Causes of gastritis, which can occur suddenly or come on gradually as a chronic problem. This digestive disorder is an irritation, erosion or inflammation of the stomach lining, and the symptoms are often the same despite the cause. You will need to think about the possible causes of your condition because the cause may have an impact on your treatment.

How can I tell if I have gastritis?
Gastritis can be present with no symptoms at all. However, you may experience abdominal bloating, abdominal pain, nausea or recurrent upset stomach, hiccups, loss of appetite, indigestion and vomiting. You may feel a pain in your stomach at night or between meals. Other serious symptoms include black or tarry stools and blood in your vomit.

The causes of gastritis range from infections to medications to social habits and physical stresses. Here are 17 of the most common causes of gastritis:

1. Chronic vomiting due to illness, such as an eating disorder.
2. Stress, especially physical stress for those who are injured or critically ill.
3. Excessive alcohol use or abuse.
4. Swallowing poisons or foreign bodies.
5. The use of anti-inflammatory medications, such as aspirin or ibuprofen.
6. Potassium or iron supplements.
7. Chemotherapy medications in cancer patients.
8. Steroids.
9. Autoimmune diseases.
10. Infections that are caused by viruses or bacteria.
11. Fungal or yeast infections.
12. Parasites or worms.
13. Tuberculosis.
14. Syphilis.
15. Pernicious anemia, which is a type of anemia that happens when the stomach can’t properly absorb and digest vitamin B12 because it lacks a naturally occurring and necessary substance.
16. Bile reflux, a problem that occurs when there is a backflow of bile going into the stomach from where the liver and gallbladder connect at the bile tract.
17. Helicobacter pylori (H. Pylori), an infection that can lead to ulcers and stomach cancer. The bacteria lives in the stomach in the mucous lining.

Your doctor will need to evaluate the underlying problem that may have led to the gastritis. For example, if you drink too much alcohol or suffer from stress, you will need to change your lifestyle. If the gastritis has another root cause, such as H. Pylori, the treatment will change accordingly.