What is the difference between gastritis and gastroparesis and what treatments are available to treat them?

Doctor's Answers 1

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Dr Wai Leong Quan

Gastroenterologist

Gastritis is strictly a histological or tissue diagnosis of inflammation of the stomach inner lining which may or may not manifest symptomatically. Gastroparesis, on the other hand, defines a symptomatic delay in stomach emptying resulting in bloating, abdominal pain and sometimes vomiting.

woman-with-abdominal-pain

Treatment of gastritis depends mainly on the underlying cause. These treatments include taking regular meals, avoiding alcohol and strong pain killers, eradicating Helicobacter pylori infection and healing of any peptic ulcer if present.

The treatment for gastroparesis is more complicated and may require gastroscopy to exclude a structural obstruction. Other treatments include agents which help to speed up the peristaltic movement of the stomach. Small frequent meals and correction of electrolyte imbalance may also help. In rare cases, gastric pacing may be required to resolve the problem.

Similar Questions

What kind of diet is recommended for patients with gastroparesis?

Gastroparesis occurs when the stomach rhythmic peristaltic movement slows down significantly. This can be due to many reasons and is commonly seen after surgery and during severe systemic infections. At times, electrolyte imbalances or side effect from medicine may also cause gastroparesis. The end result may be bloating, nausea and vomiting similar to that of a gastric outlet obstruction. Treatment of gastroparesis starts with excluding a structural obstruction and identifying the most likely underlying cause and administer the respective treatment.

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Answered By

Dr Wai Leong Quan

Gastroenterologist

What TCM treatments are available for gastric problems causing bloating and stomach discomfort?

From the TCM point of view, gastric problems are closely related to the function of spleen and stomach. These two organs are responsible for the transformation and transportation of the food that we consume. When the spleen and stomach is weakened, it can lead to many digestive issues such as bloated, diarrhoea, constipation, stomach-ache, ingestion etc. In TCM, the most common treatment for these internal problems would be herbal medicine. Herbal medicines are prescribed according to each patient's body constitution.

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