Popularly called nervous gastritis, functional dyspepsia is considered a variant of gastritis. For those who don't know what gastritis is, this name is given to the disease that causes inflammation, erosion or infection of the stomach lining and can last a short time (acute gastritis) and be treated easily, or it can last longer like months and even years (chronic gastritis). The variant called nervous gastritis has no association with inflammation or changes in the stomach lining, even if it eventually causes the same symptoms. In this case, the name itself can already give us an idea of ​​what its cause is: “nervous”. Does it remind you of something specific? Yea! Nervous gastritis is completely associated with emotional issues. To have a better understanding of what it is and what causes this disease, it is necessary to carefully analyze the mental health of the person who suffers from this variation of “classic” gastritis.
Understand Nervous Gastritis Better – What Causes It?
Stress is one of the main factors in triggering nervous gastritis. As previously mentioned, although its symptoms are identical to those of acute or chronic gastritis, functional dyspepsia has emotional dyspepsia as its main cause. In busy times where we live the heavy routine of work, we feel insecurity in the face of various situations, we feel fear and anxious when facing some situations in life, we worry about financial issues, among others, and due to these factors, we end up being more exposed and susceptible. to stress. If they are not treated with due attention, these events can leave some marks on everyone's health when we do not pay attention and nervous gastritis is one of the marks that most affect the population.
Emotional dysfunctions and the brain-gut connection
Let's cite a simple example to show you that our brain has a direct connection with our gut, and that emotions have the power to change our digestive system. Analysis:
Surely you've felt that "butterflies in your stomach" when you come across a person you're attracted to or when you had to face a moment in which nervousness took over you. It's that famous "butterflies in the stomach" feeling, you know? Well, don't be surprised: it has complete connection with the connection between the brain and the gut. According to Alexandre Feldman, a specialist in lifestyle medicine and general practitioner, there is a communication between the neurons that are in the intestine with the brain, through the vagus nerve (structure that connects the gastrointestinal system to the head, which passes through the chest). This explains the urge to go to the bathroom that we feel when faced with stressful or anxious situations.
We can easily conclude and understand that a person's psychological issues are fully linked to digestive changes, as well as what they eat. If you eat poorly, your gut will be damaged and the neurotransmitters that communicate with your brain will trigger emotional instability.
What are the symptoms of gastritis nervosa?
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Excess acid in the stomach generates the burning sensation, which is called “heartburn”.
Stomach pain
All gastritis presents itself through discomfort in the stomach wall, which is usually caused by an imbalance of acidity. This is usually the first symptom that the disease is present in the body. When the case is nervous gastritis, the pain manifests itself as twinges in the stomach. If you experience a moment of nervousness, stress or anxiety and you feel a twinge immediately afterwards, chances are that the cause of the discomfort is nervous gastritis.
Indigestion
Having the feeling that the food has not been digested and that it remains stuck in the stomach is extremely uncomfortable. Changes in the stomach environment cause digestive enzymes to be affected, resulting in a feeling of heaviness in the stomach and difficulty in digestion.
Burp often
Poor digestion and the uncompensated presence of acid in the stomach environment result in the production of gases in the body. The resulting sensation of these factors is the famous bloating of the belly and frequent burping. When burping, the gases are released and the person even feels a certain relief, but as long as the gastritis crisis persists, the gases will accumulate again.
Nausea and vomiting
When the stomach is "disturbed", regurgitation can be "common", because with so many changes in the stomach environment, the body naturally tries to eliminate substances considered aggressive. Therefore, it is common to feel sick and even vomit while having a nervous gastritis crisis, but if nausea and nausea are recurrent, seek immediate medical attention.
In addition to these symptoms described, pay attention to some other factors and analyze if any of them are present in your routine:
– Muscle tension (the feeling of heavy shoulders and “stiff” neck);
– Episodes of insomnia;
– Decreased libido;
- Headaches;
– Weight loss or gain;
– Difficulty concentrating;
– Constant procrastination;
– Problems with mood;
– Constant nervousness;
– Difficulty relaxing.
It is important to observe if some of these symptoms are part of your routine, as they are linked to anxiety and stress.
What should be done? Which doctor should you see?
Look for a gastroenterologist and do all the necessary tests to see if there are changes in your stomach wall. The exam commonly done to resolve any doubts is endoscopy. It is important that you describe all the symptoms present, the aforementioned ones associated with nervous gastritis, and the others that are linked to anxiety frames. If there is no change in your stomach and it is proven that you do not have any disease such as acute or chronic gastritis, you need to treat what causes your nervous disorder: emotions (even if there is no evidence of disease in your stomach, the doctor may prescribe you an antacid to relieve symptoms).
How to treat nervous gastritis?
Looking for a psychotherapist is the first step. Understanding which factors cause you stress and anxiety is essential for these points to be addressed. For symptoms, some remedies are indicated, such as antacids or any other that has the function of reducing the production of stomach acidity. It is important to point out that medicines must be recommended by a doctor and that in no way can you self-medicate. However, it is necessary to avoid the continuous use of such drugs, as they can generate dependence and other problems in the body. Ideally, you should address your emotional issues with therapy, techniques to relax, and also maintain a healthy diet and exercise regularly.
After going to a specialist doctor, looking for psychotherapy, changing your diet and practicing physical activities, observe some tips to relieve the symptoms of nervous gastritis:
Chamomile tea is a very effective home remedy for calming nervous gastritis. It is recommended to take 2 to 3 times daily, to accentuate its calming effect, both for the stomach and for your spirits.
The pure juice of cabbage, when taken on an empty stomach, acts directly by reducing gas, and thus reducing burping and the feeling of a bloated belly.
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Lemon juice is one of the best options for heartburn! That's right! Drinking pure lemon juice may seem a little contradictory, as we said earlier that when there is excess acidity in the stomach, heartburn appears! As much as lemon is acidic, if it is taken pure (without water and without sugar, simply the squeezed fruit), when it arrives in the stomach, the citric acid will oxidize and act as a base, controlling the acidity of the stomach and regenerating. tissues that are inflamed.
As much as homemade tips are effective in reducing symptoms, the first thing you should do when you notice certain discomforts in your stomach is to see a doctor. Only a specialist can diagnose you and indicate the best treatment. If it is proven that you have nervous gastritis, immediately seek a psychotherapist and learn to deal with your emotions!
