Prevention and self-care of gastric ulcer

Gastric ulcer is a common digestive tract disease that mainly occurs in the inner wall of the stomach. Its typical symptoms include stomach pain, indigestion, nausea, etc., which may affect daily life in severe cases. In order to maintain the health of the stomach, prevent the occurrence of gastric ulcers, and help patients with gastric ulcers to take care of themselves reasonably, we will introduce you to the relevant knowledge of gastric ulcers.

1. Prevention of Gastric Ulcer

1. Healthy diet

Maintaining a regular eating habit is the first step to prevent gastric ulcers. Eating at regular times and avoiding overeating can help regular secretion of gastric juice, thereby reducing the burden on the stomach. In addition, a light diet is also crucial. We should try to choose light and easily digestible foods, such as fresh vegetables, fruits and lean meat. Avoid consuming too greasy, spicy and irritating foods, which may irritate the gastric mucosa and increase the risk of gastric ulcers. At the same time, we should also avoid being too hungry or full, because both of these states may lead to excessive secretion of gastric acid, which in turn damages the gastric mucosa.

2. Quit smoking and limit alcohol consumption

Harmful substances in tobacco and alcohol can damage the gastric mucosa and increase the risk of gastric ulcers. Therefore, quitting smoking and limiting alcohol consumption are important measures to prevent gastric ulcers. For smokers, they should quit smoking as soon as possible to reduce the damage of tobacco to the gastric mucosa. For drinkers, they should limit their drinking to avoid excessive drinking that may cause irritation and damage to the gastric mucosa.

3. Avoid excessive fatigue and mental stress

Long-term intense work, staying up late to work overtime, lack of sleep, etc. may lead to a decrease in the body's immunity, thus laying the hidden dangers for the occurrence of gastric ulcers. In addition, excessive mental stress can also have an adverse effect on the health of the stomach. Negative emotions such as anxiety, depression, and tension can lead to excessive secretion of gastric acid, which in turn damages the gastric mucosa and increases the risk of gastric ulcers. Therefore, we must arrange work and rest reasonably, ensure adequate sleep time, and avoid overwork. At the same time, learning to adjust your mentality, release stress, and maintain a relaxed and happy mood is crucial to preventing gastric ulcers.

4. Actively treat Helicobacter pylori infection

Helicobacter pylori is a bacterium that can survive in the stomach. It is one of the important pathogenic factors of gastric ulcers. This bacterium infects the human body through oral-oral transmission or fecal-oral transmission, which in turn causes gastric inflammation and ulcers. Therefore, once Helicobacter pylori infection is found, we should actively carry out antibacterial treatment. The treatment process needs to follow the doctor's instructions and take antibiotics and other drugs on time to kill Helicobacter pylori. At the same time, regular review is also an indispensable link, which can help us understand the control of infection in a timely manner and ensure the treatment effect.

2. Self-care for gastric ulcer

1. Take medicine as directed by your doctor

Patients with gastric ulcers need to take medication under the guidance of a doctor. Take the medication on time and in the right amount. Do not increase or decrease the dosage or stop taking the medication at will, so as not to affect the treatment effect. At the same time, pay attention to the adverse reactions of the medication. If you experience symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, you should consult a doctor in time. In addition, do not use over-the-counter drugs or buy drugs on your own to avoid aggravating the condition or causing other adverse reactions.

2. Reasonable diet and conditioning

Diet is particularly important for patients with gastric ulcers. Choose soft, easily digestible foods, such as porridge, noodles, steamed eggs, etc. Avoid irritating foods and drinks, such as spicy foods, coffee, strong tea, etc. At the same time, adjust the diet structure and eating time according to your own situation to relieve stomach discomfort. Pay attention to eating small meals frequently to avoid taking in too much food at one time, which will increase the burden on the stomach.

3. Maintain good living habits

Patients with gastric ulcers should maintain a regular lifestyle, avoid staying up late and overwork. Maintain a good attitude and avoid the impact of emotional fluctuations on the stomach. Appropriate exercise, such as walking, jogging, yoga, etc., will help strengthen the body and improve resistance. At the same time, pay attention to personal hygiene to avoid cross infection.

4. Pay attention to changes in the condition

Patients with gastric ulcers should closely monitor changes in their condition. If symptoms such as worsening stomach pain, black stools, and vomiting blood occur, they should seek medical attention in a timely manner. Regular gastroscopy review should be performed to understand changes in the condition so that the treatment plan can be adjusted in a timely manner. At the same time, maintain good doctor-patient communication, promptly report your symptoms and concerns to the doctor, and jointly develop a treatment plan that suits you.

IV. Conclusion

Gastric ulcer is a preventable and curable disease. Through reasonable prevention and health care measures, we can effectively reduce the incidence of gastric ulcer and alleviate the condition. In daily life, we should maintain a healthy lifestyle, arrange a reasonable diet, quit smoking and limit alcohol, avoid excessive fatigue and mental stress. For patients who already have gastric ulcer, they should take medicine as prescribed by the doctor, pay attention to diet, maintain good living habits, and closely observe changes in the condition.

In short, the prevention and self-care of gastric ulcers is a long and continuous process. We should start from now on, pay attention to the health of the stomach, actively prevent the occurrence of gastric ulcers, and work hard to have a healthy stomach.

Author: Bai Ruishuo: Hebei Province First Veterans Hospital