(1) Long-term medication adherence is essential
As gastric ulcers are chronic conditions prone to recurrence, complete healing requires consistent, long-term medication.Never abruptly discontinue medication upon slight symptom improvement, nor switch medications capriciously—such as trying one drug for a few days and switching to another when no immediate relief is felt. Typically, a treatment course lasts 4–6 weeks. After pain subsides, consolidation therapy should continue for 1–3 months or longer.
(2) Avoid Mental Stress
Gastric ulcers are a classic psychosomatic disorder, significantly influenced by psychological factors. Mental tension, emotional agitation, or excessive worry negatively stimulate the cerebral cortex, weakening or disrupting the regulatory function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. This leads to autonomic nervous system dysfunction, hindering digestion and ulcer healing.Maintaining a relaxed and cheerful state of mind is crucial for healing gastric ulcers.
(3) Maintain a Regular Lifestyle and Monitor Weather Changes
Gastric ulcer patients should adhere to a consistent routine and avoid excessive fatigue. Overwork not only impairs digestion but also hinders ulcer healing.Ulcer patients must prioritize rest and maintain consistent daily routines. Since ulcer flare-ups correlate with weather changes, patients should adjust clothing and bedding according to seasonal temperatures.(4) Maintain dietary hygiene
Neglecting food hygiene, eating unbalanced meals, irregular eating patterns, excessive consumption of cold beverages or foods, or craving spicy foods, strong tea, coffee, and other irritants can all disrupt gastrointestinal digestion and hinder ulcer healing.Maintaining dietary hygiene—eating three regular meals daily in moderate portions, avoiding both hunger and overindulgence, and chewing food thoroughly—is a beneficial habit that promotes ulcer healing.
(5) Avoid medications harmful to the gastric mucosa
Certain drugs, such as aspirin, dexamethasone, prednisone, and indomethacin, irritate the stomach lining and may worsen gastric ulcers. Their use should be avoided whenever possible.If necessary due to illness, consult your doctor to switch to alternative medications, follow medical advice to combine with supportive drugs, or take them after meals to minimize adverse gastric effects.Recent research indicates that some gastric ulcers result from bacterial infections, most commonly caused by Helicobacter pylori. Such patients require antibiotic therapy.