Lagos – A General Physician, Dr Tosin Olowojebutu, on Wednesday advised people with peptic ulcer to refrain from indulging in smoking as well as consumption of alcoholic and caffeinated beverages.
Olowojebutu, who is the Medical Director of Liberty-Life Hospital, Ogudu, Lagos, also advised them to switch from pain relieving drugs and reduce level of stress.
In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, he said that peptic ulcer was a sore in the stomach, oesophagus or duodenum.
The expert, however, urged them to maintain healthy diet filled with fruits and vegetables to provide sufficient vitamins to aid healing of peptic ulcer.
According to him, peptic ulcer occurs when there is over-production of gastric acid in the stomach.
He said that reduction in the quantity of mucous that protects the stomach from acids or infection with an organism could be other causes of peptic ulcer.
“Gastric acid is secreted normally to help the process of digestion.
“So, when there is over-production of this gastric acid in the stomach, it will cause a peptic ulcer.
“Treatment is targeted at reduction in acid production, neutralisation of acid and promotion of healing or protection of stomach lining.
“Maintaining a healthy diet filled with loads of fruits and vegetables, which provides sufficient vitamins will aid the healing and protects the stomach lining,” he said.
[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560″]
Olowojebutu said that in the past, it was thought that spicy food causes peptic ulcer.
“However, there is no evidence to support this, though, it can certainly make the symptoms worse.
“Too much intake of Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), a certain pain relieving drug can also worsen its symptoms.
“People with peptic ulcer usually complain of abdominal pain or even sometimes, chest pain as the pain can be anywhere from the breast bone, giving room for a wide range of descriptions.
“The pain is usually worse at night or when the stomach is empty; complications of peptic ulcers include internal bleeding and leakage of the acid into the abdominal cavity,” he said. (NAN)