Gastritis

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GASTRITIS

Gastritis can be silent-or feel like an ulcer. The symptoms of both are alike: indigestion or abdominal pain, sometimes so sharp that it wakes you up at night. The difference: "If you have an ulcer, your stomach will develop raw, craterlike spots. Not to sound alarming, but since many people with gastritis eventually get ulcers, it's prudent to control gastritis.

Help is at hand

Go aspirin-free

If you need to take painkillers, switch to acetaminophen to minimize symptoms. It doesn't irritate the stomach the way aspirin does.

Suppress the acid

Acid-suppressing drugs known as H2 blockers reuce production of stomach acid-squelching drugs are now available at your drugstore at about half the prescription dose.

Get your calcium through supplements, not milk

Once thought to soothe the sharp pains of gastritis, doctors now know that milk triggers the release of acid and can make your symptoms worse.

Kick the habit-please

Nicotine and other toxic substances consumed when you smoke cigarettes and other tobacco products erode your stomach's protective lining and increase your chances of getting gastritis.

Choose nonalcoholic brew

Alchohol makes your stomach burn more.

If it bothers you, don't eat it.

Though doctors no longer believe that any particular foods or spices cause or worsen gastritis, if you feel that you have a flare-up every time you eat, say, pickles.