Lifestyle changes can heal your peptic ulcer

Peptic ulcer disease refers to painful sores or ulcers in the lining of the stomach or first part of the small intestine, called the duodenum. Once you get an ulcer diagnosis and the prescribed treatment, you’ll probably feel some relief, but relying only on medication is not the only solution. ...

According to Everydayhealth. com, here are the most important lifestyle changes you can make to recover from an ulcer:

(1) Stop smoking: If you smoke, you are already at increased risk for getting an ulcer. The data also show that ulcers take longer to heal in smokers and that the ulcer medication you are taking may be less effective;

(2) Beware of NSAIDs: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and many others, are taken for pain and fever, but can cause an ulcer if used too often;

(3) Alcohol and stress: Stop drinking alcohol entirely if you want to completely reduce your risk of additional ulcers and help your body heal. Most ulcers are caused by H. pylori or NSAIDs, but for a small group of patients, stress does appear to have a connection to ulcers. ...