Improper diet and lifestyle have a negative impact on the entire digestive system of people. The most common diseases of the gastrointestinal tract are ulcers and gastritis. The symptoms of these ailments are very similar to each other. Even an experienced gastroenterologist is not in all cases able to determine which disease is bothering the patient. To determine the exact clinical picture, it is necessary to conduct some studies: x-ray of the stomach, FGDS. Speaking about how to distinguish an ulcer from gastritis, it should be noted that the main difference will be that with gastritis, the inflammatory process forms on the mucous membrane, and with an ulcer, it is focal, tissues are deeply affected.
Definition of gastritis
Gastritis is an inflammation of the mucous walls of the stomach of varying intensity, due to which the secretory function is disturbed. The disease proceeds much easier than an ulcer. An uncomplicated form will respond successfully to treatment if the patientfollow a certain diet. But, unfortunately, many often do not attach any importance to the malaise with gastritis. The longer a person neglects such symptoms, the greater the likelihood of inflammation of the submucosal layer.
In case of violation of the proper functioning of the internal membranes of the stomach, wounds begin to form on the mucous membrane, called erosion. Ulcerative or erosive gastritis is much more severe, it is considered to be the first stage of ulcer development. With an exacerbation of this disease, the patient feels severe pain, vomiting appears after eating.
Identification of an ulcer
Peptic ulcer is a pathological change in the walls of the stomach of a certain localization. An ailment develops due to the constant exposure of the gastric mucosa to aggressive acids.
Gastritis symptoms
When answering the question of how to distinguish an ulcer from gastritis, first of all, special attention should be paid to the symptoms of these diseases, despite the fact that they are similar to each other. If we talk about gastritis, then it can be chronic or acute. It can be low and high acidity. A large number of people suffer from moderately pronounced gastritis, which occurs in a long form. You can recognize it by the following symptoms:
- Soreness in the epigastric region, which worsens after eating.
- Nausea.
- Heavy.
- Heartburn.
- Decreased appetite.
Causes of gastritis
We continue to consider how to distinguish an ulcer from gastritis. Particular attention should also be paid to the reasons for the development of these pathologies. As for gastritis, the main reason for its development is most often the presence of the bacterium Helicobacter pylori, which is also the causative agent of peptic ulcer. The presence of this bacterium can be found out only after endoscopy, when a scraping is taken from the mucous membrane of the organ.
In addition, eating disorders can provoke the development of gastritis, which should include:
- Eating smoked, greasy, and spicy foods.
- Presence in the daily diet of a large amount of too dry food.
- Irregular meals.
- Overeating.
- Eating insufficiently chewed food.
The following reasons can also provoke gastritis:
- Nervous breakdown and stress.
- Smoking and alcohol.
- Taking certain medications.
- Autoimmune diseases.
- Lack of vitamins in the body.
- Hereditary predisposition.
How to distinguish an ulcer from gastritis on your own?
Today it is quite difficult to make an appointment with an experienced specialist, so some people are forced to independently determine the development of certain diseases in them. However, do not abuse this opportunity, as only a qualified doctor can make a correct diagnosis.
How to distinguish gastritis fromstomach ulcers? As mentioned earlier, the symptoms of ailments are very similar. If you carefully look at your body, you can notice the difference between an ulcer and gastritis. Consider some factors that will tell you how to distinguish between the symptoms of gastritis or ulcers.
Localization of painful sensations
In the case of gastritis, pain bothers the patient constantly or periodically. If we talk about an ulcer, then it is characterized by rare soreness, which has a clear localization. A person with a stomach ulcer can show exactly where it hurts. If you do not know how to distinguish gastritis from a stomach ulcer, the symptoms of soreness, or rather its localization, will help in this matter.
Time of onset of pain
Soreness with an ulcer torments the patient both at night and during the day, which cannot be said about gastritis. However, a small amount of food helps relieve severe pain in stomach ulcers.
Period of exacerbation
How to distinguish an ulcer from gastritis yourself yet? What symptoms should be on the lookout for? Gastritis worries the patient, regardless of the season, the season. The aggravation will depend on the violation of the diet. As for the ulcer, the soreness in this case manifests itself mainly in the autumn-spring period.
Hunger pains
Many do not know how to distinguish an ulcer from gastritis. Reviews suggest that many patients with gastritis and ulcers experience pain when hungry, but in this case there will be some differences. If hungrythe pain manifested itself 4 hours after eating, this indicates the development of gastritis. If it began to hurt in the abdomen shortly after eating, with nausea and vomiting appearing, then the symptom indicates the development of an ulcer.
Gastritis also differs from an ulcer in that the patient's blood count remains normal. In the case of an ulcer, hemoglobin often decreases. The patient begins to worry about dizziness, fatigue, loose stools mixed with blood, or, conversely, hard stools, as well as vomiting with blood.
Among other signs of an ulcer, it should also be noted plaque on the tongue, excessive sweating of the hands. Those people who suffer from gastritis do not experience such symptoms.
Peptic ulcer disease can be completely asymptomatic, while it does not differ from gastritis. This will be typical mainly for elderly patients who have diabetes mellitus, as well as for people who take anti-inflammatory nonsteroidal drugs. In such situations, the patient is confident in his he alth until he develops complications, the development of which forces the person to seek medical help.
Reviews
According to the feedback from patients, it can be understood that most are not able to distinguish gastritis from stomach ulcers on their own. As a rule, when pain occurs, people think that they develop gastritis, but this symptom also appears with an ulcer. Experts strongly do not recommend delaying a visit to a medical institution if the first signs of these diseases appear. Only in the case of timely treatment, it will be possible toget rid of the disease.
Conclusion
Based on the foregoing, we can conclude that gastritis and stomach ulcers manifest themselves almost the same. But if you listen more closely to your body, you can notice some difference in the symptoms. In any case, watch your diet and diet, lead a he althy lifestyle to avoid such ailments. Only timely diagnosed gastritis will exclude the development of peptic ulcer in the future.
