PEPTIC ULCERS

Ulcers affects millions of people each year. A peptic ulcer more commonly referred as a stomach ulcer is the lesion on the lining of stomach ,small intestine or oesophagus. Ulcers commonly occurs as a result of microbial or chemical abnormalities that in-turns disrupts the mucosal integrity.

Types of peptic ulcers

There are two common types of peptic ulcers

Gastric ulcer: The lesions that form in the lining of stomach are called gastric ulcers.

Duodenal ulcers: when the peptic ulcer develops in the first part of your gastrointestinal tract or duodenum , it is called duodenal ulcer.

Causes of peptic ulcers

Normally malfunctioning of more than one mechanism result in ulcers to develop. The most common factors that results in erosion of stomach or duodenum lining are;

• Helicobacter pylori , a bacteria which causes infection in the stomach .
• Frequent use of aspirin or other NSAIDs inflamed the lining of stomach and intestine and increases the risk of developing ulcers.
• Stress ulcers which occurs as result of trauma, burns, renal failure or radiation therapy.
• Smoking also aggravate peptic ulcers symptoms especially in patients who are infected with H.pylori.

symptoms

The symptoms and intensity of symptoms in peptic ulcers depends upon the location and type of sores. One of the most common symptom of peptic ulcer is the intense pain in the middle of the stomach. Other symptoms include rapid weight loss, nausea, vomiting, heartburn, acid reflux, dark coloured stools, bloating and anorexia.

Diet managementin peptic ulcer

Nutritional care along with proper medication is extremely important in the treatment and prevention of peptic ulcers. The primary goal for diet management is to reduce the pain and the intensity of symptoms and to prevent excessive weight loss.

Following are some dietary recommendations for individuals suffering with peptic ulcers

• Diet rich in fiber is advisable for patients with peptic ulcers. The fiber is believed to neutralise the concentration of bile acids in stomach and regulate bowel movement.
• Regular intake of yogurt is very effective as it contains probiotics which tend to suppress the infections caused by bacteria H.pylori in peptic ulcer patients.
• Persons suffering from peptic ulcers are advised to avoid specific spices such as black pepper and red chillies as it cause superficial erosion on the mucosal lining.
• Protein foods temporarily buffer or neutralise acid secretions and are important for healing of the wounds. Apt for proteins present in eggs and white meat as it takes less time to digest because of the low fat content .Remove skin before cooking and chew thoroughly in order to avoid discomfort caused by larger particles to the lesions.
• Caffeine found in tea and coffee stimulates acid secretion and cause discomfort and increase inflammation . Tea and coffee should be completely avoided.
• Avoid larger meals at bedtime to reduce acid secretion at night time.
• Fruit juices and soft drinks causes inflammation in discomfort in some patients suffering from mouth or oesophageal ulcers and should be taken with caution.
• The use of antioxidants, omega 3 fatty acid are also found to beneficial in peptic ulcers caused by bacterial infections.