Morning Sickness
Morning Sickness is a term used to indicate nausea and vomiting experienced by pregnant women during the first trimester of pregnancy. Morning sickness affects different women differently. While some have trouble keeping any food down for a few months, others may not have too much discomfort. During the first trimester, the pregnant woman's body undergoes major changes to accomodate the growing fetus. There are chemical changes in the body caused by rapidly increasing levels of estrogen and progesterone. There is also considerable build-up of hCG in the initial months of pregnancy. There is a severe condition of morning sickness - Hyperemesis Gravidarum that can be life threatening.
Tips to combat morning sickness:
Eat small meals at frequent intervals
Avoid spicy and greasy food
Avoid coffee and alcohol
Snack on plain crackers, dry toast or dry cereal
Keep yourself well hydrated with plenty of water and fluids
Avoid smells that bother you
Supplements of Vitamin B6 can help alleviate morning sickness
Drink ginger tea or peppermint tea to combat nausea
Gastritis
Gastritis refers to a group of conditions that are caused due to the inflammation of the stomach lining. Typical symptoms of gastritis include abdominal bloating, belching, nausea and vomiting. Another symptom of gastritis is burning ache or pain in the upper abdomen. Some cases of gastritis can lead to ulcers. Acute gastritis involves a simple inflammation with superficial ulcers. This is usually tackled with antacids and dietary changes. On the other hand, chronic gastritis may be caused due to autoimmune conditions such as hypothyroidism or anemia. Acute gastritis is characterized by epigastric pain and vomiting. There may be blood in the vomit if there are ulcers. Corrosive gastritis results when a person ingests strong acids or alkalies. When a person suffers from chronic gastritis, there will be belching, abdominal distension and unpleasant taste in the mouth in the mornings.
Possible causes of gastritis:
Stress
Spicy and greasy food
Prolonged use of drugs such as ibuprofen and aspirin
Too much alchohol
Severe infection
Burns
Anemia
Blood tests help in determining any possible anemia due to bleeding in the stomach. Stool tests can detect the presence of H. pylori in the digestive tract. Upper GI endoscopy allows the doctor to examine the stomach lining for inflammation. Making dietary changes like timely and moderate meals can help in treating gastritis. Avoid drugs that cause irritation to your stomach lining. Smoking aggravates gastritis. Limit the use of caffeiene and alcohol. Antacids can keep stomach acid in check.
Upper endoscopy
Upper endoscopy test allows a physician to view the esophagus, stomach and deudenum. Upper endoscopy is also referred to as esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) or panendoscopy. Patients suffering from persistent upper abdominal pain, vomiting, nausea or difficulty in swallowing may need to undergo upper endoscopy to identify the cause. Upper endoscopy can also be used for collecting biopsy sample. Polyps can be removed and possible causes for upper GI bleeding can be located. Upper endoscopy aids in diagnosing peptic ulcer disease. Upper endoscopy is invaluable in detecting H. pylori infection. A patient scheduled for upper endoscopy must come on a empty stomach. The patient is asked to lie on his left side. A small bite block is inserted into the mouth. The endoscope is passed through the mouth into the esophagus, stomach and duodenum. A numbing solution is sprayed on the throat and sedative and pain alleviating medicine is also given to the patient. Images of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum can be seen by the physician on a monitor. Air is blown into the stomach to aid examnation. Patients on medications for hypertension, heart condition or thyroid problems must keep the physician informed.
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