H. Pylori infection
The #1 cause of stomach ulcers may be causing your chronic gastritis and indigestion.
In 1994, high-profile medical research demonstrated that most stomach ulcers are caused by a bacteria called Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). These bacteria are one of the only known microorganisms that can survive and even thrive in the acidic stomach environment. It’s helical, or screw-like shape allows it to penetrate the lining of the stomach and lodge there.
Researchers have found that many people have H. pylori in their stomachs even though they do not have ulcers.
H. pylori infection has also been associated with such conditions as acne rosacea, allergic sinusitis, iron deficiency anemia, vitamin B12 deficiency, hives, and stomach and duodenal cancer. It also increases oxidation in throughout your body; accelerating the aging process.
But, what is the most likely symptom of H. Pylori? Lots and LOTS of stomach discomfort and digestive problems.
Luckily, H. Pylori infections can be combatted and resolved.
- Intermittent anxiety
- Belching, bloating, and gas
- Headaches
- Upper abdominal digestive pain within an hour of eating
- Skin rashes (especially on the forearms, neck, chest, or face)
- Acid reflux that is unresponsive to treatment
- Limited movement in your neck, especially on the left side
- Rib cage pain wrapping around from the front to the back, especially on the left side after eating
- Irritability during or immediately after meals
- Chronic anemia
If you have any of these symptoms, you may have H. Pylori.
You may have noticed iced that some of symptoms listed above aren’t easily connected to digestive dysfunction. And you’d be right. When it comes to helping people to conquer their chronic symptoms, it’s essential to pay attention to the body as a whole. That’s why, even though H. Pylori can be diagnosed via several laboratory tests, but your practitioner may also treat for H. Pylori based on your symptomatic profile,
- Just as heart attacks can present as pain down the inner left arm, the stomach affects nerve pathways and muscles in the neck, shoulders, and rib cage. For many people, this can lead to chronic headaches that seem to come out of nowhere and disappear just as suddenly.
- Similarly, your stomach sits adjacent to your diaphragm, the muscle that allows your rib cage to contract and expand when you breathe. If that expansion is limited by pressure from the stomach, it can cause shortness of breath.
- Shortness of breath can mimic your body’s threat-response–your fight-flight reaction. And when you are constantly experiencing artificial threats, your body never has time to relax or repair from the increased stress. For most people, chronic anxiety and tension is the natural result of this process.
- Unfortunately the process doesn’t stop there! In the body’s stressed neurological state (know as a sympathetic nervous system response), stomach function (such as acid production) is designed to decrease in order to reserve energy for fight or flight action in the face of danger.
- When stomach functions decrease, H. Pylori has even more of an opportunity to grow.
NOW we have a classic feedback loop: a self-sustaining dysfunctional system.
There are five types of H. Pylori laboratory tests.
- Antibody blood test
- Urea breath test
- Stomach biopsy
- Stool antigen test
- GI-MAP stool test
However, for many people, H. Pylori causes symptoms that aren’t easily linked to an infection (see next section). If an expensive or invasive test is required to confirm, some practitioners may recommend a brief therapeutic trial with anti-H. Pylori supplements or medications instead of lab tests. It may save you time and money in the long run.
If your body responds positively to the therapy, it’s a sign that you’ve probably found the reason for your symptoms and a roadmap to healing.
Getting rid of H. Pylori can help you:
- Decrease headaches
- Clear up rosacea
- Get rid of gastritis
- Reduce Raynaud’s symptoms
- Improve Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP)
- Restock iron stores
- Protect against stomach cancer
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Ahmed N. 23 years of the discovery of Helicobacter pylori: Is the debate over? Ann Clin Microbiol Antimicrob. 2005;4:17. doi:10.1186/1476-0711-4-17
Wong F, Rayner-Hartley E, Byrne MF. Extraintestinal manifestations of Helicobacter pylori: a concise review. World J Gastroenterol. 2014;20(34):11950-11961. doi:10.3748/wjg.v20.i34.11950
Yang X. Relationship between Helicobacter pylori and Rosacea: review and discussion. BMC Infect Dis. 2018;18(1):318. Published 2018 Jul 11. doi:10.1186/s12879-018-3232-4
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Chiba N, Veldhuyzen Van Zanten SJ, Escobedo S, Grace E, Lee J, Sinclair P, Barkun A, Armstrong D, Thomson AB. Economic evaluation of Helicobacter pylori eradication in the CADET-Hp randomized controlled trial of H. pylori-positive primary care patients with uninvestigated dyspepsia. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2004 Feb 1;19(3):349-58. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2036.2004.01865.x
Gasbarrini A, Massari I, Serricchio M et al. Helicobacter pylori eradication ameliorates primary Raynaud’s phenomenon. Dig Dis Sci. 1998; 43:1641–1645. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018842527111
Campuzano-Maya G. Hematologic manifestations of Helicobacter pylori infection. World J Gastroenterol. Sep 28, 2014;20(36):12818-12838. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i36.12818
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You can defeat H. Pylori
The Stomach Wellness Program at the Global Wellness Lab is an 8 week program designed to help your body resist and resolve H. Pylori infections through anti-microbial botanical and nutraceutical therapy.
If you or your practitioner think you have H. Pylori, you and your practitioner can follow this research-based strategy to help you restore the natural function of your stomach and beat indigestion for good!
Can't start the anti-h. pylori program yet?
Follow an anti-H. Pylori diet.
Following an anti-H. Pylori diet can help restore healthy stomach function, and optimize the microbial environment in your gastrointestinal tract.
Of course, we also recommend strategizing with your regular health practitioner about how to implement any changes in your diet during an anti-H. pylori program.
Help your body temporarily reduce gastritis
Though it should not be taken indefinitely as a replacement for an anti-H. Pylori program, we recommend supporting your stomach with a combination formula that can help digestion, nutrient absorption, and proper elimination processes.
Most importantly, the ingredients in this formula can decrease swelling in the stomach lining caused by H. Pylori. This swelling not only causes discomfort and damage, but it also can create an extra protective barrier for H. Pylori bacteria. GI Integrity is a peach-tea flavored powder packed with herbs, minerals, and other nutrients that have been shown to positively affect the GI tract and its functions.
Taking GI Integrity in the short term or several days a week is likely to help reduce the symptoms of H. Pylori. If it helps you, it’s also another indication that you have an H. Pylori infection.
