2023-09-14 04:05:41
The stomach is responsible for processing the food we eat every day. If there is a dull pain occasionally, most people will “diagnose” themselves as indigestion or gastrointestinal problems, but is it really that simple? About 40% of people in Hong Kong are infected with Helicobacter pylori. When the bacteria lurks in the acidic stomach, there is a chance that there will be no symptoms in the early stage, and it may gradually evolve into inflammation or ulcer of the gastric mucosa, resulting in gastric bloating, stomach pain, rumination, vomiting, and loss of appetite. Wait for symptoms. Dr. Xu Chengzhi, a gastroenterology and hepatologist at Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital, reminds you that if you experience the above symptoms, you should seek medical advice as soon as possible. To diagnose whether it is related to Helicobacter pylori, you can perform an insufflation test or even a gastroscopy to reduce the threat of gastric cancer.
Approximately 40% of people in Hong Kong are infected with Helicobacter pylori. They may have no symptoms in the early stages until the gastric mucosa becomes inflamed or ulcerated, causing symptoms such as gastric bloating, stomach pain, rumination, vomiting, and loss of appetite. How much do you know about Helicobacter pylori?
Can Helicobacter pylori infection cause gastric cancer?
Gastric cancer is the sixth most common cancer in Hong Kong. More than 1,100 new cases were recorded in 2020. The number of deaths from gastric cancer is also the sixth, which cannot be ignored. Dr. Tsui pointed out that in addition to smoking, alcohol abuse, family history, diet and environment, Helicobacter pylori infection is also one of the risk factors for gastric cancer.
He explained that although the probability of developing gastric cancer due to Helicobacter pylori infection is not high, past studies have found that 80% to 85% of gastric cancer patients carry Helicobacter pylori. The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori is also higher in Southeast Asia, where gastric cancer is more common. In Western countries, gastric cancer is mostly caused by acid reflux.
Dr. Tsui said that gastric cancer is the same as other cancers. The earlier it is detected, the higher the chance of cure and the higher the patient’s survival rate. However, the symptoms of early gastric cancer are not obvious, so many gastric cancer cases seen clinically are already at an advanced stage when diagnosed. It may have entered the diffusion stage, affecting the effectiveness of treatment.
Dr. Tsui Sing-chi, a specialist in gastroenterology and hepatology at Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital, said that carriers of Helicobacter pylori may not have obvious symptoms and can determine whether they are infected through a fasting air test.
Related reading:[Gastric cancer]6 conditions including persistent stomach pain, heartburn, black stool, difficulty swallowing, weight loss, etc. Early gastroscopy to dismantle the causes, symptoms and 3 surgical treatments of gastric cancer
Helicobacter pylori can cause gastric mucosal inflammation and gastric ulcers
In Hong Kong, 3 to 4 out of 10 people are infected with Helicobacter pylori, but because they do not show symptoms, most carriers are unaware of it. Dr. Xu said that this bacteria likes to hide in the gastric antrum, which secretes gastric acid. Since the acidic environment is conducive to the survival of Helicobacter pylori, it will slowly cause mucosal inflammation and ulcers in the stomach, causing bloating, stomach pain, and rumination. Symptoms such as vomiting and loss of appetite, however, it usually takes 3 to 40 years to develop into gastric cancer. Therefore, it is not recommended for asymptomatic carriers to undergo bacterial testing or treatment. However, those who have already experienced the above symptoms can undergo further examination.
The most commonly used and most accurate examination method is the fasting insufflation test. Blood tests and stool tests can also be added to the physical examination items to test for Helicobacter pylori infection. Some patients with long-term stomach pain, weight loss, vomiting after eating, or dark stools may be recommended to undergo a gastroscopy if necessary. This allows doctors to check the structure of the stomach and the status of the mucosa to assess the risk of gastric cancer. At the same time, samples can be taken for bacterial growth. , helps to find out which drugs the patient is resistant to, and then matches the appropriate drug.
If you have symptoms such as long-term stomach pain, vomiting after eating, or dark stools, you can undergo a gastroscopy to assess the risk of gastric cancer.
Antibiotics and acid-lowering drugs kill up to 80% of Helicobacter pylori
Dr. Xu said that Helicobacter pylori is mainly transmitted through feces and saliva. If you drink or eat water or food contaminated by the feces or vomit of a carrier, you may be infected. Therefore, the patient’s family members are also susceptible to infection. However, Xu Doctors believe that the chance of infection from eating at the same table is generally low because Helicobacter pylori does not easily survive in non-acidic environments. Since symptoms do not appear immediately, it is not easy to find the source of the infection.
Killing Helicobacter pylori mainly uses antibiotics and gastric acid-lowering drugs, with a sterilization rate of 80%. However, if the bacteria are resistant to antibiotics, it may require 2 to 3 treatments to be successful. Therefore, after the patient completes one course of treatment, he will be treated 4 to 8 weeks apart. Helicobacter pylori test needs to be done again to check the effectiveness of treatment.
Can be infected again after recovery, be careful to prevent cyclic transmission
In addition, about 3% to 5% of recovered patients will be infected by Helicobacter pylori again and need to be treated again. One of the common reasons is that the family members living with them are carriers of the bacteria, cross-infection occurs due to sharing the bathroom or contact with their vomit. , therefore doctors usually recommend that the patient’s family members who live with him or her should be tested for Helicobacter pylori to prevent cyclic transmission.
Related reading: The survival rate of gastric cancer in Hong Kong is only 40% to 50%. 7 high-risk factors for gastric cancer. Pay attention to the long-term inflammation of the stomach caused by Helicobacter pylori.
Pay attention to gastric cancer “attacks”: intestinal metaplasia, atrophic gastritis
Removing Helicobacter pylori from the stomach can reduce the risk of gastric cancer, but the following two conditions in the stomach also require attention to prevent gastric cancer from “attacking”:
. Intestinal metaplasia:Chronic gastritis causes changes in mucosal cells. If abnormal proliferation occurs, it is a precancerous lesion, which can develop into gastric cancer in a few months to a year at the earliest.
. Atrophic gastritis:The gastric mucosa will become thinner and the secretory glands will atrophy, increasing the risk of gastric cancer. It is common in the gastric body with relatively little gastric acid.
The five methods of “protecting the stomach” do not encourage fasting to lose weight
To enhance stomach health, Dr. Xu recommends starting with diet, paying attention to a balanced and regular diet every day, and the following five “stomach protection” tips:
1. Try to eat as little indigestible and irritating food as possible to avoid aggravating the burden on the stomach
2. Avoid smoking, drink less alcohol and coffee
3. Eat less high-sodium, pickled and processed foods
4. Eat more fruits and vegetables high in fiber and antioxidants
5. Eat three meals a day on time. Eat if you feel hungry to avoid stimulating large amounts of gastric acid secretion and increasing the risk of gastric inflammation.
In recent years, fasting has become popular to lose weight, such as the 168 intermittent fasting method. Will it affect gastric health? Dr. Xu reminds that not only will not eating for a long time cause indigestion, but the gallbladder may also accumulate a large amount of bile, increasing the risk of forming gallstones, so long-term fasting is not encouraged.
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