Q What’s the cause of gastric irritation?

AThe stomach is normally protected by a mucus layer, just like the mucus in your nose, but this can be reduced by various things in your diet, as well as some medication. Alcohol is a common cause of gastritis, gastric ulcers and indigestion, as it strips away the mucus. Similarly, very spicy food will irritate the stomach lining. The commonest medications to cause problems are the non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory analgesics, such as ibuprofen and diclofenac, but many can cause gastric irritation. It’s hard to measure but stress and anxiety can also lead to gastric irritation. Simple antacids, especially those combined with a protective alginate, will coat the stomach as it heals, and gastric protectors, such as esomeprazole, are available from your pharmacy, which temporarily reduce the amount of stomach acid you make to rest the stomach lining. However, it’s most important to stop the irritant causes, otherwise the symptoms will simply recur.