Contents:
- Medical Video: Stomach Ulcer | Nucleus Health
- Signs and symptoms of an ulcer that you need to be aware of
- What causes stomach ulcers?
- How to prevent ulcers
- 1. Do you smoke? Stop now
- 3. Reduce weight
- 4. Avoid consuming painkillers without a doctor's supervision
Medical Video: Stomach Ulcer | Nucleus Health
Dyspepsia, or more commonly called an ulcer, is discomfort in the upper abdomen that arises and sinks and can be felt by anyone. Ulcer is experienced by almost 40% of adults every year and 10% of them seek medical help. Although it is not a serious illness, an ulcer can interfere with your daily activities, so you need to know how to prevent an ulcer.
Signs and symptoms of an ulcer that you need to be aware of
Ulcer is not a disease, but rather a syndrome or a collection of symptoms consisting of:
- Discomfort in the upper abdomen
- Fast full
- Bloated sensation
- Nausea
- Vomiting, and
- Burning feeling in the chest
What causes stomach ulcers?
So far there is still no clear mechanism for how a person can suffer from ulcer, but based American Family Physician, there are 2 possibilities that cause ulcers. First, decreased gastrointestinal movement, and second: increased gastric acid. This decrease in gastrointestinal work explains the symptoms of nausea, vomiting, a feeling of rapid satiety, and flatulence. While an increase in stomach acid explains the symptoms of heartburn and burning sensation in the chest.
How to prevent ulcers
To prevent stomach ulcers is not difficult, but requires discipline that is often overlooked. Here are some easy ways to prevent ulcers.
1. Do you smoke? Stop now
Nicotine in cigarettes has the effect of relaxing the muscles, so the muscles of the digestive tract that should maintain so that the stomach contents do not rise upwards become weak. This causes gastric acid reflux, a series of symptoms of digestive disorders characterized by a burning sensation in the chest due to rising stomach acid. Smokers also tend to cough easily, where each time coughing the stomach will be pressed so that it further increases the risk of stomach acid rising.
In addition to cigarettes, alcohol and chocolate also have effects similar to nicotine.
2. Change your diet
Preventing recurrent ulcers can be as simple as changing your daily diet.
- Get used to eating more often with fewer servings. If you usually eat 3 times a day, try changing it to eat 5-6 times a day with fewer servings.
- Avoid eating until it's too full because if the stomach contents are too full, the stomach contents can go up to the throat.
- Reduce consumption of acidic foods or drinks such as spicy foods, oranges, and coffee. Acidic foods or drinks trigger pain in the pit of the stomach.
- Avoid eating before bed because it increases the risk of rising stomach contents.
3. Reduce weight
You who are overweight have a higher risk of experiencing ulcers because they tend to eat large portions, which increases the pressure in the stomach so that the stomach contents easily rise out. Reducing weight 2-5 kg can help you prevent the stomach from coming back.
4. Avoid consuming painkillers without a doctor's supervision
One of the most frequently used anti-pain drugs is non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). This drug has the effect of increasing stomach acid so you become susceptible to heartburn, so the use of NSAIDs should be on the advice of a doctor. Also be careful in drinking herbs, because herbal products often contain NSAIDs so drinking long-term herbs also has the same effect as long-term NSAIDs.
In addition to the four tips above, avoid as much as possible wearing clothes that are too tight and excessive stress in order to prevent ulcers from recurring later.
