An upset tummy is a nuisance. But when it becomes chronic, ongoing stomach distress can deeply affect one's quality of life. Very often, this is due to gastritis, an inflammation of the stomach lining which has become increasingly common. Typically, there are two causes of gastritis: the overuse of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDS) like ibuprofen, and also, an infection by the bacterial species Helicobacter Pylori - a bacteria that is present in almost 50 percent of the countries of the world. In some cases, this little bug can attack and break down the stomach lining, causing gastritis and may potentially lead to stomach ulcers.
Nevertheless, these two culprits aren't always responsible for the gastritis suffered by many. There may also be other etiologies of chronic gut pain and discomfort. This is what is actually happening in the stomach: the stomach lining is programmed to produce stomach acid and the enzyme pepsin to break down our food. But when the lining is somehow compromised, acid and pepsin are no longer produced in adequate quantities. Injury to the stomach lining results in the formation of less mucus on the surface of the lining to protect it. So, even though less acid and enzymes are being released, there still is less protection to prevent irritation of the stomach lining.