What Is Alcoholic Gastritis?

Alcoholic gastritis is a stomach condition caused by alcohol abuse and the inflammation of the gastric lining.

Common Symptoms:

- Abdominal pain or tenderness

- Nausea and vomiting

- Loss of appetite

- Heartburn

- Indigestion

- Acid reflux

- Bloating

- Foul-smelling breath

- Feeling of weakness

- Weight loss

Risk factors:

- Gender (men are more affected)

- Age (above the age of 40)

- Binge drinking (4+ drinks in 2 hours for men and 3+ drinks in 2 hours for women)

- Chronic alcoholism (heavy alcohol consumption over a long period)

- Family history of digestive diseases

Diagnosis:

- Physical exam

- Blood test

- Breath test

- Endoscopy (camera inserted through the mouth and down into the stomach)

- Biopsy (small tissue sample taken from the stomach)

Treatment:

- Abstinence from alcohol consumption

- Antacids to reduce stomach acid

- H2 receptor antagonists (e.g., cimetidine (Tagamet), ranitidine (Zantac)) to decrease acid production

- Proton pump inhibitors (e.g., omeprazole (Prilosec), esomeprazole (Nexium)) to block acid production

- Antibiotics to treat H. pylori infection, if present

- Sucralfate (Carafate) to coat and protect stomach lining

Complications:

- Internal bleeding

- Peptic ulcers

- Gastric cancer (long-term alcohol abuse increases the risk)

Prevention:

- Moderate alcohol consumption or complete abstinence

- Eat balanced meals

- Maintain a healthy weight

- Avoid NSAID medications if possible