Health Tips for December 9

Health Tip: What's Causing My Gastritis?

Gastritis occurs when the stomach lining becomes swollen and irritated, causing common symptoms including stomach pain and indigestion. The U.S. National Library of Medicine lists these common causes of gastritis: Drinking alcohol or smoking. Deterioration of the lining inside the stomach. Having a bacterial or viral infection. Taking certain medications, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin. Having excess stomach acid. Consuming toxic substances. Health Tip: Getting Full Too Quickly If you find yourself only able to eat a few bites of food before you feel "full," don't brush it off as a new weight-loss strategy, the U.S. National Library of Medicine advises. The NLM lists these common causes of "early satiety," which is feeling full too quickly: Your stomach is emptying too slowly. Irritable bowel syndrome. A tumor in your stomach or abdomen. Heartburn. An obstruction in the opening of the stomach to the intestine.