PREVENTING PEPTIC ULCER: RISK ASSOCIATED WITH KISSING AND TAKING PAINKILLERS
Peptic ulcers are open sores in the lining of the stomach or duodenum (upper portion of small intestine). Billions of people around the world are affected by these ulcer disease. Although stomach ulcer and duodenal ulcer are both types of peptic ulcer; stomach ulcer is widely known by all. The main symptom of a stomach or duodenal ulcer is upper abdominal pain (which can either be dull, sharp or burning).
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For many years, excess body acid production (a condition known as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome) was believed to be the major cause of ulcer. As a result of this, affected individuals were always advised to avoid starvation, and consume food that won't trigger increase in stomach acid level. But it has been discovered from researches that this syndrome causes less than 1% of all peptic ulcers.
However, the most common causes of peptic ulcer are: infection with the bacterium Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), and regular use of certain pain relievers and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs). For the remaining percentage; it occurs as a result of miscellaneous causes such as lifestyle factors (smoking), severe physiological stress, and genetic factors.
H. pylori infection causes inflammation of the stomach inner layer, producing an ulcer. Contaminated food (especially those that are not cooked well), and water act as a medium for H. pylori. Unfortunately, It may be transmitted from one person to another through close contact such as kissing. Now you know why you should give your life to Christ, kissing anyhow isn't infection-free as you think. 😂😂😂
Persistent use of aspirin as well as certain over-the-counter painkillers and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (such as ibuprofen, etc) can irritate or inflame the lining of the stomach and small intestine. Hence, peptic ulcers are more common in older adults who take this pain medications frequently.
Unfortunately, medical cost for treating peptic ulcers and its complications is quite huge. Moreover, peptic ulcer is a recurrent problem; even healed ulcers can recur unless treatment is directed at preventing its recurrence. For example, in cases of H. pylori, the bacteria must be completely eradicated.
Stay healthy fam!