Can gastric ulcers be fatal? Yes! Acute flare-ups may cause gastric perforation and severe bleeding, which can be life-threatening without prompt medical intervention. Untreated ulcers may also progress to gastric cancer in severe cases.
If you're experiencing stomach discomfort, take this quick test to assess your risk of gastric ulcer!
No stomach pain ≠ healthy stomach
Stomach pain is the most common symptom of gastric ulcers. If you currently feel no pain, it suggests you're temporarily free from ulcer risk—but this isn't a permanent guarantee.
If you have poor lifestyle habits, remain vigilant for gastric ulcers—prolonged overtime work, staying up late, irregular meals, and occasional smoking can trigger excessive digestion of gastric acid and pepsin. This may lead to Helicobacter pylori infection, causing ulceration on the stomach lining.
How can you tell if you have a stomach ulcer?
If you experience any of the following symptoms, you may have a stomach ulcer.
1. Pain in the upper abdomen below the xiphoid process, accompanied by acid reflux;
2. Feeling unusually hungry, with stomach pain when hungry that improves after eating;
3. This episode of stomach pain feels different from previous ones, more pronounced, even waking you up at night, and eating a few crackers brings relief;
4. Black stools.
Diet for Gastric Ulcers:
1. Increase the proportion of coarse fiber in your diet. This can shorten gastric distension time and reduce gastric acid secretion.Dietary fiber is categorized as soluble or insoluble. Soluble fiber includes pectin (found in fruits and other soft tissues), alginate, and guar gum. Insoluble fiber comprises cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin—components of cell walls derived from the outer layers of grains, legume seeds, and plant stems/leaves.
2. Patients with gastric disorders should limit salt intake and adopt a low-salt diet whenever possible.
3. Minimize coffee and tea consumption to prevent increased gastric acid secretion.
4. Maintain regular, measured meals to avoid overeating or binge eating. During acute flare-ups, eat every 2 hours during the day; transition to three meals daily once symptoms stabilize.
5. Avoid or minimize consumption of spicy foods to prevent gastric mucosal damage and inhibit increased secretion of gastric acid and pepsin. 2. Avoid overly acidic foods to prevent damage to the gastric mucosa.
Folk Remedies for Gastric Ulcers
1. Betel Nut Decoction
Ingredients: 10g betel nut, 10g roasted radish seeds, 1 piece tangerine peel, a pinch of white sugar.
Preparation: Crush the betel nut and wash the tangerine peel.Place betel nut, tangerine peel, and radish seeds in a pot with sufficient water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer over low heat for 30 minutes. Strain out solids, add sugar, and stir until dissolved.
Dosage: Drink as a tea substitute.
2. Miao Ling Stomach-Soothing Formula
Ingredients:Chicken-dung vine, sea squirt, Notoginseng, Three-step-jump herb, etc.
Usage: Decoct ingredients in water. Take one dose daily, divided into three servings (150-200ml each).
Description: Miao Ling Stomach-Soothing Formula—warms and unblocks the middle burner, regulates liver qi and benefits the spleen, nourishes and harmonizes the stomach, effectively treating gastric ulcers.