What Are Peptic Ulcers?

Peptic ulcers are sores that develop in the lining of the stomach, esophagus, and small intestine as a result of erosion from stomach acids. Peptic ulcers are a fairly common health problem.

There are three types of peptic ulcers:

• gastric ulcers – ulcers that develop inside the stomach
• esophageal ulcers – ulcers that develop inside the esophagus
• duodenal ulcers – ulcers that develop in the upper section of the small intestines, called the duodenum

Part 2 of 8: Causes

Causes of Peptic Ulcers

Different factors can cause the lining of the stomach, the esophagus, and the small intestine to break down. These include:

• Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) – a bacteria that can cause a stomach infection and inflammation
• frequent use of aspirin, ibuprofen, and other anti-inflammatory drugs (risk associated with this behavior is increased in women and people over the age of 60)
• smoking
• drinking too much alcohol
• radiation therapy
• stomach cancer

Part 3 of 8: Symptoms

Symptoms of Peptic Ulcers

The most common symptom of a peptic ulcer is burning abdominal pain that extends from the navel to the chest, which can range from mild to severe. In some cases, the pain may wake you up at night. Small peptic ulcers may not produce any symptoms.

Other common signs of a peptic ulcer include:

• changes in appetite
• nausea
• bloody or dark stools
• unexplained weight loss
• vomiting
• chest pain

What is the meaning of numerical values?
Blood pressure is indicated by two numerical values, separated by a diagonal line, such as 80/120. You may also hear someone tell you that their blood pressure is 120 by 80, so what do these numbers mean?

The first numerical value indicates the volume of systolic blood pressure, which is the blood pressure that forms at the peak, when your heart pushes blood into the blood vessels. The second numerical value is an indication of the size of the diastolic blood pressure. It is blood pressure when your heart is filled with blood again, during the interval between two pulses.

Normal blood pressure values ​​are 80/120 or less, and high blood pressure is indicated if you have these values ​​at 90/140 or more. But if the numerical values ​​are in the field between 80/120 to 90/140, then the condition diagnosed here is “pre-high blood pressure”, which means that if you do not take the necessary steps to prevent, then your blood pressure is possible It turns into high blood pressure.

When should blood pressure be measured?
It is recommended to start measuring blood pressure after the age of 18, once every two years. At a greater rate, if you have suffered from high blood pressure levels in the past.

What are the problems caused by high blood pressure?
Pre-hypertensive and high blood pressure conditions can cause damage to the blood vessels. As a result, the risk and risk of stroke, kidney failure, heart disease and heart attack increases.

Required lifestyle changes to avoid blood pressure:

Do not smoke cigarettes or any other product that contains tobacco.
Reduce your weight if you are obese.
Exercise regularly.
Maintain a healthy and balanced diet, including a variety of vegetables, fruits, and low-fat food.
Reduce salt, alcohol and caffeine intake.
How does tobacco affect blood pressure?
The nicotine in cigarettes, as well as in other products that contain tobacco, causes blood vessels to contract and increase the speed of your heartbeat, which temporarily raises your blood pressure. If you decide to quit smoking, or stop consuming other tobacco products, with this step you can reduce your risk significantly of heart disease and heart attacks, as well as lower blood pressure values.

What about reducing weight and exercising?
If you are overweight, weight reduction usually helps lower blood pressure values. Regular exercise is an excellent way to lose weight. Moreover, physical activity has been shown to contribute significantly and directly to lowering blood pressure values.

Sodium, is it in the safe domain?
Not all people can feel the effect of sodium, but it can contribute a lot to increasing blood pressure in most people. Because of this, the recommendation in the United States is that “people with normal and normal blood pressure should not exceed 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day.” The recommendation also applies to people of African descent and the elderly – who suffer from high blood pressure – to reduce sodium intake to 1500 mg per day. Also, your doctor may ask you to reduce your sodium intake further.

Do not add salt to the food you eat. Check the list of compounds on food products to know the sodium content they contain. While there are many foods that are clearly and well known, that they contain ample amounts of sodium – such as the various pastimes – we may not be aware of the amounts of sodium found in other products, such as bread, and in various types of canned vegetables, soups and cheeses. Here, it should be noted that some drugs also contain sodium.

Alcohol and blood pressure?
In some people, alcohol causes high blood pressure. But it may be different for others. If you are used to drinking alcoholic beverages, you should reduce the amount for two cups of alcoholic drinks per day for males, and a maximum of one cup of alcoholic drinks per woman per day.

The term “one cup” is defined as representing one can of beer, one cup of wine (150 ml), or a small cup of wine. If your blood pressure tends to rise when you drink alcoholic beverages, it is recommended that you absolutely refrain from drinking alcohol.

Does stress and psychological stress affect blood pressure?
There is an effect of stress and stress on your blood pressure values. In order to assist you in treating the side effects caused by stress and psychological stress, we tell you that it is desirable that you try to use relaxation methods or vital reaction. In order to get the maximum benefit from relaxation exercises, it is recommended to do them once a day, at least.