Understanding Ulcer Prevention
How Can I Prevent Ulcers?
About one out of every 10 Americans will suffer from the burning, gnawing abdominal pain of a peptic ulcer sometime in life. Peptic ulcers are holes or breaks in the protective lining of the duodenum (the upper part of the small intestine) or the stomach -- areas that come into contact with stomach acids and enzymes. Duodenal ulcers are more common than stomach ulcers.
While excessive stomach acid secretion certainly plays a role in the development of ulcers, a relatively recent theory holds that bacterial infection is the primary cause of peptic ulcers. Indeed, research conducted since the mid-1980s has persuasively demonstrated that the bacterium Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is present in more than 90% of duodenal ulcers and about 80% of stomach ulcers.
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No one knows for sure how H. pylori spreads or why some people develop peptic ulcers without being infected with H. pylori, so prevention is difficult. Researchers are trying to develop a vaccine to prevent infection.
If you have already developed a peptic ulcer, there are things you can do to prevent worsening of your symptoms. They include:
- Avoid foods that irritate your stomach. Use common sense: If it upsets your stomach when you eat it, avoid it. Everyone is different, but spicy foods and fatty foods are common irritants.
- Stop smoking. Heavy smokers are more likely to develop duodenal ulcers than nonsmokers.
- Practice moderation. Heavy consumption of alcohol and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS including aspirin and ibuprofen) has been shown to contribute to the development of ulcers, so keep your intake to a minimum.
- Learn how to control your stress levels. Regular exercise and mind-body relaxation techniques (such as guided imagery and yoga or tai chi) are often helpful.
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