be provided with information regarding all existing symptoms, their severity and duration.

After the interview, the doctor begins to examine the patient. The specialist must listen to the condition of the respiratory tract.

Auscultatory signs of acute bronchitis:

• Noises. They can be both healthy and pathological. As the alveoli expand and their walls stretch, a soft blowing sound is heard. Bronchial breathing is heard a little louder. These noises are considered normal. The main auscultatory sign of acute bronchitis in adults and children is moist rales. In all cases, a gurgling and wheezing sound is clearly audible.
• Increased alveolar breathing during exhalation. Characteristic of obstructive bronchitis. This condition is caused by obstructed air passage and tension in the alveolar walls.

After auscultation, the doctor can perform bronchophony. The essence of the method is to evaluate not breathing, but the nature of the sounds made during it. The doctor asks the patient to whisper words containing the letters “ch” and “r”. In a healthy person, the sounds are very quiet. Their patency in acute bronchitis worsens significantly.

Consequences

Any disease requires timely and adequate action, which fully applies to gastritis. If left untreated, destructive changes may become irreversible, which is the main danger.

The following consequences of gastritis are possible:

• Damaged areas of the mucous membrane can no longer fully perform their functions (parietal digestion, secretion of gastric juice, partial absorption). Because of this, the entire process of food processing suffers, and the load on the underlying sections of the gastrointestinal tract increases. This manifests itself in the form of dyspeptic symptoms (nausea, vomiting, flatulence, constipation, diarrhea);
• Asthenovegetative syndrome. It is characterized by decreased performance, general weakness, and loss of strength. It occurs both against the background of intoxication due to impaired digestion and absorption of nutrients, and the development of anemia (decrease in hemoglobin and red blood cells in the blood, which are responsible for the delivery of vital oxygen to tissues);
• For many patients, the only complaint may be persistent bad breath, which is not removed by rinses or special sprays;
• When there is an excess of acids in the gastric juice, they are reflexively rejected by belching or even vomiting, after which relief comes;
• As the pathological process spreads, the intensity of pain and the frequency of their occurrence increases. It is often associated with eating and stressful situations;
• Due to more difficult digestion, which a person subjectively perceives as severe discomfort, appetite weakens, leading to a decrease in body weight up to cachexia - an extreme degree of exhaustion;
• Not only local, but also general immunity decreases, that is, the likelihood of a secondary infection increases;
• Chronic inflammation contributes to the development of autoimmune diseases and cancer.

Only by contacting an appropriate specialist can you fully understand why gastritis is dangerous. It will not be difficult for the attending physician to assess not only the presence of the disease, but also the individual characteristics of the body, on which further tactics will depend.

By seeking help in the early stages, you can not only prevent serious complications of gastritis, but also completely stop the inflammation, restoring your quality of life.

Otherwise, if you ignore the symptoms or self-medicate (including through traditional medicine), patients usually arrive in an extremely serious condition, requiring surgical intervention and lifelong medication.

Peptic ulcer

An ulcer can occur if chronic gastritis is not treated, with widespread complications in other organs.
Pathology occurs at the site of erosion. In case of large erosion, bleeding appears. Complications of gastritis are accompanied by pain in the stomach, vomiting mixed with blood. If the situation develops, you must immediately contact a medical facility. An ulcer can affect the superficial and muscular tissues of the stomach. The resulting wounds are corroded by the acid in the gastric juice. The ulcer cannot be cured completely, but if you follow the doctor’s recommendations, it will heal.

It is easy to recognize the disease thanks to the symptoms: acute stomach pain in the morning, nausea, vomiting. The disease spreads to the intestines, in particular to the duodenum.

To understand what will happen if gastritis is not treated, it is necessary to understand the mechanisms of development of the disease. The chronic form is of great importance, which leads to persistent changes in the mucous membrane at the morphological level. This is the main prerequisite for its transformation into a more serious pathology or the addition of severe complications.

Etiology

In recent years, the widespread detection of Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with gastritis has led to a more detailed study of its effect on the mucous membrane of the stomach and duodenum. The following features of the mechanism of action of this bacterium are distinguished:

• Hp directly damages the cells of the gastric mucosa;
• When bacteria multiply, inflammatory cascades are activated, contributing to secondary damage;
• The secretion of gastric juice and enzymes that enhance damage is intensified;
• The repair processes of damaged areas slow down.

Helicobacter pylori invasion enhances the damaging effects of other risk factors. Gradually the process reaches the deeper layers of the stomach walls. This leads to their degenerative changes followed by atrophy.

Chronic inflammation can cause the development of cell metaplasia, that is, the acquisition of structures unusual for them occurs. Such areas of altered tissue have an increased risk of mutations leading to cancer.

Possible complications

Complications of gastritis can develop acutely (suddenly) or chronically (gradually), which directly depends primarily on the dominant causal factor in the absence of treatment.

Establishing diagnosis

Tell your doctor exactly when your stomach pain occurs—perhaps after certain foods, or after taking medications (prescription or over-the-counter), or supplements, or herbs. Describe in detail the symptoms you are experiencing, even those that do not seem to be related to the stomach. If your relatives suffered from any gastrointestinal diseases, tell us about them too.

Physical examination. Although, as a rule, it is ineffective in chronic gastritis, but by some signs it can be determined whether it was caused by Helicobacter pylori or not. If the abdominal wall is tense and the abdomen itself is distended, this may be a symptom of a bacterial infection. Also, a physical examination helps determine that the patient may be suffering from an autoimmune disease, which was the cause of chronic gastritis.

Texts on Helicobacter pylori. Bacteria can be detected through a blood test, stool culture for microorganisms, and also a breath test - when the patient is given a liquid containing a radioactive element to drink, and then after some time exhale air into a tight bag. If there are bacteria in the stomach, then traces of this very radioactive element will be in the air.

Endoscopy. An endoscope is used to examine the condition of the upper digestive tract - this is a long flexible tube with a miniature camera at the end. The doctor inserts this tube into the patient's throat, then into the esophagus, stomach and, if necessary, into the small intestine. In this way, the doctor can determine the exact condition of the inner surface of the stomach, where the inflammation is and what it is.

If the damaged tissue looks suspicious, the doctor may pinch off small pieces of tissue (since the inside of the stomach has no pain receptors, this is completely painless) and then examine them in the laboratory. This is called a biopsy. It can also be used to determine the presence of an infection in the stomach, be it Helicobacter pylori, helminitis or viruses.

X-ray examination of the upper digestive tract (also known as barium test). Here the patient will be asked to drink a white liquid containing a tiny amount of radioactive substance (barium), and after some time the doctor will take a series of pictures of the esophagus, stomach and small intestine. Barium is needed to improve image contrast; It is with its help that previously invisible damage to the gastric mucosa can be seen.

Symptoms

Clinical manifestations of inflammation of the gastric mucosa largely depend on the type of gastritis.

With non-atrophic gastritis, which affects only the superficial layers of the mucosa and has a diffuse distribution, they speak of type B. Most often it occurs in the hypersecretory type. It is characterized by the following symptoms:

• pain in the epigastric region, which often appears at night or on an empty stomach;
• nausea and vomiting;
• heartburn;
• belching with sour contents;
• tendency to constipation.

Sometimes this type of gastritis can be asymptomatic.

With atrophic gastritis affecting the diffuse part of the stomach, we can talk about type A. It will manifest itself with the following symptoms:

• dyspeptic disorders, which are expressed in a feeling of heaviness and dull pain that occurs after eating;
• nausea;
• belching;
• feeling of an unpleasant taste in the mouth;
• manifestations of intestinal dyspepsia – diarrhea, flatulence.

Often, this is accompanied by the addition of anemia, in this case the following symptoms can be noticed:

• fast fatiguability;
• pale skin;
• drowsiness.

Diet

Treatment of chronic gastritis is impossible without proper nutrition. By following a few simple rules, you can reduce the likelihood of relapse to a minimum.

Eat less, but more often. Small portions do not provoke the release of excess acid, they are easier to digest, and they irritate the stomach walls less.

Chew your food thoroughly. Food moistened with saliva will be easier to digest, and crushed food will not be able to injure the affected areas of the inner surface of the stomach.

Drink plenty of water. Every day you need to drink 6 to 8 glasses of water - it not only helps the body cleanse itself, but also helps digest food.

Keep your meal times and bedtimes - this way you will train your stomach to secrete acid only when it is required to digest food. It is recommended to have dinner a couple of hours before bedtime.

Try to avoid foods that increase your appetite, stimulate acid secretion, or may irritate affected stomach tissue. This includes spicy, sour, fried (especially hard-crusted) foods, snacks (chips, dry crispy cookies), and alcohol.

Eat well-cooked foods. This will not only reduce the risk of parasitic infection, but will also help the stomach digest food better - after all, all the hard fibers have already been destroyed. Give preference to boiled or baked foods, and remove the skin when cooking broths. It is better to chop large pieces.

Dishes should not be too cold or too hot. Large changes in temperature can slow down the healing and recovery of damaged stomach tissue.

Wash your hands often. It is not yet clear how exactly Helicobacter pylori spreads, but there is evidence that it can be transmitted from person to person through skin-to-skin contact and by drinking contaminated water and food. Thus, you can protect yourself from infection if you frequently wash your hands with soap and eat foods that have been previously washed and heat-treated.

Causes

If we talk about the reasons that led to this disease, we can note a nutritional disorder, which is one of the most important factors. This includes both irregular food intake and its low quality composition. Also speaking about risk factors, it is necessary to note the abuse of alcoholic beverages and smoking.

In some cases, gastritis is infectious in nature; the bacterium Helicobacter pylori takes part in its development. Treatment in this case should be aimed primarily at combating this microorganism (antibacterial agents are prescribed), after which, as a rule, the pain goes away and a cure occurs.

Cancer tumor

Thousands of patients die every year from malignant tumors. The reasons for the increase in diagnosed patients are explained by the deterioration of the environmental situation and the lack of a healthy eating culture.

The likelihood of oncology increases if gastritis is caused by Helicobacter pylori infection.

Most often, men over fifty years of age are at risk. The causes of the disease are poor lifestyle and poor diet. As practice shows, complications are caused by fatty meat, fish, and smoked meats. The disease can be caused by nitrates, which are found in mushrooms, fruits, and beer.

Instrumental diagnostics

A specialist may suspect the presence of bronchitis already during auscultation. To confirm or exclude the diagnosis, the pulmonologist issues a referral for an x-ray.

Signs of acute bronchitis:

• The accumulation of pathological fluids is clearly visible in the lungs.
• Small blood vessels are not visualized in the image.
• The root of the lung takes on a blurred appearance. In addition, it is enlarged and deformed.

In severe cases, the X-ray image shows no blood vessels, and the pulmonary pattern is very altered.

If necessary, the doctor prescribes additional studies (pneumotachography, peak flowmetry, spirography).

Traditional methods of treatment

The use of unconventional methods significantly increases the effectiveness of drug therapy. But it is important to remember that traditional methods cannot be considered as the main treatment for acute bronchitis.

The most effective recipes:

• Steam inhalations. Boil a few potato tubers. Remove them from the container. Allow the liquid to cool slightly. Breathe for several minutes over the water in which the tubers were boiled. If you do not allow the liquid to cool a little, you can significantly worsen the course of the disease.
• Take oregano, thyme, linden, coltsfoot, licorice and plantain in equal proportions. Thoroughly mix the pre-dried and crushed components. Take 1 tbsp. l. collection and pour 500 ml of boiling water over it. Let it brew for 2 hours. Drink in small sips throughout the day.
• Finely chop one medium onion. Mix it with honey in a 3:1 ratio. Let it brew for 3-4 hours. Take 1 tsp. twice a day. Onions can be replaced with garlic. It is not recommended to take this remedy for people suffering from chronic pathologies of the digestive system.

Any folk remedy is a potential allergen. If signs of an undesirable reaction occur, treatment of the disease with unconventional methods must be stopped.

Laboratory diagnostics

Based on the results of the survey and examination, the doctor issues a referral for examination. Laboratory diagnosis of acute bronchitis includes the following points:

• Carrying out a general blood test. The study is prescribed to confirm or exclude the presence of an inflammatory process in the body. With bronchitis, the number of leukocytes increases and the ESR indicator slightly increases.
• Carrying out a biochemical blood test. A clinically significant indicator is the amount of C-reactive protein. It is considered a kind of marker of the inflammatory process. The higher its indicator, the more severe the course of the pathology. In addition, a sign of acute bronchitis is an increase in alpha-2-globulins.
• Urine examination. It is carried out to assess the functioning of the kidneys against the background of the existing inflammatory process. In addition, in the process of interpreting the test results, the doctor can identify all sorts of complications of bronchitis.
• Microscopic examination of sputum. With bronchitis, a large number of neutrophils, dead epithelial cells and macrophages are found in the pathological secretion. In the obstructive form of the disease, Kurshman spirals are detected.
• Bacteriological examination of sputum. The analysis allows us to identify the causative agent of the disease.

Based on the data obtained, the doctor can select the most effective antibiotics for the patient.