Upset stomach? Wondering if it might be acid reflux, gastritis, or something else? It's all found in episode 42 with Jade Etter, Acid Reflux vs Gastritis.

Because the quality of life can greatly improve by addressing either/both acid reflux + gastritis, I know you'll find this episode highly beneficial.

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Resources Mentioned

1. H. Pylori
2. Gastrin: All About GI Hormones
3. GI Tract, all about the digestive system
4. What is Achlorhydria
5. Episode 40: SIBO vs IBS {and a SIBO Q&A with Dr. Nirala Jacobi}
6. Jade on Instagram HERE
7. Services Jade provides HERE

Don’t Miss These Thoughts

1. Who is Jade Etter?
2. Her journey with Ulcerative Colitis and endometriosis.
3. What is the stomach? And what is Gastritis? What is the cause of gastritis and what part of the stomach does it affect?
4. What are the differences between acid reflux and gastritis? Also, how might someone feel different with one or the other? Does one cause the other? What are some common causes?
5. What happens if someone has chronic gastritis?
6. Can gastritis heal for good after h pylori (helicobacter pylori) treatment?
7. Best diet, supplements, and lifestyle changes for gastritis?
8. Can SIBO cause gastritis?
9. Can gastritis cause lung/breathing issues?
10. Is gastritis from low or high stomach acid production?
11. What helps with a gastritis flare up?
12. It’s been a year and half, will my gastritis symptoms ever be gone forever?
13. I’ve been on proton pump inhibitors (PPI's) for almost 2 years. Is that too long? Also, what do you think is an appropriate treatment?
14. Gnawing starving wakes me up every morning early. H. Pylori negative. Gastritis?
15. Can chronic or even acute gastritis lead to stomach cancer?
16. Jade's 3 convictions around gut health and gut healing.

According to Jade, a lot of it is based on symptoms, namely if you wake up in the morning with a gnawing, burning stomach pain.

But additionally, here are two methods for testing if the risk factors are there:

1. EGD (esophagogastroduodenoscopy) - also known as an upper endoscopy. During this procedure a long flexible scope with a tiny camera is inserted through the mouth and down the upper GI tract in order to see what's happening visually. A small tissue sample can be taken to determine any reason for current health problems as they relate to the upper GI tract.
2. Imaging study. An imaging study makes detailed pictures of areas inside the body. A barium swallow test is a special type of imaging test that uses barium and X-rays to create images of your upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract (stomach contents would look thickened or inflamed). (source)

I would personally want to have these tests done if the problem persists because otherwise stomach ulcers can form which increases the risk of stomach cancer.

Endoscopic findings can be life changing (also life saving).

You are no stranger to acid reflux.

Here are a couple things to recap; reflux causes + symptoms.

What Causes Acid Reflux?

The main causes of acid reflux include:

1. hiatal hernia
2. weakness / dysfunction of the valve called the lower esophageal sphincter
3. Inflammation because it causes tissue damage and dysfunction in the esophagus
4. Carbohydrate malabsorption
5. Underdeveloped digestive system. (i.e. children)
6. Magnesium deficiency
7. Aging

And what are some common symptoms?

Acid Reflux Symptoms

Some symptoms of acid reflux include:

1. prolonged sore throat and/or hoarse voice
2. bad taste in the mouth
3. heartburn, pain in the upper abdomen (can be so severe that it’s mistaken for a heart attack) / chest pain
4. sensation of a lump in the throat
5. difficulty swallowing and/or painful swallowing
6. disrupted sleep
7. vomit that looks like coffee grounds and/or contains blood
8. nausea after eating

Remember, Acid Reflux and GERD are not the same things.

GERD is what acid reflux progresses to after a long time, if the condition worsens. It stands for Gastroesophageal reflux disease. The GERD symptoms are mostly the same, but they happen more frequently.

ALL ABOUT ACID REFLUX HERE

Gastritis is when acid damages the lining of the stomach, creating inflammation of the stomach lining.

Gastritis Main Causes

These are 6 of the most common gastritis causes:

1. h. pylori bacteria infection
2. stress
3. over the counter medicines + NSAID overuse
4. too much alcohol (excessive consumption)
5. stress
6. bacterial infection

Gastritis Symptoms

In addition to the things Jade mentioned, here are 4 common symptoms of gastritis:

1. burning sensation in the stomach
2. tarry stools
3. nausea
4. vomiting

Common Treatment for Gastritis

Depending on the cause, the treatment for gastritis might include the following:

1. Eating smaller and more frequent meals vs large meals.
2. Avoiding irritating foods like spicy foods, acidic (for example, fruit juices), fried or fatty foods.
3. Not drinking any alcohol.
4. Stopping smoking.
5. Lifestyle modifications like reducing stress.
6. Acid suppressing medications like PPI's and H2 blockers.

Urease

Sources: HERE and HERE.

More from A Gutsy Girl

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Wrap Up

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Jade Etter Bio

Jade is a Board Certified Physician Assistant specializing in gastroenterology and hepatology, a member of the American College of Gastroenterology, a gut health consultant and founder of Jade Etter Wellness - a virtual practice focusing on root cause healing of gut dysfunction via functional medicine testing and individualized protocols.

If you liked this episode, you might also enjoy:

1. Functional Dyspepsia (Episode 32 with Dr. Andrew Hubbard)

Xox,

SKH

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