Gastritis, which manifests itself with pain in the stomach area, bloating, gas, hunger and the desire to eat frequently, can become chronic if not treated, leading to a picture that leads to stomach cancer. The main causes of gastritis; alcohol, smoking, long-term use of various drugs and a bacterium called “helicobacter pylori”.
Gastritis can become chronic when the immune system is insufficient!
One of the most common causes of chronic gastritis is Helicobacter pylori, which can live under the gastric juice at a rate of 80-85%. Apart from this, chronic gastritis may develop for reasons such as chemical gastritis and autoimmune gastritis. Helicobacter pylori is usually transmitted through contaminated water when the immune system is not fully established in childhood. Bacteria live on the surface of stomach cells, colonizing under the acid layer. When it is first transmitted, it causes an acute infection and when it cannot be eliminated by the immune system, the infection becomes chronic.
Gastritis causes tissue changes and this causes cancer!
As chronic gastritis progresses, it can cause recession in the gastric glands and tissue changes (atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia). This situation paves the way for cancer in individuals with genetic predisposition and especially exposed to carcinogenic substances. Gastric cancer is four times more common in patients with tissue changes in the gastric glands. These tissue changes can be detected by biopsies taken from the stomach by endoscopy. Therefore, such patients should be followed up endoscopically at certain time intervals. When severe tissue changes are detected in the stomach, the patient should be followed more closely. These areas should be determined exactly with special endoscopes or staining methods, removed by endoscopic or surgical methods, and treated before cancer occurs in the patient.
Burnt foods and smoking are the most important triggers
Advanced tissue change in the stomach is synonymous with early stage cancer. At this point, eating habits are very important. In particular, burnt smoked foods, fatty and excessive red meat consumption, grilled and overcooked meats can create risks. Brined foods, nitrate-containing foods used as preservatives in foods can be converted into nitrites and pull the trigger. In addition, antioxidants, vitamins C and E are known to be protective. Smoking also increases the risk of stomach cancer at least four times.
Consume fresh vegetables and fruits
People with chronic gastritis should consult a physician for treatment without wasting time. Thanks to the developing technology and endoscopy, this disease can be easily diagnosed and treated with the appropriate method. In addition, in order to prevent chronic gastritis from causing stomach cancer, plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits should be consumed, smoking should be avoided, and if detected, Helicobacter pylori should be eliminated.
