Stomach Ulcer Treatment
Ulcers are a common part of life, and the majority of people will have an ulcer at some time in their life, even if they do not realize it. A gastrointestinal ulcer is simply a place in the stomach or small intestines where the mucous is too thin to prevent the live tissue from being burned by acid.
Most ulcers are small and eventually heal without intervention; in many cases the person does not realize an ulcer is there. In other cases, the ulcer is large and can persist for years. Ulcers are more common in the elderly and are a common cause of death in that age group.
People under the age of 45 typically have healthy stomachs with thick mucous layers. They can eat a wide variety of foods without much digestive upset. Anyone of any age, however, can get an ulcer if certain conditions arise. Anyone who drinks distilled alcohol can damage their stomach because alcohol is a burning solvent. Common pain killers irritate the stomach and decrease the mucous layer, and tend to form ulcers if taken for more than a few weeks.
The majority of ulcers are caused by old age or bacteria called Helicobacter pylori. This germ lives and breeds in the stomach, and takes advantage of other irritants such as alcohol or medicine. Some people are just naturally disposed to weak mucous or excessive acid production when eating certain foods. Ulcers are painful and increase the risk of stomach bleeding, but fortunately are not difficult to treat.
Stomach Ulcer Treatment
The first step is to stop drinking or eating trouble foods. Generally, fatty foods such as steak can be the culprit, as they tend to be tough to digest. The drugs most likely to cause gastric irritation are aspirin and naproxen, but taking them might be necessary. Switching to vegetables and more tender meat can help, as well as laying off the deep-fried side items. Eating less or eating smaller meals gives your stomach less of a workout.
Stomach Ulcer Treatment: Meds
Medicine also helps, and in fact acid reducers are big money for the pharmaceutical industry. Several good drugs are already on the market, and more are sure to come. The best drugs work by turning off acid production, so that the total PH in the stomach is reduced. Caplets containing baking soda and calcium carbonate only provide temporary relief; often the increase acid production, and also decrease the effectiveness of other drugs. Doctors who prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs will also prescribe a proton pump inhibitor because it reduces ulceration.
While acid reducers help with gastric side effects, they do not entirely eliminate them. On the bright side, these same drugs promote healing in persons who already have an ulcer. It can take time to heal a large ulcer, but acid reducers also help with the pain.
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