Can ulcer cause sharp pain in chest
In today's fast-paced lifestyle, ulcers are a health problem
that everyone, regardless of age, faces. After the western food culture has
penetrated us with fast foods, ready-made foods, processed packet foods and
artificially colored foods, ulcers have become very normal like fever and
headache.
What is an ulcer?
Ulcers in the esophagus, stomach and small intestine that
help food move from the throat to the stomach are commonly called 'peptic
ulcer'. If there is an ulcer in the stomach it is called 'Gastric ulcer' and if
there is an ulcer in the small intestine it is called 'Duodenal ulcer'.
When the hydrochloric acid and pepsin, which are secreted in
the stomach to digest food, are secreted in excess due to some reasons, the
mucous membrane in the wall of the stomach and small intestine becomes inflamed
and swollen. This is called 'Gastritis'. If this is neglected over time, it can
eventually turn into a peptic ulcer.
Causes of ulcers?
Eating too much salty, sour, spiced food, fried food;
Drinking alcohol, smoking, drinking too much soft drinks, coffee, tea drinks;
Frequent consumption of pain-relieving tablets like steroid tablets, aspirin,
ibuprofen without doctor's advice; Bad eating habits such as eating too late,
eating too hot, and starving yourself can lead to gastric ulcer.
Also, due to unhygienic drinking water, adulterated food,
polluted environment etc., the germ 'Helicobacter pylori' (Helicobacter pylori)
enters the alimentary tract and causes gastric ulcer. Factors like stress,
excitement at work, anger, lack of sleep also trigger gastric ulcer.
People who skip meals every day and those who regularly skip
breakfast are more likely to develop gastric ulcer. This is because when we
feel hungry, hydrochloric acid and the enzyme pepsin start to be secreted. Then
if we don't eat food, this acid starts eating away at the mucous membrane of
the stomach. This can eventually lead to gastric ulcer.
What are the symptoms?
The first symptom of this disease is irritation in the chest area. This is often followed by sour belching. No hunger. A feeling of fullness occurs immediately after eating a small amount of food. Then, pain in the stomach appears. Pain often occurs in the upper abdomen especially in the middle of the night and early morning when the stomach is empty. This pain is caused by acid build-up at the site of the ulcer.
Similarly, the same pain occurs after eating food. The reason is that this kind of pain is caused by food sticking on the ulcer.
Generally, if stomach pain worsens after eating, it is
gastric ulcer. If the pain subsides after eating, it is a duodenal ulcer. Apart
from these, nausea and vomiting occur.
How to find out?
If you notice the symptoms mentioned above, you should
immediately consult a stomach and gastroenterologist and find out if there is
an ulcer in the stomach through an endoscopy. While doing this test, a biopsy
can be taken from the stomach to find out if H. pylori is the cause of the
stomach problem.
What are the implications?
If gastric ulcer persists, it is more likely to become
cancerous. This possibility is more for people above 40 years of age. Then the
ulcer may bleed and vomit blood. If the ulcer is not in the stomach but in the
foregut, intestinal obstruction occurs. In some cases, there is also a chance
of perforation in the intestine.
What is the treatment?
Antacids, PPI (proton pump inhibitor) tablets/injections are
available to treat gastric ulcer. 90% of peptic ulcers can be cured by taking
them properly and adjusting the diet. Pills and medicines do not work for a few
people. Surgery is recommended only for them. Similarly, those with a foregut
obstruction may also require surgery.
What can be done to prevent ulcers?
First of all eat food on time. Chew the food well. Avoid
eating during moods like anxiety, anger, irritability. Get into a happy mood
while eating. People with peptic ulcers should eat smaller meals more often.
Avoid spicy, salty and fried foods as much as possible.
Load up on steamed traditional Indian dishes. Avoid fast
foods and processed foods. Avoid excessive sweets and fermented foods. Among
the greens, saffron and cabbage in the vegetables help in curing gastric ulcer.
Do not starve yourself for any reason