Have you been experiencing frequent pains in the
stomach? Does it feel like you have wounds in your
belly?
Experts say if you have been using pain relief
medicines for stomach pains for more than six
months without relief, you may have developed an
ulcer.
Professor of Gastroenterology at the Ege University
School of Medicine, Turkey, Serhat Bor, describes
stomach ulcers as open sores that form on the inner
lining of the stomach, because of increased gastric
acid in the digestive tract.
He notes that when this condition is not detected
early, it could lead to severe damages to the
stomach.
“An ulcer of the stomach occurs when there is
excess acid in the stomach, which eats away the
protective mucus lining, leading to a sore.”
In addition to eating away your stomach lining,
stomach ulcers cause a lot of discomfort and pain
which could reduce one’s quality of life .
To effectively treat ulcers, the professor says that
one must know the factors that trigger the
conditions in the first place.
Ege says unlike before when its causes were not
really known, new researches now show that 20
per cent of all cases of ulcers are caused by
bacteria , Helicobacter Pylori, which live s and grow
s within the mucus layers that protect the tissues
lining the stomach and the small intestines.
“ In most instances, these bacteria do not cause a
problem, but sometimes they could disrupt the
layer of the mucus leading to an inflammation. The
inflammation in turn could cause the acids in the
stomach to rise. It is only a specialist
( gastroloenterlogist) that can diagnose these
cases .It is important that you see a doctor first ,
then you can follow up on his/her advice,” he
states.
If you’ve been swallowing pain reilef medications
frequently, you may want to watch it. Abuse of
analgesics could increase one’s risk of getting
ulcer. Ege states that these over-the-counter
medicines are taken frequently. They could
inflame or irritate the lining of the small intestines
and the stomach leading to sores.
“ If you don’t want to have ulcer, you need to be
very careful with over-the-counter pain medicines.
Remember: No drug is risk-free. It is very important
to discuss the use of over-the-counter drugs with
your doctor.” he adds.
Stress has been linked to aggravating the stomach
lining. The professor notes that stress, which
increases acidic levels in the stomach, could result
in stomach ulcers.
He explains, “There are different health problems
that occur because of stress, acidity being one of
them. If steps are not taken to control the levels of
stress in the body, the acidity could lead to
stomach ulcers. “
The loss of a good night’s sleep could do more than
make you yawn – it may trigger stomach ulcers.
Research published by scientists at Newcastle
University, UK shows that good sleeping habits
result in better production of a protein called TFF2,
which repairs tissue damage in the stomach and
keeps ulcers at bay.
It also confirms that eating late is bad for you
because it suppresses the same protein. The lead
researcher, Dr. Felicity May, said the study backs
up the idea that stressful lifestyles are more likely
to lead to ulcers.
“These findings show the implications for ulcers
for those whose daily routine does not allow them
to get a good night’s sleep. If you don’t get any
sleep it would mean lower levels of the protein.
This would suggest that those who get too little
sleep and often eat late are more at risk of stomach
ulcers.”
You have probably heard ulcer patients reject spicy
or peppery food, diet could heighten or lessen your
chances of hurting your stomach, says consultant
gastroenterologist with the Lagos University
Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, Dr. Funmi Lesi.
To show the importance of diet, Lesi says a study
carried out among 400 medical students who took
coffee and kola nuts during their examinations
showed that 26.3 per cent of them had symptoms
that could lead to ulcers within one month while
another study among 688 residents in Mushin,
Lagos, revealed that 15.5 per cent of them had
stomach pains after their meals at least once in a
month.
The experts note that since all foods consumed by
a person have an effect on the body, one way or the
other, it is absolutely essential for all to ensure
that they eat the right food to avoid stomach ulcer,
especially if they are prone to the problem, suffer
from acidity on a regular basis, or have a family
history of ulcers.
They note that people who are undergoing
treatment for this condition should follow diets
which have a positive effect on the ir stomach
lining by eating the right food forto speed up th ier
recovery process.
Home made remedies for ulcer pain
If you have an ulcer, you need to avoid any foods or
medicines that will make your condition worse.
Following are some of the best natural remedies for
healing and soothing stomach ulcers:
-One of the very best home remedies for ulcers is
eating raw cabbage. Juicing the raw cabbage will
make it easier to take and mixing it with carrots in
the juicer will make it better tasting. Drink half a
cup before each meal and at bed time and make
sure that it is fresh. Your ulcer may be gone in only
a few weeks.
-Eat at least three bananas a day. These fruits
contain an antibacterial substance that inhibits the
growth of ulcer-causing H. pylori. Studies show that
animals fed bananas have a thicker stomach wall
and greater mucus production in the stomach,
which helps build a barrier between digestive acids
and the lining of the stomach. Eating plantains is
also helpful.
-Cayenne pepper is wonderful for healing ulcers as
well as dulling the pain. It is a bit strong and may
take some getting used to at the outset. Start with
one-eighth teaspoon of cayenne pepper in a glass
of water twice a day and work up to a quarter-
teaspoon. You can also take cayenne capsules that
you can get at the health food store. Take three a
day immediately after meals.
-The bark of slippery elm soothes the mucous
membranes that line the stomach and duodenum. It
is often taken in powdered form. Some herbalists
recommend taking a teaspoon of powdered slippery
elm bark added to one cup of warm water three
times a day.
-Colloidal silver helps kill the H. pylori bacteria and
helps heal injured stomach tissues.
-Raw honey soothes and reduces inflammation of
the lining of the stomach and is good for healing as
well.
-Garlic’s antibacterial properties include fighting H.
pylori. Take two small crushed cloves a day.

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