Painful and dangerous
Almost two thirds of people with ulcers do not present any symptoms, but that does not make them less dangerous.
An ulcer is a sore on the lining of your stomach, small intestine or oesophagus. A peptic ulcer in the stomach is called a gastric ulcer. A duodenal ulcer is a peptic ulcer that develops in the first part of the small intestine (duodenum).
Symptoms include a burning stomach pain, a feeling of fullness, bloating or belching, fatty food intolerance, heartburn and nausea.
The most common peptic ulcer symptom is burning stomach pain. Stomach acid makes the pain worse, as does having an empty stomach. The pain can often be relieved by eating certain foods that buffer stomach acid or by taking an acid-reducing medication, but then it may come back. The pain may be worse between meals and at night.
Nearly three-quarters of people with peptic ulcers don't have symptoms.
Causes
Peptic ulcers occur when acid in the digestive tract eats away at the inner surface of the stomach or small intestine. The acid can create a painful open sore that may bleed.
Your digestive tract is coated with a mucous layer that normally protects against acid. But if the amount of acid is increased or the amount of mucus is decreased, you could develop an ulcer.
Common causes include:
A bacteria called Helicobacter pylori commonly lives in the mucous layer that covers and protects tissues that line the stomach and small intestine. Often, H. pylori causes no problems, but it can cause inflammation of the stomach's inner layer, producing an ulcer.
It's not clear how H. pylori infection spreads. It may be transmitted from person to person by close contact, such as kissing. People may also contract H. pylori through food and water.
Regular use of certain pain relievers. Taking aspirin, as well as certain over-the-counter and prescription pain medications called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can irritate or inflame the lining of your stomach and small intestine. These medications include ibuprofen and naproxen sodium, but not acetaminophen.
Peptic ulcers are more common in older adults who take these pain medications frequently or in people who take these medications for osteoarthritis.
Risk factors
In addition to taking certain pain medications, including aspirin, you may have an increased risk of peptic ulcers if you smoke. Smoking may increase the risk of peptic ulcers in people who are infected with H. pylori. Alcohol can irritate and erode the mucous lining of your stomach, and it increases the amount of stomach acid that's produced. Untreated stress over a prolonged period of time can also induce an ulcer as can spicy foods.
Alone, these factors do not cause ulcers, but they can make them worse and more difficult to heal.
Complications
Left untreated, peptic ulcers can result in:
Internal bleeding. Bleeding can occur as slow blood loss that leads to anaemia or as severe blood loss that may require hospitalisation or a blood transfusion. Severe blood loss may cause black or bloody vomit or black or bloody stools.
Infection. Peptic ulcers can eat a hole through the wall of your stomach or small intestine, putting you at risk of serious infection of your abdominal cavity (peritonitis).
Obstruction. Peptic ulcers can lead to swelling, inflammation or scarring that may block passage of food through the digestive tract. A blockage may make you become full easily, vomit and lose weight.
See your doctor if you think you may have developed an ulcer.
Natural remedies
There are many natural remedies that can be used to treat ulcers and reduce their symptoms.
Research suggests that flavonoids, also known as bioflavonoids, may be an effective treatment for stomach ulcers. Flavonoids are compounds that occur naturally in many fruits and vegetables. Foods and drinks rich in flavonoids include soybeans, legumes, red grapes, kale, broccoli, apples, berries and teas, especially green tea. Stay away from citrus fruits and red wines.
Flavonoids are referred to as “gastroprotective,” which means they defend the lining of the stomach and could allow ulcers to heal. According to the Linus Pauling Institute, there are no side effects of consuming flavonoids in the amount found in a typical diet, but higher amounts of flavonoids may interfere with blood clotting. You can get flavonoids in your diet or take them as supplements.
Take probiotics. These are the living bacteria and yeast that help keep your digestive system moving. They are present in many common foods, particularly fermented foods. These include buttermilk and yogurt.
You can also take probiotics in supplement form. Studies have shown that probiotics may be helpful in wiping out H. pylori and increasing recovery rate for people with ulcers.
Honey is far from simply sweet. Depending on the plant it's derived from, honey can contain up to 200 elements, including polyphenols and other antioxidants. Honey is a powerful antibacterial and has been shown to inhibit H. pylori growth. As long as you have normal blood sugar levels, you can enjoy honey as you would any sweetener, with the bonus of soothing your ulcers.
Garlic extract has been shown to inhibit H. pylori growth in lab, animal, and human trials. If you don't like the taste (and lingering aftertaste) of garlic, you can take garlic extract in supplemental form. Garlic acts as a blood thinner, so ask your doctor before taking it if you use warfarin or other prescription blood thinners.
A diet centred on fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, is not just good for your overall health. According to the Mayo Clinic, a vitamin-rich diet can help your body heal your ulcer. Foods containing the antioxidant polyphenols can protect you from ulcers and help ulcers heal. Polyphenol-rich foods and seasonings include dried rosemary, dark chocolate, blueberries and black olives.
Foods to avoid
Some foods can make ulcers worse, while some provide a preventive and healing effect. Greasy and acidic foods are most likely to irritate your stomach, as are spicy foods.
To reduce ulcer pain, avoid coffee, including decaffeinated coffee, carbonated beverages, chillies and hot peppers, processed foods, salty red meats, deep fried foods, milk and alcohol.
Milk's ability to coat the side of a glass may have you thinking that it also creates a protective barrier in your stomach. In fact, drinking milk may initially soothe your ulcer pain. But in the long run, milk is not good for ulcers. It seems to make things worse by causing your stomach to produce more acid.
If you've ever had a hangover, you know the effects that alcohol can have on your stomach. It's also directly associated with H. pylori infections, meaning it contributes to stomach ulcers and can make existing ones worse.
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Symptoms include a burning stomach pain, a feeling of fullness, bloating or belching, fatty food intolerance, heartburn and nausea.
The most common peptic ulcer symptom is burning stomach pain. Stomach acid makes the pain worse, as does having an empty stomach. The pain can often be relieved by eating certain foods that buffer stomach acid or by taking an acid-reducing medication, but then it may come back. The pain may be worse between meals and at night.
Nearly three-quarters of people with peptic ulcers don't have symptoms.
Causes
Peptic ulcers occur when acid in the digestive tract eats away at the inner surface of the stomach or small intestine. The acid can create a painful open sore that may bleed.
Your digestive tract is coated with a mucous layer that normally protects against acid. But if the amount of acid is increased or the amount of mucus is decreased, you could develop an ulcer.
Common causes include:
A bacteria called Helicobacter pylori commonly lives in the mucous layer that covers and protects tissues that line the stomach and small intestine. Often, H. pylori causes no problems, but it can cause inflammation of the stomach's inner layer, producing an ulcer.
It's not clear how H. pylori infection spreads. It may be transmitted from person to person by close contact, such as kissing. People may also contract H. pylori through food and water.
Regular use of certain pain relievers. Taking aspirin, as well as certain over-the-counter and prescription pain medications called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can irritate or inflame the lining of your stomach and small intestine. These medications include ibuprofen and naproxen sodium, but not acetaminophen.
Peptic ulcers are more common in older adults who take these pain medications frequently or in people who take these medications for osteoarthritis.
Risk factors
In addition to taking certain pain medications, including aspirin, you may have an increased risk of peptic ulcers if you smoke. Smoking may increase the risk of peptic ulcers in people who are infected with H. pylori. Alcohol can irritate and erode the mucous lining of your stomach, and it increases the amount of stomach acid that's produced. Untreated stress over a prolonged period of time can also induce an ulcer as can spicy foods.
Alone, these factors do not cause ulcers, but they can make them worse and more difficult to heal.
Complications
Left untreated, peptic ulcers can result in:
Internal bleeding. Bleeding can occur as slow blood loss that leads to anaemia or as severe blood loss that may require hospitalisation or a blood transfusion. Severe blood loss may cause black or bloody vomit or black or bloody stools.
Infection. Peptic ulcers can eat a hole through the wall of your stomach or small intestine, putting you at risk of serious infection of your abdominal cavity (peritonitis).
Obstruction. Peptic ulcers can lead to swelling, inflammation or scarring that may block passage of food through the digestive tract. A blockage may make you become full easily, vomit and lose weight.
See your doctor if you think you may have developed an ulcer.
Natural remedies
There are many natural remedies that can be used to treat ulcers and reduce their symptoms.
Research suggests that flavonoids, also known as bioflavonoids, may be an effective treatment for stomach ulcers. Flavonoids are compounds that occur naturally in many fruits and vegetables. Foods and drinks rich in flavonoids include soybeans, legumes, red grapes, kale, broccoli, apples, berries and teas, especially green tea. Stay away from citrus fruits and red wines.
Flavonoids are referred to as “gastroprotective,” which means they defend the lining of the stomach and could allow ulcers to heal. According to the Linus Pauling Institute, there are no side effects of consuming flavonoids in the amount found in a typical diet, but higher amounts of flavonoids may interfere with blood clotting. You can get flavonoids in your diet or take them as supplements.
Take probiotics. These are the living bacteria and yeast that help keep your digestive system moving. They are present in many common foods, particularly fermented foods. These include buttermilk and yogurt.
You can also take probiotics in supplement form. Studies have shown that probiotics may be helpful in wiping out H. pylori and increasing recovery rate for people with ulcers.
Honey is far from simply sweet. Depending on the plant it's derived from, honey can contain up to 200 elements, including polyphenols and other antioxidants. Honey is a powerful antibacterial and has been shown to inhibit H. pylori growth. As long as you have normal blood sugar levels, you can enjoy honey as you would any sweetener, with the bonus of soothing your ulcers.
Garlic extract has been shown to inhibit H. pylori growth in lab, animal, and human trials. If you don't like the taste (and lingering aftertaste) of garlic, you can take garlic extract in supplemental form. Garlic acts as a blood thinner, so ask your doctor before taking it if you use warfarin or other prescription blood thinners.
A diet centred on fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, is not just good for your overall health. According to the Mayo Clinic, a vitamin-rich diet can help your body heal your ulcer. Foods containing the antioxidant polyphenols can protect you from ulcers and help ulcers heal. Polyphenol-rich foods and seasonings include dried rosemary, dark chocolate, blueberries and black olives.
Foods to avoid
Some foods can make ulcers worse, while some provide a preventive and healing effect. Greasy and acidic foods are most likely to irritate your stomach, as are spicy foods.
To reduce ulcer pain, avoid coffee, including decaffeinated coffee, carbonated beverages, chillies and hot peppers, processed foods, salty red meats, deep fried foods, milk and alcohol.
Milk's ability to coat the side of a glass may have you thinking that it also creates a protective barrier in your stomach. In fact, drinking milk may initially soothe your ulcer pain. But in the long run, milk is not good for ulcers. It seems to make things worse by causing your stomach to produce more acid.
If you've ever had a hangover, you know the effects that alcohol can have on your stomach. It's also directly associated with H. pylori infections, meaning it contributes to stomach ulcers and can make existing ones worse.
STAFF REPORTER
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