Experts say if you have been using pain
relief medicines for stomach pains for more than six months without
relief, you may have developed an ulcer.
Professor of Gastroenterology at the Ege
University School of Medicine, Turkey, Serhat Bor, describes stomach
ulcers as open sores that form on the inner lining of the stomach,
because of increased gastric acid in the digestive tract.
He notes that when this condition is not detected early, it could lead to severe damages to the stomach.
“An ulcer of the stomach occurs when
there is excess acid in the stomach, which eats away the protective
mucus lining, leading to a sore.”
In addition to eating away your stomach
lining, stomach ulcers cause a lot of discomfort and pain which could
reduce one’s quality of life .
To effectively treat ulcers, the professor says that one must know the factors that trigger the conditions in the first place.
Ege says unlike before when its causes
were not really known, new researches now show that 20 per cent of
all cases of ulcers are caused by bacteria , Helicobacter Pylori, which
live s and grow s within the mucus layers that protect the tissues
lining the stomach and the small intestines.
“ In most instances, these bacteria do
not cause a problem, but sometimes they could disrupt the layer of the
mucus leading to an inflammation. The inflammation in turn could cause
the acids in the stomach to rise. It is only a specialist(
gastroloenterlogist) that can diagnose these cases .It is important that
you see a doctor first , then you can follow up on his/her advice,” he
states.
If you’ve been swallowing pain reilef
medications frequently, you may want to watch it. Abuse of analgesics
could increase one’s risk of getting ulcer. Ege states that these
over-the-counter medicines are taken frequently. They could inflame or
irritate the lining of the small intestines and the stomach leading to
sores.
“ If you don’t want to have ulcer, you
need to be very careful with over-the-counter pain medicines. Remember:
No drug is risk-free. It is very important to discuss the use of
over-the-counter drugs with your doctor.” he adds.
Stress has been linked to aggravating the
stomach lining. The professor notes that stress, which increases
acidic levels in the stomach, could result in stomach ulcers.
He explains, “There are different health
problems that occur because of stress, acidity being one of them. If
steps are not taken to control the levels of stress in the body, the
acidity could lead to stomach ulcers. “
The loss of a good night’s sleep could do more than make you yawn – it may trigger stomach ulcers.
Research published by scientists at
Newcastle University, UK shows that good sleeping habits result in
better production of a protein called TFF2, which repairs tissue damage
in the stomach and keeps ulcers at bay.
It also confirms that eating late is bad
for you because it suppresses the same protein. The lead researcher, Dr.
Felicity May, said the study backs up the idea that stressful
lifestyles are more likely to lead to ulcers.
“These findings show the implications
for ulcers for those whose daily routine does not allow them to get a
good night’s sleep. If you don’t get any sleep it would mean lower
levels of the protein. This would suggest that those who get too little
sleep and often eat late are more at risk of stomach ulcers.”
You have probably heard ulcer patients
reject spicy or peppery food, diet could heighten or lessen your chances
of hurting your stomach, says consultant gastroenterologist with the
Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, Dr. Funmi Lesi.
To show the importance of diet, Lesi
says a study carried out among 400 medical students who took coffee and
kola nuts during their examinations showed that 26.3 per cent of them
had symptoms that could lead to ulcers within one month while another
study among 688 residents in Mushin, Lagos, revealed that 15.5 per cent
of them had stomach pains after their meals at least once in a month.
The experts note that since all foods
consumed by a person have an effect on the body, one way or the other,
it is absolutely essential for all to ensure that they eat the right
food to avoid stomach ulcer, especially if they are prone to the
problem, suffer from acidity on a regular basis, or have a family
history of ulcers.
They note that people who are
undergoing treatment for this condition should follow diets which have a
positive effect on the ir stomach lining by eating the right food
forto speed up th ier recovery process.
Home made remedies for ulcer pain
If you have an ulcer, you need to avoid
any foods or medicines that will make your condition worse. Following
are some of the best natural remedies for healing and soothing stomach
ulcers:
-One of the very best home remedies for
ulcers is eating raw cabbage. Juicing the raw cabbage will make it
easier to take and mixing it with carrots in the juicer will make it
better tasting. Drink half a cup before each meal and at bed time and
make sure that it is fresh. Your ulcer may be gone in only a few weeks.
-Eat at least three bananas a day. These
fruits contain an antibacterial substance that inhibits the growth of
ulcer-causing H. pylori. Studies show that animals fed bananas have a
thicker stomach wall and greater mucus production in the stomach, which
helps build a barrier between digestive acids and the lining of the
stomach. Eating plantains is also helpful.
-Cayenne pepper is wonderful for healing
ulcers as well as dulling the pain. It is a bit strong and may take some
getting used to at the outset. Start with one-eighth teaspoon of
cayenne pepper in a glass of water twice a day and work up to a
quarter-teaspoon. You can also take cayenne capsules that you can get at
the health food store. Take three a day immediately after meals.
-The bark of slippery elm soothes the
mucous membranes that line the stomach and duodenum. It is often taken
in powdered form. Some herbalists recommend taking a teaspoon of
powdered slippery elm bark added to one cup of warm water three times a
day.
-Colloidal silver helps kill the H. pylori bacteria and helps heal injured stomach tissues.
-Raw honey soothes and reduces inflammation of the lining of the stomach and is good for healing as well.
-Garlic’s antibacterial properties include fighting H. pylori. Take two small crushed cloves a day.
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