How you react to stress may be the biggest factor in developing ulcers. An ulcer, sometimes call a gastric ulcer, is an open sore that develops in the lining of the stomach. Symptoms include painful burning and aching after a meal, nausea and vomiting, weight loss, interrupted sleep, and fatigue.
Ulcers are caused by a bacterium called helicobacter pylori but lifestyle choices irritate and prevent ulcers from healing. People who drink a lot of alcohol, smoke, and use a lot of anti-inflammatory drugs are likely candidates to have ulcers, but the worst aggravation is your reaction to stress.
You are likely operating on a tight schedule, eating meals late, enjoying spicy and fatty fast food, drinking too much coffee and drinks made of colas, and taking little time for yourself. You are working hard at your career, and even your after-work hours are filled with family duties, grocery shopping, classes or meetings.
It’s far easier to avoid an ulcer than to heal one, as treatment may take several months and may even require hospitalization. To get tips and information on preventing ulcers go to www.ehow.com/how_8215_prevent-ulcers.HTML. Treatment includes medications and the cessation of tobacco and alcohol use, and curtailing use of beverages such as citrus juices and those which contain caffeine. Untreated, ulcers can cause haemorrhaging, scarring that prevents the passage of food, and perforation, where a hole in the stomach wall is made.
Learning to control emotional stress helps to reduce the production of gastric acids which are present during stressful circumstances and which worsen the ulcer. People whose lives are very stressed are up to three times more likely to develop ulcers, according to the National Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.
But if you can view stress as part of every day life, and put it in perspective so it doesn’t overwhelm you, the chances of its occurrence are less, and the likelihood of developing ulcers are less. Many people lead high-stress lives but don’t develop ulcers and they are the folks who have a good network of friends in whom they can confide their problems or practice meditation, Yoga, Tai Chi, or Pilates. Most people who are able to handle stress participate in regular aerobic exercise, enjoying the good feelings and positive mood gained by a good physical workout. And if you can remove some of the stresses in your life, your will gain better health and peace of mind as well.
You may have to schedule regular workouts into your day as well as “down time” when you read a book, listen to music, or visit with friends. Coupled with a diet that is nutritious and free of stimulants, you will be well on your way to healing ulcers, or to preventing them from occurring at all.
