Tips to Prevent stomach ulcers

What is a stomach ulcer?​

Stomach ulcers are often also known by the name peptic ulcers or gastric ulcers. They are painful sores found in the stomach lining or small intestine. As per a study by the American Gastroenterological Association, about 4 million people suffer from stomach ulcers, and one in ten people can get the problem in their lifetime. The problem occurs when the thick layer of mucus, which protects our stomach from digestive juices, is reduced. Stomach ulcers are a very common health problem and are treatable in most.

What causes stomach ulcers?

• • Infection with Helicobacter pylori – Pylori is a type of bacteria that could infect about two-thirds of people worldwide. It infects the stomach and sometimes may even lead to stomach diseases. It can also cause problems like ulcers in the stomach or duodenum. The infection by H. Pylori is the main cause in about 8 in 10 cases of stomach ulcers. Once you get infected, treatment is essential; otherwise, the infection will last a lifetime. It causes no problems in many people, and many bacteria live in the lining of the stomach and duodenum without harm. This, in turn, disrupts the defense mucus barrier and allows the acid to cause inflammation and ulcers.
  • Anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin –The anti-inflammatory drugs are also known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and come in many different brands. Examples include Aspirin, Ibuprofen And Diclofenac. People take these drugs for arthritis or muscular pains, and sometimes, they affect the mucus barrier of the stomach, causing acid.
  • Other factors –Some viral infections can also cause stomach ulcers, whereas other causes are really rare. Stomach cancer may look similar to an ulcer, but cancer in the stomach is quite uncommon, and it may need to be ruled out if one is found to have a stomach ulcer.

Symptoms of stomach ulcer

Those having small ulcers may not necessarily show any symptoms, but some ulcers could cause serious bleeding. Pain in the abdomen is the most common symptom, but some people may not even get any pain as it differs from person to person.

Some other common stomach ulcer symptoms include:

• • The feeling of fullness and problem-consuming fluids
  • Hunger and feeling of an empty stomach, 1 to 3 hours after a meal
  • Mild nausea
  • Pain in the upper abdomen
  • Chest pain
  • Bloody or dark, tarry stool
  • Weight loss
  • Blood in vomiting

Ulcer treatment

A stomach ulcer means the treatment largely depends on whether the cause is H. Pylori infection or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. A course of antibiotic medicines will be recommended for stomach ulcer relief if it is caused by H. Pylori infection. This is called eradication therapy, as it tends to kill bacteria. On the other hand, if NSAIDs cause the ulcer and there is no H. Pylori infection, then a month or two courses of proton pump inhibitors will be given. Finally, when a combination of both causes the stomach ulcer, a two-month course of PPIs and antibiotic medications are given.

• • Eradication therapy –In this therapy, the combination of two or three antibiotics and a Proton pump inhibitor is given at the same time. The ulcer medicines or antibiotics used for eradication therapy are Amoxicillin, Clarithromycin, and Metronidazole.
  • Proton pump inhibitors –Proton pump inhibitors work and block the actions of proteins known as proton pumps that are largely responsible for producing stomach acid. If the amount of stomach acid is reduced, it will prevent further damage to the ulcer and heal naturally. The two common PPIs used for ulcer relief are Lansoprazole and Omeprazole.
  • H2- receptor antagonists –These work by blocking the actions of a protein named histamine responsible for stimulating acid production. Ranitidine is a commonly used H2-receptor antagonist for treating stomach ulcers.
  • Antacids and alginates –It is very much recommended that you consult your general physician before starting any ulcer medication. There are several additional ulcer medicines that may help you to relieve the symptoms. One can have antacids that may help to neutralize stomach acid on a short-term basis. Then is alginates, which tend to produce a protective coating on the stomach lining. Antacids are usually preferred when one experiences symptoms, whereas alginates can be taken after meals. But remember not to take these medicines within an hour of taking PPIs or ranitidine as this may block its effects.

How to prevent stomach ulcers?

Apart from taking medicines for ulcers, one could even try some natural home remedies, which will be an alternative way of stomach ulcer prevention.

• • Bananas –Bananas are the most effective remedy for stomach ulcers. Sitoindosides in unripe and dried bananas increase mucus in the digestive tract and provide a strong protective coating that helps prevent and heal ulcers. Unripe bananas can also promote the growth of cells in the intestinal tract. They also contain water-soluble polysaccharides, the compound found in the anti-ulcer prescription drug Sucralfate. You need to make banana powder, peel the fruit, and cut it into slices to treat ulcers. Keep it under the sun, or use a food dehydrator to let it dry slowly. After it dries, grind it into fine powder and try to mix 2 tablespoons of powder with a single tablespoon of honey. Finally, have the mixture three times a day: mid-morning, mid-afternoon, and bedtime.
  • Honey –Honey helps to treat ulcers in two ways. Firstly, the glucose oxidase enzyme in the body produces hydrogen peroxide that kills harmful bacteria and contributes to the development of ulcers. Certain honey varieties are more effective than others in healing and treating ulcers.
  • Cabbage –As long as enough beneficial bacteria are present in the body, the disease-causing bacteria, which leads to ulcers, remain in check. The best way to fortify good bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract is by including cultured and lactic acid-fermented foods in the daily diet. Foods that could help in maintaining a balance of beneficial bacteria in the bowels are some homemade sauerkraut, yogurt, buttermilk, and pickled vegetables. Even if we talk about ulcer treatments in particular decades before antibiotics, cabbage juice has been used successfully to prevent or heal peptic ulcers.

Also read: Make yourself Healthy with a Vegan diet

For ulcer relief or stomach ulcer prevention, here are some more tips that can be followed.

• • Eat healthy –Always ensure you eat a healthy diet full of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Avoiding vitamin-rich foods may make it quite difficult for the body to heal ulcers.
  • Consider some pain relievers –If you rely on pain relievers regularly, then you could try acetaminophen if your doctor recommends it.
  • Watch your stress –Being stressed out may worsen the signs and symptoms of stomach ulcer. So make sure you don’t feel much stressed in life as it could create a problem for your health.
  • Avoid smoking –Smoking a cigarette could largely interfere with the protective stomach lining and may also increase stomach acid. So, for better health, one should avoid smoking.
  • Limit alcohol –Excessive alcohol intake could lead to irritation and erode the mucus lining in the stomach and intestines, which may cause bleeding and inflammation.

Every patient has a different health condition. Following a doctor’s advice is important to get relief and treat stomach ulcers safely.

Also read: 7 Healthy Food Swaps