Gastritis

What is gastritis?

Gastritis means inflammation of the stomach lining. The NHS describes common triggers including Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, NSAIDs (including ibuprofen and aspirin), and alcohol. Symptoms often overlap with functional dyspepsia and GERD, so investigation matters before accepting a label.

Common symptoms

• Upper abdominal (tummy) pain or discomfort
• Indigestion, bloating, or nausea
• Feeling full quickly
• Vomiting in some acute cases

Gastritis can precede or coexist with peptic ulcer disease. Functional dyspepsia (Rome criteria) is a diagnosis of exclusion after organic causes such as gastritis have been considered.

Common causes

• H. pylori — a leading cause of chronic gastritis and peptic ulcer disease (NHS; NICE BNF)
• NSAIDs and aspirin — major risk factors for gastritis and gastric ulceration
• Alcohol — can irritate the stomach lining

Long-standing H. pylori gastritis increases gastric cancer risk; eradication reduces that risk. Autoimmune gastritis and bile reflux are increasingly recognised in some chronic cases (BSG risk-management materials).

How it is assessed

• History of NSAID/aspirin use, alcohol, and alarm features
• H. pylori testing (breath or stool antigen) where appropriate — see our H. pylori page
• Endoscopy when alarm features or refractory symptoms need direct inspection

Approaches people discuss

Treatment depends on the cause. These are clinician-led pathways, not DIY plans.

• Established Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) for symptom relief and mucosal healing when gastritis is not driven by untreated H. pylori alone. Sources: NICE CKS dyspepsia; NHS gastritis.
• Established Test-and-treat or eradicate H. pylori when infection is confirmed — reduces ulcer and gastric cancer risk associated with chronic H. pylori gastritis. Sources: NHS; NICE BNF; H. pylori page.
• Established Reviewing NSAID/aspirin exposure with a clinician when gastritis or ulcer risk is present. Sources: NICE BNF; NHS.
• Emerging Recognition of autoimmune gastritis (with pernicious anaemia risk) and bile reflux in selected chronic cases, with specialist pathways when indicated. Sources: BSG gastric adenocarcinoma risk materials.

What not to self-manage

These are cautions, not approaches people discuss:

• Do not ignore alarm symptoms — black tarry stools, vomiting blood, severe sudden pain, or unexplained weight loss need urgent assessment (NHS).
• Do not assume stress alone caused gastritis — direct causal links between stress and gastritis in otherwise healthy adults remain limited.
• Do not rely on dietary supplements (for example glutamine or liquorice) as proven healing treatments — evidence is weak.
• Do not stop prescribed NSAIDs or aspirin without medical advice — risk–benefit belongs with a clinician.