Gastritis in the context of "Indigestion"

Peptic ulcer disease refers to damage of the inner part of the stomach's gastric mucosa (lining of the stomach), the first part of the small intestine, or sometimes the lower esophagus. An ulcer in the stomach is called a gastric ulcer, while one in the first part of the intestines is a duodenal ulcer. The most common symptoms of a duodenal ulcer are waking at night with upper abdominal pain, and upper abdominal pain that improves with eating. With a gastric ulcer, the pain may worsen with eating. The pain is often described as a burning or dull ache. Other symptoms include belching, vomiting, weight loss, or poor appetite. About a third of older people with peptic ulcers have no symptoms. Complications may include bleeding, perforation, and blockage of the stomach. Bleeding occurs in as many as 15% of cases.

Common causes include infection with Helicobacter pylori and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Other, less common causes include tobacco smoking, stress as a result of other serious health conditions, Behçet's disease, Zollinger–Ellison syndrome, Crohn's disease, and liver cirrhosis. Older people are more sensitive to the ulcer-causing effects of NSAIDs. The diagnosis is typically suspected due to the presenting symptoms with confirmation by either endoscopy or barium swallow. H. pylori can be diagnosed by testing the blood for antibodies, a urea breath test, testing the stool for signs of the bacteria, or a biopsy of the stomach. Other conditions that produce similar symptoms include stomach cancer, coronary heart disease, and inflammation of the stomach lining or gallbladder inflammation.

Helicobacter pylori, previously known as Campylobacter pylori, is a gram-negative, flagellated, helical bacterium. Mutants can have a rod or curved rod shape that exhibits less virulence. Its helical body (from which the genus name Helicobacter derives) is thought to have evolved to penetrate the mucous lining of the stomach, helped by its flagella, and thereby establish infection. While many earlier reports of an association between bacteria and the ulcers had existed, such as the works of John Lykoudis, it was only in 1983 when the bacterium was formally described for the first time in the English-language Western literature as the causal agent of gastric ulcers by Australian physician-scientists Barry Marshall and Robin Warren. In 2005, the pair was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their discovery.

Infection of the stomach with H. pylori does not necessarily cause illness: over half of the global population is infected, but most individuals are asymptomatic. Persistent colonization with more virulent strains can induce a number of gastric and non-gastric disorders. Gastric disorders due to infection begin with gastritis, or inflammation of the stomach lining. When infection is persistent, the prolonged inflammation will become chronic gastritis. Initially, this will be non-atrophic gastritis, but the damage caused to the stomach lining can bring about the development of atrophic gastritis and ulcers within the stomach itself or the duodenum (the nearest part of the intestine). At this stage, the risk of developing gastric cancer is high. However, the development of a duodenal ulcer confers a comparatively lower risk of cancer. Helicobacter pylori are class 1 carcinogenic bacteria, and potential cancers include gastric MALT lymphoma and gastric cancer. Infection with H. pylori is responsible for an estimated 89% of all gastric cancers and is linked to the development of 5.5% of all cases cancers worldwide. H. pylori is the only bacterium known to cause cancer.

An ulcer is a discontinuity or break in a bodily membrane that impedes normal function of the affected organ. According to Robbins's pathology, "ulcer is the breach of the continuity of skin, epithelium or mucous membrane caused by sloughing out of inflamed necrotic tissue." Common forms of ulcers recognized in medicine include:

• Ulcer (dermatology), a discontinuity of the skin or a break in the skin.
  • Pressure ulcers, also known as bedsores
  • Genital ulcer, an ulcer located on the genital area
  • Ulcerative dermatitis, a skin disorder associated with bacterial growth often initiated by self-trauma
  • Anal fissure, an ulcer or tear near the anus or within the rectum
  • Diabetic foot ulcer, a major complication of the diabetic foot
• Callous ulcer, a chronic nonhealing ulcer with hard indurated base and inelastic margins
• Corneal ulcer, an inflammatory or infective condition of the cornea
• Mouth ulcer, an open sore inside the mouth.
  • Aphthous ulcer, a specific type of oral ulcer also known as a canker sore
• Peptic ulcer, a discontinuity of the gastrointestinal mucosa (stomach ulcer)
• Venous ulcer, a wound thought to occur due to improper functioning of valves in the veins
• Stress ulcer, an ulcer located within the stomach and proximal duodenum
• Ulcerative sarcoidosis, a cutaneous condition affecting people with sarcoidosis
• Ulcerative lichen planus, a rare variant of lichen planus
• Ulcerative colitis, a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
• Ulcerative disposition, a disorder or discomfort that causes severe abdominal distress, often associated with chronic gastritis

Enteritis is inflammation of the small intestine. It is most commonly caused by food or drink contaminated with pathogenic microbes, such as Serratia, but may have other causes such as NSAIDs, radiation therapy as well as autoimmune conditions like coeliac disease. Symptoms may include abdominal pain, cramping, diarrhoea, dehydration, and fever. Related diseases of the gastrointestinal (GI) system (including gastritis, gastroenteritis, colitis, and enterocolitis) may involve inflammation of the stomach and large intestine.

Duodenitis, jejunitis, and ileitis are subtypes of enteritis which are localised to a specific part of the small intestine. Inflammation of both the stomach and small intestine is referred to as gastroenteritis.

The long-term effects of alcohol consumption on health are predominantly detrimental, with the severity and range of harms generally increasing with the cumulative amount of alcohol consumed over a lifetime. The extent of these effects varies depending on several factors, including the quantity and frequency of alcohol intake, as well as individual genetic and lifestyle factors. Alcohol is recognized as a direct cause of several diseases, including cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies alcohol as a Group 1 carcinogen, meaning it is capable of causing cancer in humans. Research shows a causal link between alcohol consumption and at least seven types of cancer, including cancers of the oropharynx (mouth and throat), esophagus, liver, colorectum, and female breast. The risk begins with any level of consumption and goes up with higher intake—even light or moderate drinking adds to the risk. No level of alcohol consumption has been identified as completely safe in terms of cancer risk. The biological mechanisms include the damage caused by acetaldehyde, a toxic byproduct of alcohol metabolism, which can alter DNA, and the generation of oxidative stress.

Beyond cancer, chronic and excessive alcohol use—as seen in alcohol use disorder—is capable of damaging nearly every part of the body. Such use is linked to alcoholic liver disease, which can progress to cirrhosis and chronic pancreatitis; various forms of cardiovascular disease, including hypertension, coronary heart disease, heart failure, and atrial fibrillation; and digestive conditions such as gastritis and stomach ulcers. Alcohol also interferes with how the body absorbs nutrients, which can lead to malnutrition. Long-term use can cause alcohol-related dementia and damage to the peripheral nervous system, leading to conditions like painful peripheral neuropathy. Drinkers are also more likely to get injured in accidents, including traffic accidents and falls, and may age faster.