What are the symptoms of reflux gastritis?

The main cause of reflux gastritis is that bile and intestinal fluid mix and then flow back into the stomach through the pylorus. Reflux gastritis is very harmful to patients. It often causes symptoms such as bloating and stomach pain, heartburn, and difficulty swallowing. In more severe cases, it can cause gastrointestinal bleeding and anemia in patients.

1. Stomach bloating :

Abdominal fullness and discomfort.

2. Heartburn:

A persistent burning sensation in the upper and middle abdomen may also manifest as pain behind the sternum, which may worsen after meals and may be aggravated by alkaline drugs without relief.

3. Specific symptoms:

Bile vomiting, due to gastric emptying disorder, vomiting usually occurs in the evening or in the middle of the night, and the vomitus may be accompanied by a small amount of food or blood

4. Gastroesophageal reflux.

Whenever you lie down and bend forward after a meal or sleep in bed at night, acidic liquid or food will reflux from the gastroesophageal tube into the pharynx or mouth. This symptom often occurs before a burning sensation or burning pain occurs behind the sternum.

5. Difficulty swallowing.

In the early stage, intermittent dysphagia may occur due to secondary esophageal spasm caused by esophagitis. In the later stage, esophageal scarring may cause stenosis, burning sensation and burning pain to gradually decrease, and dysphagia may become permanent. When eating solid food, it may cause a feeling of blockage or pain in the xiphoid process.

6. Bleeding and anemia.

Severe esophagitis may cause esophageal mucosal erosion and bleeding, which is mostly chronic small-scale bleeding. Long-term or heavy bleeding can lead to iron deficiency anemia.

7. Burning sensation or pain behind the sternum.

It is the main symptom of this disease, which usually occurs about 1 hour after eating. Bending the body forward in a semi-recumbent position or doing strenuous exercise can induce a burning sensation which usually disappears after taking antacids. However, overheated and over-acidic food can aggravate the burning sensation in those with gastric acid deficiency, which is mainly caused by bile reflux. In this case, antacids will have no effect. The severity of the burning sensation is not necessarily consistent with the severity of the lesion. In severe esophagitis, especially in those with scar formation, there may be no or only a slight burning sensation.

8. Associated symptoms:

Belching, nausea, vomiting, intestinal rumbling, difficulty in defecation, loss of appetite and weight loss, etc.; there may be gastric bleeding, manifested as vomiting blood or black stools and a positive fecal occult blood test, etc.