Ulcers Can Be a Real Pain
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Of all the things that can keep you up at night, is your stomach one of them? It may be trying to tell you that you have an ulcer.
Hi, I’m Dr. Griffin Rodgers, bringing you Healthy Moments from the NIH. I’m the Director of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
One in ten Americans will develop an ulcer. So how do you know if you have an ulcer? Look for symptoms such as a dull pain in your gut–often in the middle of the night–that comes and goes for a few days or weeks. Weight loss and lack of appetite may also be signs of an ulcer.
Spicy foods and stress don’t cause an ulcer, but they can make it worse. A bacteria called H. Pylori is one common cause and your doctor can treat it effectively with antibiotics.
To lower your risk of getting an ulcer, limit alcohol consumption and don’t smoke. And for more tips, visit our website at NIDDK or majic1023.com. This is Dr. Griffin Rodgers. Join me next week for more “Healthy Moments.”
Page last updated: February 19, 2009
