Health and well-being: The root causes of Peptic ulcer other than hunger.
Ever wondered why you will always hear the phrase “eat o! So you don’t develop ulcer” when ever you skip a meal or delay eating? Or you might have probably been told, or at one point, heard when growing up by your parents – particularly your mom yelling “make sure you eat before going to school, I can’t afford you coming up with an ulcer”.
While there may be some truth to the connection between hunger and ulcer, the truth is that hunger does not always cause ulcer. The actual cause of it is far more complex than just a missing meal, it is not one thing that causes it but different things do. So before you reach for that plate of food, let’s ride together on the connection between an empty stomach and an ulcer.
Firstly, I would like us to know explicitly what ulcer is.
Stomach ulcer also known as Peptic ulcer are open sores in the lining of your stomach or the upper part of your small intestine. The ulcer forms when the stomach acids eat away the mucus that protects the lining of your digestive tract or it can also said to be formed when any combination of excess gastric acids, bacteria, drugs or other toxins cause damage and small opening to the mucosa, the tissue that lines the stomach, parts of the small intestine and other organs.
It is important to note that there are different types of ulcer of which the main types are gastric and duodenal ulcers. Gastric ulcers are commonly caused by hyperacidity brought about by bacterial infection or other lifestyle habits like the consumption of alcohol or certain foods and drinks while duodenal ulcers are caused by the hyperacidity and or Helicobacter pylori and the prolonged use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAIDs) including Aspirin, Ibuprofen etc
Here,the Helicobacter pylori causes 50% of Peptic ulcer while NSAIDs constitute the remaining 50%.
Other causes inclide;
Heavy alcohol intake
Smoking
Family History
Psychological stress
Now you may be wondering what does hunger have to do with all of these?
Well, hunger may worsen ulcer symptoms. when your stomach is empty, stomach acid can irritate the stomach lining, causing pain and discomfort.so if you skip meals or delay eating, you may end up aggravating your ulcer symptoms..
However, maintaining healthy nutritional habits at the right time is crucial in managing ulcer symptoms. It is recommended to eat small, frequent meals throughout the day rather than three large meals. This helps to keep your stomach acid levels in check and prevent irritation of the stomach lining.
In conclusion, while hunger may worsen ulcer symptoms, the actual cause of the ulcer is more complex than just missing a meal. It is important to stay informed and talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns .And if anyone tries to guilt trip you into eating more by using the old “eat o!,so you don’t develop ulcer” line, just politely remind them that it’s not that simple.
Written by Oboh Promise
(Obiwannem News Correspondent,Akwa Ibom state)
Date: June 04, 2024
Ubochi Orie Mmiri
Published by Ngozi Odoh (Obinwannem Nsukka Office Secretary)
