Alcohol Gastritis Symptoms + Treatment
Alcohol gastritis symptoms can sometimes feel like mild indigestion or an upset stomach. But the condition that produces these symptoms can cause serious harm if it’s not treated properly.
Call Lake Avenue Recovery today at (508)794-4400 to learn more about addiction treatment in Massachusetts.
What Is Alcohol Gastritis?
Alcohol gastritis is an inflammation of the stomach lining due to excessive alcohol use. Other common terms for this condition are alcoholic gastritis and alcohol-induced gastritis.
Two types of unhealthy drinking can cause alcohol gastritis:
- A binge-drinking episode
- Frequent heavy drinking
In addition to alcohol abuse, other potential causes of gastritis include:
- Bacterial infection
- Extended use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory pain relievers (NSAIDs)
- Autoimmune disorder
- Severe stress
- Chemotherapy or radiation treatment for cancer
Alcohol gastritis is usually an acute (short-term) disease. However, if a person doesn’t take appropriate steps to address their symptoms, it can turn into a chronic (long-term) problem.
Alcohol Gastritis Symptoms
The symptoms of alcohol gastritis include:
- Pain in upper abdomen
- Stomach ache
- Indigestion
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Persistent hiccups or burping
- Bloating or sense of fullness in stomach
- Appetite loss
- Fatigue
- Blood in stool or vomit
Effects of Untreated Gastritis
Even if they only occur once, alcohol gastritis symptoms can be highly distressing. But if they persist and aren’t treated, they may cause serious, potentially life-threatening damage.
The potential effects of untreated alcohol gastritis include:
- Anemia
- Ulcers in the stomach or intestine
- Tearing of the esophagus
- Bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract
- Increased risk of stomach cancer
How Is Alcohol Gastritis Treated?
Treatment for alcohol gastritis symptoms can vary depending on several factors, including your age, how much damage the condition has already caused, and if you have any co-occurring medical concerns.
Often, treatment involves medication to treat the internal damage and lifestyle changes to prevent a recurrence of the problem.
Medications that may be used to treat alcohol gastritis include:
- Antibiotics
- Antacids
- Histamine blockers
- Proton pump inhibitors
Beneficial lifestyle adjustments may include:
- Avoiding/minimizing alcohol use
- Following a healthier diet plan
- Eating smaller, more frequent meals
- Developing better stress-management capabilities
What Happens if You Can’t Curtail Your Alcohol Use?
When you first get treatment for alcohol gastritis, you will likely be advised to avoid alcohol completely. There are two general reasons for this:
- Your body needs time to heal, which it cannot do in the continued presence of the substance that caused the problem in the first place.
- Alcohol may interfere with the medication you’re taking to ease your symptoms.
When your body gets back to full strength, you may be able to drink moderately and infrequently without causing further damage. But what happens if you can’t quit drinking or limit yourself to just an occasional alcoholic beverage?
Here’s the harsh truth: Being unable to control or end your alcohol use, even with the knowledge that continued drinking can be harmful to your health, is a sign of addiction.
The good news is that alcohol use disorder (which is the clinical term for alcoholism) is a treatable condition. When you get the care you need, you quit drinking and begin to live a much healthier life in recovery.
The bad news is that alcoholism is a chronic, progressive disease. If you don’t get appropriate help, your drinking problem may only worsen with time. And the longer you engage in compulsive alcohol use, the greater your risk becomes of incurring severe, potentially irreversible, health damage.
How Is Alcoholism Treated?
Treatment for alcohol use disorder can occur on several different levels and may involve an array of therapies and support services.
Levels of care
The continuum of care for alcoholism includes:
- Detox
- Inpatient/residential treatment
- Partial hospitalization program (PHP)
- Intensive outpatient program (IOP)
- Outpatient therapy
Some people only need to receive treatment in one or two of these programs, while others benefit from spending time in most or all of them. There’s no “right” or “wrong” path – all that matters is finding the path that’s right for you.
Types of treatment
As with the programming options above, the best types of treatment for someone with alcohol addiction can also vary depending on a range of personal factors.
Examples of services that may be included in a person’s plan include:
- Individual psychotherapy
- Group sessions
- Family therapy and education
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Trauma therapies
- Experiential therapies
- Holistic therapies
Reputable addiction treatment providers also typically provide discharge planning services to help clients make a successful transition out of treatment. These customized plans may include referrals to follow-on care, details about peer-led support groups, and information about other relevant community-based resources.
Find Alcoholism Treatment in Massachusetts
Lake Avenue Recovery is a trusted source of personalized outpatient care for adults who have become addicted to alcohol and other drugs. We also serve clients whose struggles with addiction are accompanied by anxiety, depression, and other co-occurring mental health concerns.
Treatment options at our alcohol rehab in Worcester, MA, include a high-intensity outpatient program (day treatment), an intensive outpatient program (IOP), and an evening IOP.
In each of these programs, you will work in close collaboration with a team of skilled and compassionate professionals. Your treatment team will encourage you to play an active role in all aspects of your care, with the goal of empowering you to take ownership of your recovery.
Untreated addiction can be devastating. But with our help and a concerted effort on your part, you can take substantial strides toward a more hopeful future in recovery.
To learn more about how we can help you or a loved one, or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Admissions page or call us today.