Peptic Ulcer

Health Tips

By Lifestyle

Peptic ulcer is commonly known as stomach ulcer or gastric ulcer. Duodenum, as it is also named, is a benign inflammatory injury to the gastric mucosa. Gastric mucosa is the stomach lining that produces mucus.

Symptoms

The most common symptoms of peptic ulcer would be intolerable stomach pain, stomach irritation that usually occurs after every meal or when one is hungry, sudden weight loss, and high intolerance of certain food types that would sometimes lead to nausea. On extreme cases, the symptoms would include shock, fainting, fatigue, weakness, and severe hemorrhage.

Complications

Abdominal pain, gastrointestinal bleeding that would mean vomiting blood or passing black stools, and distended stomach due to blockage in the digestive passage. Some studies show that peptic ulcer condition might be infectious, too.

Causes

The possible causes of peptic ulcer points to bacterial influences but would also include stress, nicotine and alcohol abuse, increased production of stomach acid, impaired gastric movements, certain medications that might also include aspirin and those drugs with steroids, and the Zollinger-Ellison syndrome which is an abnormal overproduction of the hormone gastrin.

Natural Treatment

A diet therapy helps a lot in treating peptic ulcer. It is best to consume foods that are not only highly nutritious but those that are agreeable to your stomach.

Here are more tips:

· There are recommendations of vegetables to avoid, especially to those having trouble in their bowel movements such as cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, and beans.

· Avoid stomach irritant foods such as those that are very hot, very spicy, and very oily.

· Try to take these in moderation: citrus, candies, gums, mint, and chocolates.

· Skip beverages with caffeine and alcohol, including soft drinks.

· Stop smoking.

· Read the label of certain painkillers before taking them.

· Don’t use medicines with steroids.

· Regular and moderate exercises would also help. Added to that would be stress-relief methods such as yoga.

Travel Advice

Make sure you are informed of the ingredients consisting of the food you are ordering, especially in exotic, far away countries. Bring bottled water with you at all times and avoid drinking water from the tap when you are overseas especially when you are in developing countries.