A peptic ulcer is an open wound in the lining of either the stomach or the duodenum, which is the first part of the small intestine. Ulcers can hurt a lot, especially when the stomach is empty.
People commonly believe that stress can cause ulcers. The most common cause of an ulcer is an imbalance of certain gastric juices called pepsin that is caused by an infection with bacteria called Helicobacter pylori
Abuse of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin, naproxen, and ibuprofen can also lead to an ulcer. A condition called Zollinger-Ellison syndrome can also cause ulcers. Zollinger-Ellison syndrome is a rare condition in which tumors form in the pancreas or upper gastrointestinal tract and over-secrete gastrin, a hormone that causes the stomach to produce too much acid. The imbalance between the pepsin and stomach acids damages the thick mucosal lining of the stomach or the duodenum, and the result is the open wound that is known as an ulcer.
SYMPTOMS
- Bloating of the Stomach
- Heart Burn
- Belching
- Nausea
- In extreme cases where the ulcer bleeds, the person might have black tarry stools
IS MILK GOOD FOR AN ULCER?
For many years people have been told to drink lots of milk as it is believed that it helps reduce the pain in the stomach and gives soothing relief. But this is not true. It might help for a few minutes, but milk also stimulates your stomach to produce more hydrochloric acid, which can make ulcers hurt more. Yogurts would be the best option over milk.
DIET AND ULCER
There are no specific foods that speed up the healing of ulcers because it takes time and medication. But it's always possible that some foods irritate the ulcer more than others, so it's a good idea to give up coffee, tea, cola, chocolate, alcohol, and fruit juices until the ulcer is healed. In some cases, ulcer patients may have less pain by reducing the amounts of black pepper, garlic, and spices used in their meals.
Many years ago, people with ulcers were put on bland diets until their ulcers healed, but that's not necessary. Just avoid foods that irritate your stomach and increase the ulcer pain. Some people may have to skip meals to reduce the discomfort because eating fewer meals reduces the amount of stomach acid produced throughout the day. Beyond that, it depends on the individual. If particular foods not listed seem to upset your stomach, you should probably avoid them until the ulcer has healed.
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