Tips TIP OF THE MONTH Acid-type Pains & Stomach Ulcer An acid-type pain is sharp in nature and usually occurs when one is hungry. It results from irritation of the stomach lining by acid. For some people, the stomach acid may manage to penetrate the stomach lining and this gives rise to an ulcer. An ulcer pain is more severe than an acid pain and would usually occur in the middle of the night. A stomach ulcer (also called a peptic ulcer) is a small erosion (hole) in the gastrointestinal tract. The most common type, duodenal, occurs in the first 12 inches of small intestine beyond the stomach. Ulcers that form in the stomach are called gastric ulcers. An ulcer is not contagious or cancerous. Duodenal ulcers are almost always benign, while stomach ulcers may become malignant. Eating some food normally relieves the pain of the ulcer although some patients, especially those with gastric ulcers may find that food actually makes the pain worse. Taking antacids preparation would help. Symptoms Some stomach ulcers are asymptomatic. The symptoms of a stomach ulcer can include: Abdominal pain just below the ribcage Indigestion Nausea Loss of appetite Vomiting Weight loss Altered blood present in the vomit or in the bowel motions (occasionally) Symptoms of anaemia, such as light-headedness. What can you do? Stop or reduce cigarette smoking Drink less coffee and tea Avoid excessive alcoholic beverages Find healthy ways to deal with stress Avoid foods that can aggravate your symptoms. This includes spicy food, hot drinks and fruit juice as these can set off indigestion or worsen it. Eat regular meals. Do not go without meals for long periods of time, as this will increase the acidity in the stomach, if it is empty. Also avoid eating a heavy meal just before going to bed. What are antacids? Antacids are used to neutralize the excess acid in the stomach, which is responsible for the pain. They come in both liquid and tablet form. Antacids are usually a mixture of magnesium and aluminum salts, calcium carbonate or sodium bicarbonate. Magnesium salts tend to cause diarrhoea. Aluminum salts tend to cause constipation. Therefore they are often combined to cancel these effects. A product with high sodium content will be unsuitable for patients with high blood pressure or heart conditions.   Points to consider Liquid preparations are more effective because they work faster but are less convenient. Tablets that are sucked or chewed have a longer lasting effect and are convenient to carry around. For best results antacids should be taken after meals. Antacids containing sodium bicarbonate should be avoided during pregnancy. Patients on a salt-free diet or those with heart disease or hypertension should not use them.     © 2007 live-life-naturally.com All Rights Reserved