Home Nursing of Patients with Peptic Ulcer

1. Diet care

1. Eat regularly

Patients with peptic ulcers should eat at regular times and in fixed quantities, and eat small but frequent meals. Avoid being too hungry or too full, because when you are hungry, gastric acid secretion increases, which directly stimulates the ulcer surface; while a full meal will cause excessive expansion of the gastric antrum, increase gastric acid secretion, and is not conducive to ulcer healing. Generally, the three meals a day can be divided into five or six meals.

2. Food Choices

Choose nutritious and easily digestible food. For staple food, you can choose pasta, such as steamed bread, noodles, etc. Pasta is alkaline and can neutralize stomach acid.

Eat more fresh vegetables and fruits, such as carrots, pumpkins, bananas, etc. They are rich in vitamins and help repair damaged gastric mucosa.

Avoid eating irritating foods, such as spicy foods (chili peppers, peppers, etc.), overly acidic foods (such as hawthorn, lemon, etc.), rough foods (such as nuts, fried foods, etc.), strong tea, coffee and alcohol, etc. These foods can stimulate gastric acid secretion or directly damage the gastric mucosa.

2. Rest and Activities

1. Rest

Ensure adequate sleep, sleep time should be about 7-8 hours a day. You can take a semi-recumbent position when resting, which helps to reduce abdominal tension and relieve pain.

Avoid overwork, as it will lead to a decrease in the body's resistance and affect the healing of ulcers.

2. Moderate activity

When the condition is stable, you can do moderate exercise, such as walking, Tai Chi, etc. Moderate exercise can promote gastrointestinal motility and enhance digestive function, but avoid strenuous exercise, such as running, jumping, etc., because strenuous exercise will increase abdominal pressure and is not conducive to ulcer healing.

3. Psychological care

1. Emotion Regulation

The occurrence and development of peptic ulcer is closely related to emotions. Patients should maintain an optimistic and cheerful mood and avoid negative emotions such as anxiety, tension and depression. Family members should give patients enough care and support, communicate with patients more often, and understand their psychological state.

2. Stress Relief

Help patients find a way to relieve stress that suits them, such as listening to music, reading, etc. If the patient is under great pressure at work or in life, they can adjust their pace of life appropriately to reduce the source of stress.

IV. Medication and Nursing

1. Take medication as directed by your doctor

Patients with peptic ulcers usually need to use acid suppressants (such as omeprazole, etc.), gastric mucosal protective drugs (such as sucralfate, etc.), etc. Patients should strictly follow the doctor's instructions to take the medicine on time and in the prescribed amount, and should not increase or decrease the dosage or stop taking the medicine on their own.

2. Pay attention to adverse drug reactions

Acid suppressants may cause adverse reactions such as headaches and diarrhea, and gastric mucosal protective drugs may cause constipation, etc. Family members should pay attention to the patient's reaction after taking the medicine, and if any adverse reactions occur, they should inform the doctor in time.

5. Observation of the disease

1. Pain observation

Pay attention to the location, nature, degree and onset time of the patient's pain. If the pain pattern changes, such as aggravation, prolonged duration or pain location shift, it may indicate that the ulcer has a tendency to become malignant and you should seek medical attention in time.

2. Observation of other symptoms

Observe whether the patient has symptoms of gastrointestinal bleeding such as vomiting blood and black stools, and whether there are changes in indigestion symptoms such as abdominal distension and belching. If vomiting blood or black stools occur, seek medical attention immediately.

Through the above home care measures, the recovery of patients with peptic ulcer can be effectively promoted and the quality of life of patients can be improved.

Article author: Huang Yaru

Author unit: Zhangzhou Second Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital