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Does Acid Reflux Have Anything to Do With Gastritis?

Acid reflux (also known as gastroesophageal reflux, or GERD), and the condition known as gastritis---which is inflammation of your stomach lining---are two very different conditions. Although both do involve the stomach to some extent, and both can be treated with acid suppressing therapy, one condition does not cause the other.

  1. Gastroesophageal Reflux (GERD) Defined

    • A valve that is supposed to separate the esophagus from the stomach (known as the lower esophageal valve -- LES, for short), is not working properly in those individuals who have GERD. Therefore, stomach contents can flow back up through the esophagus, sometimes all the way into the individual's mouth, due to the faulty valve.

    GERD Symptoms

    • Symptoms of food returning from the stomach up into the esophagus during different phases of digestion can include: regurgitation of food, heartburn, chest pain, sore throat, cough, and a hoarse voice. But there are some simple things that can be done to prevent GERD symptoms.

      Avoiding foods that are high in fat (fried chicken) is one thing you can do to prevent GERD symptoms. Another is eating less. Ingesting high fat foods and overeating at meal times will cause the LES valve to weaken, making GERD more probable.

    Gastritis Defined

    • Gastritis, an inflammation of the stomach lining or infection in the stomach, makes an individual sensitive to the acid in their own stomachs. This sensitivity can range in pain severity from mild to burning, and it can cause symptoms like nausea and loss of appetite. However, unlike GERD, it does not affect the esophagus at all.

    Gastritis: Many Causes

    • The condition of gastritis is most often caused in the United States by one of two things: use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAIDs) or frequent use of aspirin, according to MSNBC's online website.

      However, alcohol, cigarette smoke, as well as other medications (like antibiotics) can cause this condition too. In addition, bacteria can cause stomach infection, which results in gastritis as well. The most common bacteria prompting this condition are helicobacter pylori, and require antibiotic treatment.

    Significant

    • Both acid reflux and gastritis can be treated naturally or with acid-suppressing drugs. However, these acid-suppressing drugs merely help against heartburn and pain in the abdomen. They cannot strengthen the LES valve (to protect against GERD), and they cannot protect the stomach's lining against inflammation or infection (as occurs in Gastritis).

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