Is gastritis the same as a stomach ulcer?

Oct 14, 2022 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhao Haiming
Introduction
Gastritis usually refers to a condition caused by factors such as diet, medications, and viral infections that lead to inflammation of the gastric mucosa. It can be classified into two types according to the onset speed: acute gastritis and chronic gastritis. The common causes of gastric ulcers are similar to those of gastritis, but this condition results from damage due to self-digestion of the gastric mucosa by gastric acid and pepsin.

Gastritis is usually not the same as a gastric ulcer.

Gastritis typically refers to a condition caused by factors such as diet, medications, or viral infections that lead to inflammation of the gastric mucosa. Depending on the onset speed, it is generally classified into acute and chronic gastritis. The common causes of gastric ulcers are similar to those of gastritis, but gastric ulcers usually result from self-digestion of the gastric mucosa by gastric acid and pepsin, leading to tissue damage. Severe cases may even cause complications such as gastrointestinal bleeding or gastric perforation. Moreover, gastritis is mostly due to superficial injury of the gastric mucosa, whereas gastric ulcers are caused by deeper mucosal damage. Additionally, stomach pain caused by gastritis is generally less severe than that caused by gastric ulcers.

For gastritis, under a doctor's guidance, antispasmodic medications such as pinaverium bromide or atropine can be used to relieve stomach pain, while acid-suppressing agents like sodium bicarbonate or hydrotalcite can help reduce gastric acidity. For gastric ulcers, in addition to using antispasmodics and acid suppressants to alleviate symptoms such as pain and acid reflux, surgical interventions may sometimes be necessary—such as vagotomy or partial gastrectomy—to reduce gastric acid secretion and improve the condition.


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