Difference between gastritis and GERD, what are they?
Many stomach problems have more or less the same symptoms. Even though some types of stomach disorders, such as heartburn and GERD, have different symptoms. Check out the difference between gastritis and GERD so you can get the right treatment.
What are the differences between gastritis and GERD?
Ulcer is a term that describes uncomfortable symptoms or complaints of pain due to problems with digestion. This condition, also known as dyspepsia, is often confused with GERD.
GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) is a condition when gastric acid rises into the esophagus (esophagus) to the mouth. People who have ulcers may develop symptoms of GERD.
Even so, there are things that differentiate between dyspepsia and GERD that you need to know. The reason is, misidentifying these two conditions can risk getting inappropriate treatment. Here are the conditions that differentiate between gastritis and GERD.
Heartburn versus GERD symptoms
When viewed at a glance, the symptoms of gastritis with GERD may look the same considering that they are both digestive disorders. Even so, both gastritis and GERD, have differences that can be seen based on symptoms.
The characteristics of an ulcer
Generally, dyspepsia is characterized by a feeling of discomfort in the upper abdominal area. When you have an ulcer, the pain can come and go. There are also a number of conditions that can be a sign of an ulcer, namely:
- the stomach feels full when eating, especially before finishing food,
- stomach discomfort after eating for a long time,
- heartburn feels sore,
- wind and burp,
- flatulence at the top, to
- nausea and vomiting.
GERD symptoms
In contrast to ulcers, the symptoms of GERD tend to be more severe. The reason is, GERD and ulcers have different symptoms, namely reflux of stomach acid is characterized by a burning sensation in the chest (heartburn).
This burning sensation can later cause other symptoms of GERD which are quite disturbing, namely:
- burning feeling after eating, especially at night,
- food or stomach acid rising into the esophagus,
- chest pain,
- difficulty swallowing, and
- a lump in the esophagus.
Not only symptoms related to the digestive system, stomach acid irritating the esophagus can also cause other symptoms, such as:
If left untreated, GERD symptoms can develop and trigger shortness of breath or pain around the jaw. These symptoms are similar to those of a heart attack, so you should consult a doctor to get the right treatment.
Causes of GERD vs. dyspepsia
Apart from symptoms, the difference seen from GERD and ulcers is the cause. Both are caused by increased stomach acid, but it turns out that the areas affected to trigger GERD and ulcer symptoms are different. How can?
Causes of ulcers
In fact, a number of heartburn symptoms are triggered by irritation of the stomach wall. When stomach acid rises or there is a wound in the stomach (stomach ulcer), the stomach wall is at risk of irritation and triggers the above symptoms.
Causes of GERD
If the ulcer is caused by irritation of the stomach wall, it is different with GERD. The cause of GERD is that stomach acid rises because the esophageal ring weakens and cannot hold food back into the esophagus and fluids from the stomach.
As a result, it is easier for food and stomach acid to rise to the top and trigger symptoms heartburn or a burning sensation in the chest. This condition is also the cause of discomfort in the stomach and esophagus.
Although both are caused by stomach acid, GERD and ulcers can be distinguished by how increased stomach acid triggers symptoms.
In addition, the increased stomach acid affects different areas and causes GERD and ulcer symptoms. That is why, when you experience any of the symptoms above, you should consult your doctor to get treatment according to the condition.
How to deal with GERD and dyspepsia
The cause between reflux of stomach acid and ulcers is indeed the same, namely acid, although the affected areas are different. That is why, the drugs used to treat GERD and dyspepsia will be similar, namely drugs to lower stomach acid, such as ranitidine.
Even so, the duration of treatment for dyspepsia and GERD is different. This is because patients with severe GERD may need lifelong treatment, while mild ulcers do not need to be treated every day.
Not only that, lifestyle changes in both GERD patients or people who experience ulcer symptoms are not much different, such as not overeating.
If you suspect you have ulcers or GERD, you should check with your doctor. This aims to find out what the main cause is so that you get the right treatment.
If you have further questions, please consult with your doctor to understand which solution is right for you.
Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
