How to Prevent Gastric Ulcers
Gastroduodenal ulcers are fairly common. In fact, a high rate of recurrence is observed among patients. Therefore, being able to prevent gastric ulcers is important.
A low percentage of patients who suffer from them can manifest complications such as bleeding and perforation, which can be life-threatening. This isn’t a minor issue.
What are gastric ulcers?
Gastric ulcers are defects or sores in the inner lining of the stomach or duodenum (the portion of the small intestine that comes after the stomach). They’re also often called peptic ulcers.
They develop and grow thanks to the acid activity of gastric juices. The disease is associated with two main factors: Helicobacter pylori bacterial infections and the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
Most people who have a gastric ulcer won’t manifest any symptoms or only suffer dyspepsia:
- Pain in the pit of the stomach
- Burning or heartburn
- Food intolerance with belching and abdominal distension
- Nausea and vomiting
Gastric ulcer complications include bleeding, penetration, perforation, and obstruction. Their prevalence has decreased in the last decades, thanks to the identification and treatment of H. pylori.
This article may interest you: 6 Foods You Should Eat if You Have Stomach Ulcers
What factors make gastric ulcers more likely?
One of the determining factors is a gastric infection by Helicobacter pylori. Between 85% and 100% of patients with gastroduodenal ulcers test positive for this bacteria in their stomach or duodenum.
Similarly, the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, indomethacin, diclofenac, piroxicam, and naproxen, along with other drugs, such as cigarettes and alcohol, is a risk factor. The risk progressively increases the longer a person uses them.
Also, experts know that there’s a family predisposition to ulcers. However, this predisposition must be combined with unhealthy habits in order to end in disease. For example, consuming certain foods and beverages that can cause stomach discomfort. Eating a healthy diet that includes lots of fruits, vegetables, and fiber can lower your risk of suffering from one.
In addition, the role of stress in the formation of ulcers is controversial. There’s some evidence that it can contribute to their development, as well as partial healing and increased recurrence.
How to prevent gastric ulcers
We decided to share some recommendations that you can follow to prevent gastric ulcers. These tips are framed in the context of healthy habits and medical therapeutic measures backed by scientific evidence:
- Avoid the use of aspirin whenever possible. In particular, medical professionals should carefully consider prescribing it to patients with a history of gastric ulcers. Similarly, they should always opt for the lowest possible doses, and the patients should always take them with meals. If you need painkillers, you should always opt for acetaminophen.
- For patients with a history of ulcers who must continue taking aspirin or another NSAID, experts recommend a concomitant treatment with a proton pump inhibitor (for example, omeprazole) for as long as they take them.
- Eradicate the H. pylori infection with antibiotics. Multiple antibiotics have been tested and many of them failed to kill the bacteria. The selected treatment regimen must consider the resistance patterns of this bacterium. For this reason, one of the options medical professionals choose is the combination of clarithromycin and amoxicillin for 14 days.
- Avoid cigarettes and limit alcohol intake.
- Change your diet. You should avoid chocolate, fatty foods, fried foods, coffee, citrus fruits, and overly seasoned or spicy foods. Although experts know that they don’t directly cause gastric ulcers, they can worsen them. Thus, they always suggest reducing their consumption.
- Avoid becoming overweight.
You should also read: Herbal Remedies to Fight a Helicobacter Pylori Infection
Preventive measures are important to avoid recurrence
Patients who’ve suffered from gastric ulcers will benefit from most of the prevention measures we recommended in this article. Above all, they should mainly avoid taking NSAIDs and smoking.
In addition, on many occasions, a doctor will evaluate the eradication of H. pylori. This isn’t something that the patient can decide on their own. In fact, the doctor must carry out complementary methods to corroborate the existence of the bacterium, as well as its antibiotic resistance. Once this process has been completed, they’ll establish the necessary protocol.
Although healthy habits, stress reduction, and dietary measures aren’t causal factors, they may improve symptoms or prevent the worsening of dyspepsia. In short, there are no magical ways to prevent gastric ulcers. In fact, this requires commitment and persistence in the patient and the lifestyle changes they should make.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
- Kasper y col., Principios de medicina interna de Harrison, edición número 19, Editorial McGrawHill.
- Nimish B., Peptic ulcer disease: Epidemiology, etiology, and pathogenesis, retrieved on 26 July 2020, Evidence-based Clinical Decision Support- UpToDate. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/peptic-ulcer-disease-epidemiology-etiology-and-pathogenesis?search=%C3%BAlcera%20g%C3%A1strica&source=search_result&selectedTitle=4~150&usage_type=default&display_rank=4
- Zambrano-Plata, Gloria Esperanza, et al. “Prevalencia de los factores de riesgo para cáncer gástrico en universitarios.” Revista Ciencia y Cuidado 11.1 (2014): 16-26.
- Nimish B., Peptic ulcer disease: Clinical manifestations and diagnosis, retrieved on 26 July 2020, Evidence-based Clinical Decision Support- UpToDate. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/peptic-ulcer-disease-clinical-manifestations-and-diagnosis?search=%C3%BAlcera%20g%C3%A1strica&source=search_result&selectedTitle=2~150&usage_type=default&display_rank=2
- Nimish B., Peptic ulcer disease: Treatment and secondary prevention, Evidence-based Clinical Decision Support- UpToDate. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/peptic-ulcer-disease-treatment-and-secondary-prevention?search=%C3%BAlcera%20g%C3%A1strica&source=search_result&selectedTitle=1~150&usage_type=default&display_rank=1
- Fallone C. and cols., The Toronto Consensus for the Treatment of Helicobacter pylori Infection in Adults, Gastroenterology 2016;151:51-69.
- Ganfornina Andrades, Ana. “El estrés y el sistema digestivo.” (2017).
- Morilla Morilla, Ana. “Epidemiología, diagnóstico molecular y estudio de resistencias de Helicobacter pylori.” (2018).
- Ichiyanagui Rodríguez, Carlos Enrique. “Epidemiología de la hemorragia digestiva.” Acta médica peruana 23.3 (2006): 152-155.
- National Institute for health and care excellence (NICE). Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and dyspepsia in adults: investigation and management. Clinical guideline [CG184]Published date: 03 September 2014 Last updated: 18 October 2019.
- NIH Consensus Conference. Helicobacter pylori in peptic ulcer disease. NIH Consensus Development Panel on Helicobacter pylori in Peptic Ulcer Disease. JAMA. 1994;272(1):65-69.
- Li LF, Chan RL, Lu L, et al. Cigarette smoking and gastrointestinal diseases: the causal relationship and underlying molecular mechanisms (review). Int J Mol Med. 2014;34(2):372-380. doi:10.3892/ijmm.2014.1786.
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Tratamiento para las úlceras pépticas (úlceras gástricas), retrieved on 28 July 2020. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/informacion-de-la-salud/enfermedades-digestivas/ulceras-pepticas/tratamiento#paciente
