bacteria

January 17, 2011

Pain in Stomach After Eating

If you experience pain in your stomach after eating, you may have an ulcer. If your pain is intense, or has been going on for quite some time, you should seek the advice of a physician.

Generally, stomach ulcers are caused by bacteria called H. Pylori, not by stress or spicy foods as was once thought. H. Pylori is a corkscrew shaped bacteria that is fairly common among all people, regardless of age, sex or health condition. What causes it to run rampant in some people and not others is still a mystery, but if your ulcer is blamed on H. Pylori, you’ll likely be prescribed a series of medications and tests to make sure the bacteria is eradicated.

Regardless of the cause of your stomach pain after you eat, there are a number of things you can do to help prevent or relieve it.

  • First, modify how much food you take in at once. By limiting your intake, but increasing the number of times you eat during the day, you can help your stomach to better deal with the digestion process, and reduce stress on your body.
  • Second, make sure you’re not eating foods that will aggravate a stomach ulcer or other digestive disorder. Things like fatty foods, dairy products, garlic, acidic fruits like citrus, caffeine and onions should be avoided. Breads and products that contain whole grains, fish and lean meats and fruit containing antioxidants (like the ‘superfruit’ blueberries) should be targeted if you suspect an ulcer.
  • Third, although you may be trying to target certain foods and avoid others, a balanced diet is crucial to maintaining a healthy body. Everything in moderation is vital. Make sure your body gets the nutrients it needs to heal by providing it with essential vitamins found in all types of food.
  • Fourth, exercise regularly to keep oxygen rich blood flowing throughout your body. This will help your body heal, and prevent future injuries and traumas like ulcers.
  • Fifth, don’t take pain killers if you’re experiencing pain in your stomach after you eat. Although pain killers may be your first instinct when you’re having pain, just don’t do it. Pain killers can often exacerbate an ulcer and take your situation from bad to worse. Even over the counter pain medications have been shown to cause ulcers, so if you already have one, don’t aggravate it by taking additional pain medications.
  • Sixth, if you’re a smoker, quit. Smoking has been scientifically shown to cause a host of health problems, including death, so quitting will help your case. It actually increases acid production in your stomach, which can irritate an existing ulcer. So just quit it.
  • Lastly, make sure you’re keeping your stress levels down to a healthy amount. Too much stress causes the body to create excess stomach acid, which irritates the esophagus and stomach lining, making it difficult for an ulcer to heal. So, meditate, take deep breaths, listen to music, take up a hobby, or anything else that helps you stay calm in a stressful situation.

Pain in the stomach after eating can be a debilitating symptom of a potentially serious problem. For more information on this disorder and how you can help your body heal from it, visit refluxremedy.com today.

Filed under Stomach Acid, Stomach Pain by

Permalink Print Comment

December 28, 2010

Natural Ulcer Cures

Ulcers happen when the lining of the stomach is damaged. Natural ulcer cures involve eliminating stomach irritants to allow the body to heal itself. However, if your ulcer is caused by the bacteria H. pylori, you will probably not be able to completely cure your ulcer naturally.

H. pylori is a fairly common bacteria spread by close contact and consumption of contaminated water and food. It grows in the stomach lining, which irritates it and makes it vulnerable to harmful acids meant to break down foods. Generally, it can only be resolved with antibiotics. However, using natural techniques in addition to antibiotics can help the healing process along.

If your ulcer isn’t caused by H. pylori there are a number of things you can do to help relieve pain and allow the body to heal. First, watch what you eat. Although a bland diet is no longer generally necessary when you suffer from an ulcer, eating smart can help. Fatty and spicy foods increase the production of stomach acids, which can be detrimental to the healing process. Additionally, highly acidic foods like citrus fruits and juices as well as tomatoes can have a harmful effect on a healing ulcer. Instead, go for whole grain breads, lean and lightly seasoned meats, low fat milks and dairy products, and other such easily digestible foods.

Also, watch how much you eat. Large meals can cause pressure build up in your stomach and cause pain and heartburn indigestion. That’s counterproductive when trying to let an ulcer heal. However, eating less doesn’t necessarily mean eating less. Just eat smaller meals more often, rather than a few large meals every day. That way your stomach receives tidbits of nutrition throughout the day, keeping your digestive system from getting overwhelmed.

Another thing that can majorly exacerbate an ulcer is pain killers. While ulcers can be terribly painful, and it is very tempting to reach for some Aleve, or even a prescription medication, resist! Pain killers can often cause ulcers and make the healing process virtually impossible. NSAIDs – or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs – like Ibuprofen restrict the body’s production of enzymes that protect the stomach lining from harmful acids. Without those enzymes damage occurs, resulting in ulcers and even worsening existing ulcers. The bottom line is: Resist pain killers when you have an ulcer. If you get a headache, try a massage or a dark room. If you have joint pain, try a hot or cold compress.

Stress is another element that can keep your ulcer from healing. Stress signals the body to produce extra stomach acid, which can stall the healing process. To prevent this, relax! Get a massage, add exercise to your routine, take a deep breath, anything that will help you stay cool, calm and collected. Stress is being blamed for a number of health problems ranging from heart diseases to gastrointestinal problems, so reducing stress in your life can help you have a healthier mind and body in addition to helping your ulcer heal.

Finding natural ulcer cures just takes a bit of patience and common sense. It doesn’t take much too simply give your body the time and space it needs to heal.

For more information on natural ulcer cures, visit www.refluxremedy.com.

Filed under Ulcers by

Permalink Print 1 Comment

Privacy Policy - Terms of Service

©2016 Barton Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Email: support@bartonpublishing.com
Toll Free: 1.888.356.1146 Outside US: +1.617.603.0085
Phone Support is available between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM EST
PO Box 50, Brandon, SD 57005 USA