Gastritis simply means inflammation of the stomach lining. It tells you what is happening, but not why. And the why matters more than anything else, because gastritis rarely settles for good until its cause is dealt with.
Here are the eight most common triggers, roughly in order of how often they turn up.
1. H. pylori infection
Helicobacter pylori is a bacterium that lives in the stomach lining and is the most common cause of chronic gastritis worldwide. Many people carry it without symptoms, while in others it causes long term inflammation and sometimes ulcers. It's diagnosed with a simple breath, stool or blood test and treated with a course of antibiotics from your GP. If you've had it, our guide to gut recovery after H. pylori treatment covers the next phase.
2. Painkillers (NSAIDs)
Ibuprofen, aspirin, naproxen and similar medicines block substances the stomach uses to make its protective mucus and maintain blood flow to the lining. Regular use, even at normal doses, is one of the most common and most overlooked causes. Read more in NSAIDs and gastritis.
3. Alcohol
Alcohol directly irritates and erodes the stomach lining, and heavy drinking is a classic trigger for acute gastritis. Even moderate, regular drinking can stop an inflamed lining from recovering.
4. Stress
Severe physical stress, such as major surgery, serious illness or burns, can cause a specific type of stress gastritis. Everyday psychological stress works more subtly. It changes blood flow to the gut, affects acid and mucus production, and makes the gut nervous system more sensitive, so it often keeps gastritis going even if it didn't start it. Our piece on the gut brain axis explains the link.
5. Smoking
Smoking reduces blood flow to the stomach lining, weakens its defences and slows healing.
6. Bile reflux
When bile from the small intestine flows back into the stomach, it irritates the lining. It's more common after gallbladder removal or stomach surgery, and it often doesn't respond to acid reducing medication. More in our guide to bile reflux.
7. Autoimmune gastritis
Here the immune system attacks cells in the stomach lining. It's less common, tends to run alongside other autoimmune conditions, and can lead to low vitamin B12. It needs diagnosis and ongoing follow up from a doctor.
8. Diet and food sensitivities
Food isn't usually the original cause of gastritis, but it plays a big role in whether an irritated stomach calms down or stays inflamed. Spicy food, coffee, citrus, tomato, fried food and fizzy drinks are common aggravators. Many people also notice that particular foods they don't tolerate well keep their symptoms going, so it's worth paying attention to your own pattern. Start with our list of foods that trigger gastritis.
Less common causes
Viral or other infections, Crohn's disease affecting the stomach, and some other medications can also cause gastritis. Your GP can help rule these out if the common causes don't fit.
Why finding your cause matters
Most people who feel stuck with gastritis have been treating the symptom, not the trigger. Someone taking daily ibuprofen for back pain can try every diet going and still flare. Someone with untreated H. pylori can cut out coffee and still have pain. Ask yourself:
- Have I been tested for H. pylori?
- Am I taking painkillers regularly, even occasional ones most weeks?
- How much am I drinking, honestly?
- Have I had gallbladder or stomach surgery?
- Did symptoms start or worsen during a stressful period?
For a full picture of what recovery can look like once you've found the cause, read can gastritis be cured?
When to see a GP
See your GP if symptoms last more than a few weeks or keep coming back. Get urgent help for vomiting blood or anything that looks like coffee grounds, black or tarry stools, difficulty swallowing, or unexplained weight loss.
Supporting the lining while you deal with the cause
Removing the trigger is step one. Step two is giving the stomach lining the support it needs to recover. The Advanced Gut Repair Formula combines 5g of L-glutamine with DGL, slippery elm, marshmallow root, aloe vera and Bacillus coagulans in one daily drink, made to be taken consistently through recovery.
Shop the Advanced Gut Repair Formula →
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