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10 signs of an ulcer you should never ignore

<p><strong>What is a stomach ulcer?</strong></p> <p>Peptic ulcers are painful sores that line the stomach – and they affect about millions people per year. Normally the stomach has a protective layer that keeps the acidic juices in the stomach from getting to sensitive tissue and causing an ulcer. However, some people are at risk of developing stomach ulcers, most often due to long-term use of NSAIDs, the class of pain reliever that includes ibuprofen or aspirin, or an infection with a type of bacteria called H. pylori. The good news is that treatment can help many ulcers to heal.</p> <p>Here are the signs of an ulcer you shouldn’t ignore.</p> <p><strong>You have pain specifically in your upper abdomen </strong></p> <p>One of the most common ulcer symptoms is severe pain in the upper abdomen, according to gastroenterology specialist Dr Neil Sengupta. Ulcers can develop anywhere in the upper digestive tract, he says but we often think about those occurring in the stomach or small intestine, where we feel pain.</p> <p>This ulcer pain usually occurs when your stomach is empty and can come and go for as long as several months, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.</p> <p><strong>You feel nauseous </strong></p> <p>One of the other tell-tale ulcer symptoms is feeling nauseous, says Dr Sengupta. Many patients report that having a little food in your stomach can help ulcer symptoms subside.</p> <p><strong>You've had unexplained vomiting </strong></p> <p>From time to time, nausea brought on by ulcers may become so intense that it could actually cause you to vomit. If that happens, stay away from medications like ibuprofen and aspirin. According to Dr Sengupta, these over-the-counter pain medications actually put you at a higher risk of developing ulcers – or make your current ulcers worse.</p> <p><strong>You bleed when you use the toilet </strong></p> <p>Blood coming from the gastrointestinal tract can signal a variety of underlying health issues. Still, Dr Sengupta says when this bleeding is combined with upper abdominal pain, he’s “highly suspicious” that it’s one of the signs of an ulcer. Many patients notice this blood either when vomiting, or when using the bathroom, as their stools may appear black.</p> <p>If you notice this blood, along with nausea and pain in the stomach or chest, Dr Sengupta says doctors will often perform a blood test and an upper endoscopy – where they use a camera to look into the stomach itself – to check if an ulcer is the culprit. Blood in your stool can also be caused by haemorrhoids, or be a symptom of bowel cancer, so it’s a good idea to get checked out by your doctor.</p> <p><strong>You have chest pain</strong></p> <p>Some patients with ulcers describe chest pain, a term called ‘non-cardiac chest pain’, which refers to pain in the area that’s not caused by a heart attack or heart disease, according to the American College of Gastroenterology. The discomfort is commonly caused by a gastrointestinal problem, though it can also stem from stress or anxiety.</p> <p><strong>You're more bloated than usual </strong></p> <p>If you notice your stomach feeling particularly bloated, it may be more serious than a little bit of gas – it could be one of the signs of an ulcer. Of course, bloating can also be caused simply by eating something your body doesn’t agree with, but when combined with these other symptoms, it’s worth checking out.</p> <p><strong>Your appetite went MIA (missing in action) </strong></p> <p>Another less common, but possible, ulcer symptom is weight loss. You may notice your appetite is off, and stomach discomfort makes it hard to eat. This drop in food intake, combined with occasional vomiting, may lead to unexpected weight loss.</p> <p><strong>You're feeling weirdly hungry </strong></p> <p>You’d think that an ulcer would kill your appetite, but some people feel this burning or gnawing sensation in their stomach weirdly as hunger. The pain may briefly stop after you’ve had something to eat.</p> <p><strong>You've had back pain</strong></p> <p>You might associate ulcers with the stomach and small intestine, but believe it or not, some people report that the pain travels into their upper or mid-back. If that happens, it can make your symptoms all the more confusing.</p> <p><strong>You keep burping </strong></p> <p>Belching is a less common symptom of an ulcer, but your doctor might be suspicious if it’s accompanied by the other symptoms on this list. Talk to your doctor if you’ve been burping more than usual; ulcer or not, it can be a disruptive symptom and your doctor will want to figure out the cause.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/healthsmart/10-signs-of-an-ulcer-you-should-never-ignore?pages=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>. </em></p>

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7 ulcer-friendly foods to help soothe your stomach

<p><strong>Honey is one of the best ulcer-friendly foods</strong></p> <p>Modern medicine has finally caught on to a folk remedy that’s been used for centuries. Because honey fights bacteria, hospitals and clinics sometimes apply it to burns and other open wounds. For the same reason that it can help heal a skin ulcer, honey may help thwart H. pylori.</p> <p>Researchers from New Zealand tested honey made from the nectar of the Manuka flower on bacteria from biopsies of gastric ulcers and found that the honey inhibited bacterial growth, making it one of the most effective ulcer-friendly foods. Other researchers have been successful in using other types of honey to halt the growth of H. pylori.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Recommended dose</em></span>: Start by taking a tablespoon of honey in the morning and at night to calm a fiery belly. Spread it on toast or a cracker to keep it in the stomach longer. Because H. pylori is slow growing, be sure to keep up your honey regimen until ulcer symptoms are long gone.</p> <p><strong>Broccoli, brussels sprouts, cauliflower and kale are all ulcer-friendly foods</strong></p> <p>These cruciferous vegetables all contain sulforaphane, a compound that appears to squelch H. pylori. In one study, after patients who tested positive for the bacteria ate a half cup of broccoli sprouts twice daily for seven days, 78 per cent tested negative for the bacteria. Other studies, on mice, have shown that sulforaphane extracts can successfully destroy the bacteria in the mice’s digestive tracts.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Recommended dose</em></span>: Consider eating a cup a day of broccoli, raw or cooked, or broccoli sprouts. Not only will the broccoli begin to battle your ulcer, but it will also provide more than a day’s worth of vitamin C and a generous amount of fibre: two more allies in the fight against ulcers.</p> <p><strong>Cabbage</strong></p> <p>Scientists think that it may be the amino acid glutamine that gives cabbage its anti-ulcer punch. Glutamine helps to fortify the mucosal lining of the gut and to improve blood flow to the stomach, meaning it not only helps prevent ulcers but can also speed healing of existing sores.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Recommended dose</em></span>: Eat two cups of raw cabbage daily. Add it to salads, coleslaw, and wraps. You can also drink raw cabbage juice, sold in health food stores. Drink a quart a day for three weeks if – you can stand it!</p> <p><strong>Yoghurt with active cultures</strong></p> <p>Foods like yoghurt and kefir (fermented milk) contain “good bacteria” that can inhibit H. pylori and may help ulcers heal faster. In one large study in Sweden, people who ate fermented milk products like yoghurt at least three times a week were much less likely to have ulcers than people who ate yoghurt less often.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Recommended dose</em></span>: Have a cup of yoghurt, kefir, or another fermented milk product with live, active cultures at least once a day. Avoid sweetened varieties, which are less effective</p> <p><strong>Plantain is among the best ulcer-friendly foods</strong></p> <p>This large, green, banana-like fruit is starchy and sticky in texture. It helps to soothe inflamed and irritated mucous membranes and has some antibacterial properties to boot. Studies on rats with ulcers caused by daily aspirin use have shown that unripe green plantain can both prevent the formation of ulcers and help to heal them. Plantain works its magic best when it’s unripe.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Recommended dose</em></span>: Until human studies determine the amount that might help, use the fruit as they do in Latin America, where green plantain is eaten boiled like a potato. Avoid fried plantain, as the fat can aggravate ulcers.</p> <p><strong>Fruits, vegetables, whole grains and other high-fibre foods </strong></p> <p>Add another star to fibre’s crown. Besides keeping you regular, fibre has a role in keeping ulcers at bay, especially those in the duodenum. A number of studies have found that people who eat high-fibre diets have a lower risk of developing ulcers. A study in the American Journal of Epidemiology looked at the diets of 47,806 men and found that those who ate 11 grams or more of fibre from vegetables had a 32 per cent lower risk of developing duodenal ulcers.</p> <p>Scientists aren’t sure how fibre helps, but it may be thanks to the fact that it slows the emptying of the stomach and thus reduces the amount of time the stomach lining and duodenum are exposed to digestive acids. Soluble fibre, the kind found in oats, beans, barley, peas, and pears, also forms a slippery goo in the stomach that acts as a barrier between the stomach lining and corrosive stomach acids.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Recommended dose</em></span>: General health guidelines suggest getting 25 to 35 grams of fibre a day.</p> <p><strong>Slippery elm tea</strong></p> <p>Slippery elm coats the stomach just as it does a sore throat, bringing some relief, albeit short-lived, from ulcer pain.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Recommended dose</em></span>: Several cups throughout the day.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/healthsmart/7-ulcer-friendly-foods-to-help-soothe-your-stomach" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>.  </em></p>

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