Patient's question:
I have had a few episodes of gastric bleeding in the past. In 2007, an endoscopy revealed a duodenal ulcer in stage H2 and grade 1 chronic superficial gastritis. I usually have no symptoms, but last year I took omeprazole for a whole year. Today, I just had another endoscopy, and the results showed: hyperemia and edema of the fundic mucosa, with a few erosions visible, and the mucus lake was slightly turbid. Everything else was normal. I also had an H. pylori test, and the result was DMP=315. The doctor said to take a course of medication and that as long as it doesn't recur, it should be fine. I feel uneasy because my stomach condition has never caused symptoms until it led to black stools and bleeding. I don't know if it's serious now, whether it has improved, and whether it can be cured.Doctor's answer:
Medical Analysis:Develop good eating habits, eat at regular times, and avoid overeating. Avoid raw, cold, hard, rough, smoked, fried, and spicy foods. Chew food thoroughly to reduce the burden on the stomach and protect the gastric mucosa. Strictly avoid smoking and alcohol, as they are major enemies of the gastric mucosa. Statistics show that about 20% to 30% of people who smoke 10 cigarettes daily develop gastritis, while 40% of those who smoke more than 20 cigarettes daily do. Alcohol is even more irritating to the gastric mucosa than smoking. Drinking 2 to 3 two-ounce glasses of baijiu daily can lead to a 60% incidence of gastritis, and about 80% of alcoholics suffer from gastritis.
2. Avoid taking medications that irritate the stomach, such as aspirin, pain relievers, metamizole, fenbufen, and hormones.
3. Actively treat purulent foci in the oral cavity, nose, and pharynx.
4. If symptoms are severe, medication may be used. If Helicobacter pylori is detected under a microscope, antimicrobial therapy can be administered under a doctor's guidance. For upper abdominal pain, you may take 0.3 mg of atropine sulfate or 15 mg of propantheline hydrochloride three times a day. If you experience upper abdominal fullness, belching, frequent vomiting of acid, or a burning sensation in the upper abdomen, these are signs of increased stomach acid. You may choose 1 to 2 antacids, such as ranitidine, calcium carbonate, magnesium oxide, sucralfate, pepsidin, or cimetidine. If stomach acid is too low and appetite is poor, you may take dilute hydrochloric acid to increase stomach acid secretion and aid digestion. Patients with anemia should strengthen their nutrition by eating protein- and iron-rich foods, such as lean meat, animal organs, fish and shrimp, dairy products, soy products, green leafy vegetables, black fungus, and sesame paste.
Advice:
5. Exercise regularly to enhance physical fitness and improve gastrointestinal function. Additionally, from a cancer prevention perspective, patients with chronic atrophic gastritis should undergo regular endoscopic examinations, preferably once a year.
6. Maintain a positive mood. Psychological factors significantly affect digestive system function. If you are melancholic, pessimistic, and unhappy, you may lose your appetite. On the other hand, if you are emotionally stable, optimistic, mentally healthy, and cheerful, your appetite will improve. Therefore, maintaining a positive attitude is very important for health.