Risk factors you can control

The following factors can increase your chance of developing a peptic ulcer and may slow the healing of an ulcer if you already have one. You may be able to reduce the risk of developing an ulcer by controlling or eliminating these factors, which include:

• Use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (such as aspirin).
• Cigarette smoking.
• Excessive use of alcohol.

Risk factors you cannot control

Some factors that you cannot control may increase your risk of developing an ulcer. These include:

• A Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, which is the most common cause of ulcers.
• Physical stress caused by a severe illness or injury (such as a major trauma, the need to be on a ventilator to assist breathing, or surgery).
• Excess secretion of stomach acid.
• A family history of ulcers.

What is not a risk factor

In the past, eating spicy foods or drinking caffeine or moderate amounts of alcohol were thought to increase your risk of developing an ulcer. This is no longer believed to be true. But although certain foods or certain beverages may not increase your risk of developing an ulcer, they may cause symptoms of heartburn or indigestion. You may need to avoid them if they bother you.

Although there is no evidence to prove that emotional or mental stress causes ulcers, it does seem to make ulcers worse in some people. But the connection is still controversial. And there are no specific recommendations for using counseling or psychotherapy to treat peptic ulcers.