Family Doctor 2007 - (Page 121) common conditions ULCERS A pain in the gut Everyone enjoys a great dinner. But for ulcer sufferers, mealtime often has a bitter ending … that familiar stomach burning. Here’s how you can make sure this painful condition doesn’t cramp your eating — or lifestyle. By Marilyn Seiger stomach and smoking. Gastric ulcers can sometimes be caused by stomach cancer. The older you are, the more likely this is. Q. How do I know if I have one? A. A burning pain between your breastbone and belly button is the most common sign. The pain typically occurs after meals or during the night. Other signs are feeling full, bloating, nausea, vomiting, and loss of weight or appetite. Some people with ulcers have no symptoms at all. If you experience any of these symptoms, see your family doctor. Call your doctor immediately if you see bloody vomit and/ or black stools. These are possibly signs of a bleeding ulcer, which can be life-threatening. Q. How are ulcers treated? A. Doctors treat ulcers with medicines that either protect the lining of the stomach and duodenum, or reduce acid production. To address H. pylori, they combine these drugs with antibiotics. Surgery is necessary on rare occasions if the ulcer fails to heal, causes complications or keeps returning. doctors believe they know the real causes, they can treat and even cure ulcers in as little as 2 weeks — and without surgery. While most ulcers are not serious, a few can be life-threatening, so it’s important to see your doctor when you notice any signs. D igest this: Anyone at any age can get an ulcer — men, women or children. About 25 million Americans develop at least one ulcer during their lifetimes. But now that Q. How can I prevent one? A. Wash your hands before meals and after using the bathroom. Also avoid NSAIDs and don’t smoke. Smoking increases your chances of both getting an ulcer and relapsing. Fortunately, you don’t need to limit yourself to a bland diet. If you have an ulcer, you can have the types of foods you like, as long as you tolerate them well. The effects of alcohol and caffeine remain debatable, so it’s best to avoid them. The most important advice is to pay attention to what your body and your doctor tell you. With Help avoid ulcers by: ■ Washing your hands before meals and after using the bathroom to prevent the spread of H. pylori. ■ Not smoking, since smoking increases the risk of getting an ulcer or relapsing, and also slows healing. ■ Avoiding NSAIDs, which can cause ulcers. Always wash your hands. Q. What is an ulcer? A. Peptic ulcers are sores that occur when acid damages the lining of the stomach or duodenum, the first section of the small intestine. The most common types are duodenal ulcers, which usually occur for the first time between the ages of 30 and 50, and gastric (stomach) ulcers, which are more likely to develop in people over age 60. proper care, you can wave goodbye to the pain and suffering from ulcers, and enjoy mealtimes without worry. Marilyn Seiger is a health care writer and public relations Q. What causes ulcers? A. Ever heard someone say, “Calm down or you’ll get an ulcer”? Don’t worry. Stress and spicy foods do not cause ulcers. Most ulcers are caused by bacteria called Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). They can also result from long-term use of painkillers and arthritis medicines, such as aspirin, ibuprofen and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Untreated, an ulcer becomes an enlarging hole in the stomach or duodenal lining. Other contributing causes include excess acid made by the consultant in Somers, N.Y. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION American Academy of Family Physicians http://familydoctor.org/186.xml National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases http://www.niddk.nih.gov American Gastroenterological Association http://www.gastro.org Centers for Disease Control and Prevention http://www.cdc.gov/ulcer/consumer.htm familydoctor 2007 121 http://familydoctor.org/186.xml http://www.niddk.nih.gov http://www.gastro.org http://www.cdc.gov/ulcer/consumer.htm
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