Effective Home Remedies To Cut Stomach Ulcer Pain
Stomach ulcers often cause abdominal pain. This is caused by the irritation or inflammation in the stomach lining. Taking over-the-counter pain reliever medications, especially the class of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, can aggravate the pain further. A few home remedies can help provide effective relief from stomach ulcer pain. These are:
As You Wake And Feel The Sun Shining Into Your Room Your Brain Decides That This Is The Perfect Moment To Start Reminding You Of The 3000 Tasks You Have To Complete Today
You can feel your breathing and heart rate increase, your stomach start churning, all while a light sweat breaks out on your face lending a sheen to your complexion that reflects the morning light. This is not how you planned to start your morning. What if there were worse conditions and symptoms lurking at bay, also related to stress? Let’s find out.
Dr. Owen Wiseman, ND
What Are Horse Ulcers
Horse gastric ulcers are sores that form in the lining of the stomach. Ninety percent of all horses will develop ulcers at some point in their life. Horses have four types of ulcers. Squamous ulcers occur in the upper part of the stomach, close to the esophagus, and are referred to as Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome. Glandular ulcers are found in the lower part of the stomach and are referred to as Equine Glandular Gastric Disease. Pyloric ulcers are found in the opening of the stomach to the small intestines.
But why are ulcers so prevalent in horses?
Compared to other large animals, the horses stomach is on the smaller side. In fact, because of the size of their stomach, experts recommend horses should eat smaller meals more often.
A horses stomach acts like two stomachs in one. The upper portion of the stomach is called the squamous. It does not produce any digestive acids and therefore does not have a protective lining. It is particularly vulnerable to ulcers. The lower portion of the stomach is known as the glandular. It produces digestive acid twenty-four seven and, as a result, has a protective lining.
Squamous ulcers occur during a horses movement when acid splashes up onto the upper portion of the stomach where there is no protective lining and causes irritation. In some cases, it produces an ulcer. Even though movement can result in ulcers developing, they are preventable.
Figure 2 The Equine Stomach with permission from Jean Abernethy
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Drug Classes And Options Available
Prophylactic agents include antacids, H2-receptor blockers, sucralfate, proton pump inhibitors , prostaglandin analogs, and nutrition.
Among recent comparisons of prophylactic agents:
- A more recent randomized controlled trial of proton pump inhibitors versus H2-receptor blockers found no difference but a borderling increase in mortality with PPIs.
Proton pump inhibitors
PPIs are also widely used in SUP. “Data regarding the efficacy and potential adverse effects of these drugs in the prevention of stress ulceration are less extensive than for antacids, H2 blockers, or sucralfate.” In one study looking at omeprazole, patients were given an oral suspension by mouth followed by nasogastric tube and there were no episodes of bleeding or signs of toxicity. Similar results were reproduced in another study.
H2 Receptor antagonists
In contrast, H2-receptor blockers are widely used in SUP. Most trials, but not all, have demonstrated their effectiveness in preventing stress ulcer formation.
Sucralfate
Sucralfate has not been shown to effectively decrease the incidence of stress ulcer formation. This was demonstrated in a large randomized, double-blinded, control trial of 1200 patients and compared sucralfate to the H2-receptor blocker, ranitidine.
Prostaglandin analogues
Antacids
Home Remedies For Stomach Ulcer
Helicobacter pylori
References:
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How Are Ulcers Treated
Treatment for stress ulcers is similar to that for other stomach and duodenal ulcers. Similar to the use of over-the-counter antacids to help treat occasional heartburn, the first goal of treatment is to lower the acidity of your stomach to allow inflamed tissues to begin healing.
One of the first lines of treatment for stress ulcers are drugs such as proton pump inhibitors or histamine blockers designed to reduce the secretion of stomach acid. These drugs work on different chemical pathways, but both can help reduce the elevated amount of acid in your digestive tract that contributes to the development of ulcers.
Though allowing your body to begin healing itself is part of the course of treatment, it is not the entire picture. Since stress ulcers are typically present in patients who are suffering from other serious illnesses, treating the underlying condition that caused your stress ulcers to appear will be necessary for your body to fully heal.
Dont Forget The Psyche
As previously mentioned, but worthy of further discussion, stress affects the gastrointestinal tract. Fear can decrease blood flow to the stomach, while anger causes the capillaries in the stomach to become engorged, more friable, and susceptible to bleeding. Chronic anxiety can increase acid production. The following true account from the 1950s poignantly illustrates the critical role of emotional health and the power of forgiveness.
With her physicians help, she worked through the problems in her marriage, as well as many others. However even with all the treatments, counseling, and her own persistence, she was still no better physically and continued to bleed. Maria, her doctor said, you have worked so hard on your problems. Is there anything else that might be troubling you? I cant think of a single thing. Her doctor was ready to schedule her for surgery when, in the middle of the night, she was urgently called to Marias room. Maria was pacing violently back and forth, hands clenched, hissing repeatedly, I hate her! I hate her!
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Do Stress Ulcers Go Away
The healing of a stomach ulcer is facilitated by the fact that the cells forming the stomach wall have a high turnover rate, one that is increased in those with ulcers. This makes sense because the cells in this environment are exposed to acids, large muscle movements as the food is churned, different spices, foods of various textures, etcetera. This means cells can ‘wear out’ quickly and need to be replaced. The larger danger occurs when the tissue is ulcerated for so long, that the cells begin to mutate, potentially placing you at a higher risk of developing stomach cancer.
However, if the tissue hasn’t reached a state with mutations, then given enough time and with a reduction in stress, the tissue will eventually return to its pre-ulcerated state.
Lifestyle Changes To Treat Stress Ulcers
The mild symptoms of stress ulcers can be treated throughlifestyle changes. These include:
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Baking Soda Combined With Apple Cider Vinegar
The amalgamation of sodium bicarbonate and fermented apple solution may rather sound eccentric for a few. However, these proponents individually bear several health benefits that could help you cure and control your stomach ulcer.
Why Does it Work?
Baking soda, chemically referred to as sodium bicarbonate is a white alkaline powder that has proven its potential in curing several health conditions including stomach ulcers. In ulcers, it is commonly noticed that the stomach is completely filled with stomach acids and the inner lining of the wall is corroded due to acid.
When baking soda comes in contact with the acid, it neutralizes the acid, and as a by-product of this reaction, water is released. This is the first step, as the acid gets converted, the bacteria are then exposed, and apple cider vinegar that is a proven antimicrobial agent acts on the h pylori bacteria, and thereby prevents and cures stomach ulcers. Although there havent been any studies that have concluded on these claims, however, there are several anecdotes that claim the efficacy of this solution.
How Much to Use?
It is ideally recommended that you drink this once a day for at least a week. It is recommended that you check the improvements in health later.
How to Use?
- Honey to taste
Procedure:
Cautions About Natural Remedies For Ulcers
If a person does go on the herbal route, we would stress the need for re-evaluation following treatment. If the infection still persists after botanical agents have been wisely applied in conjunction with any other needed lifestyle measures, judicious use of antibiotics may prove helpful. Indeed, in certain cases the risk factors for stomach cancer may make antibiotics a necessity.
Note that probiotic supplementation such as that in lactobacillus- and bifidobacterium-containing yogurt can improve the antibiotic eradication rates of H. pylori in humans and/or decrease their adverse side effects. Probiotics also decrease mucosal inflammation, thus accelerating healing of the gastric mucosal barrier.3,4
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Factors That Contribute To Horse Ulcers
Several factors contribute to a horse getting ulcers. One of the biggest factors is going a long time in between feedings. This causes stomach acid to build up and increases the likelihood of ulcers. A diet heavy in grains will also contribute to a likelihood of ulcers. Heavy use of NSAIDS also contributes heavily to ulcers. Too much time between meals We discussed how the horses stomach produces acid around the clock and is small. Therefore a horse really should eat several small meals throughout the day .
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Diets heavy with grains Roughage should make up most of the horses diet. If grain or pelletized supplements are fed, they should be accompanied by hay.
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Frequent use of anti-inflammatories .
Although a couple of these factors may seem daunting to overcome, we will discuss ways of working with the horses stomach that will not encourage the development of gastric ulcers.
Does Stress Cause Ulcers
Research shows that theres a relationship between stress and ulcers. But does stress actually cause ulcers? Thats where things get complicated.
From numerous studies, its pretty clear that stress often serves as a backdrop to stomach ulcers, explains Dr. Lee. People diagnosed with this stomach condition often report high levels of stress in their daily lives.
Your bodys natural response to stress also increases stomach acid, a source of ulcers.
But people under stress tend to use more NSAIDs to address aches and pains that develop. Stressors also can prompt more alcohol and tobacco use, factors known to fuel and worsen ulcer development, Dr. Lee notes.
Stress-stoking surgeries and illness have been connected to the development of stomach ulcers, too.
So, it becomes a question of which comes first, stress or the ulcer?
Basically, its a chicken-or-the-egg sort of argument, says Dr. Lee. Theres a lot of conflicting research and debate on the topic. Most, though, view stress as something that does not cause stomach ulcers on its own.
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What Happens During Exposure To Stress
Your body activates the fight or flight response, more formally known as the sympathetic response. Following exposure to stress, this evolutionary mechanism interprets the stimulus as a threat, something that is putting you in danger. This was useful during times of a hunter-gatherer society when large predators hunted humans.
Epinephrine is released into the blood stream from the adrenal glands and causes an array of rapid changes.
Heart rate increases to circulate blood through the body at a quicker pace, delivering oxygen to the many muscles working hard to fight off or flee the beast. The blood vessels constrict, causing the blood pressure to increase while the airways dilate to allow a greater amount of air to enter the lungs. The pupils become larger to allow more light in while the perception of pain is reduced.
While all of these changes sound extreme, they help us in the moment and are balanced by the parasympathetic response that counteracts all of these processes. The real danger is when the stress becomes chronic and the body has difficulty ‘turning off’.
What Is A Stress Ulcer
As the name suggests, a stress ulceris a stress induced ulcer. It emerges as a sore or crater in the upper gastrointestinal tract. This leads to irritation and inflammation in the gastrointestinal lining, which causes pain with a persistent feeling of burning. Stress ulcers also increase the risk of infection. The damage caused by a stress ulcer can range from minor irritation to severe bleeding.
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How Stress Ulcers Form
Some estimate that 75% percent of people admitted to hospital intensive care units who are not receiving preventive care for stress ulcers may develop asymptomatic stress ulcers, but a much lower percentage have clinically significant bleeding.
When a person experiences critical illness or hospitalization, there are physical effects on the body. Stomach acid levels can increase and the lining of the stomachalso called the mucosacan be damaged. It can also impact the duodenum, which is just below the stomach and where food is additionally digested after leaving the stomach. As the mucosal lining deteriorates, stress ulcers begin to form.
Physical stress such as physical trauma or surgery can lead to changes in:
- Stomach acid levels
- Other areas of the digestive tract
How Are Ulcers Diagnosed
Blood tests and even breath tests for H. pylori infections can give your doctor a clue as to what is going on inside you, but to be sure nothing is missed in a diagnosis, a visual inspection is essential. Getting a look inside is typically done during an endoscopy, a procedure where a long, thin, flexible tube with a camera on the end is inserted through your mouth and down your esophagus. This camera allows your doctor to inspect the lining of your stomach and the upper portion of your small intestine. In some cases, the endoscope can be fitted with tools to retrieve tissue samples to check for stomach cancer.
Anytime you experience prolonged gastrointestinal bleeding, you should seek medical attention immediately. Many other gastrointestinal conditions, including stomach and colon cancer, can cause blood to appear in your stool or in vomit. Other serious conditions such as Crohns disease can mimic many of the symptoms of ulcers, which makes getting a firm diagnosis from a gastroenterologist crucial to ensuring you are treating the underlying condition and not merely managing symptoms.
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How Do You Know If You Do Indeed Have An Ulcer
The most common symptom of a gastric ulcer is a gnawing or sharp pain midway between the breastbone and navelthe sensation of acid burning the area of the stomach where the ulcer is located. Confusing matters, ulcers can cause dyspepsia. However, if its an ulcer, youre more likely to experience pain at night and see black, bloody or tar-like stools.
If youre experiencing ulcer-like pain, see a doctor to test for H. pylori. If youre vomiting blood or having black stools, this could indicate an ulcer is bleeding, which is considered a life-threatening emergency and requires an immediate trip to a hospital. At the ER, a doctor will scope your stomach and cauterize the bleeding.