How to Identify Risk Factors for an Ulcer

An ulcer (or sore) in your digestive tract can be caused and then affected by a large number of factors. Food intake and health factors are the most common risks associated with an ulcer. Certain risk factors may increase your chances of getting an ulcer.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Notebook

Identify Your Risk Factors for an Ulcer

1. Visit your doctor for a routine physical examination. Ask about your risk factors for ulcer development, especially if you are experiencing ulcer symptoms.
2. Review your family history. If you have a family history of ulcers, take steps to prevent them with lifestyle changes and a healthy diet. Often, a family has what is known as a "cluster" of members who are affected by ulcers.
3. Pay attention to ulcer-symptom triggers to determine your personal risk factors. Record ulcer symptoms and what you previously ate or drank to help identify the triggers of your symptoms.
4. Get a screening to identify food allergies. Food allergies are risk factors for an ulcer, and they are often difficult to identify without special tests.
5. Test your blood for H. pylori bacteria. H. pylori are a leading cause of ulcers, and infection can occur because of poor sanitation or drinking unclean water.
6. Ask your doctor about the side effects of any prescribed medications you are currently taking. Some medications can be irritating to the stomach and could cause an ulcer.
7. Assess your stress level. Stress is thought to cause ulcers and then make them worse. Utilize relaxation techniques to limit your risk of stress-related ulcer symptoms.
8. Limit your coffee intake. Coffee is a stomach irritant and increases the acid in your gut.
9. Drink only moderate amounts of alcohol or abstain altogether. Excessive alcohol consumption is one of the leading risk factors for developing an ulcer. Limit consumption to one drink a day to decrease your risk.
10. Stay away from spicy foods. Spicy foods are thought to aggravate an ulcer.
11. Consider limiting your aspirin intake. Aspirin consumption is a risk factor for developing and aggravating an ulcer due to its potentially negative effect on the stomach lining.
12. Know that certain diseases, such as arthritis and digestive disorders, are risk factors for an ulcer.
13. Take precautions when using blood thinning medications such as corticosteroids. They create a risk for ulcers.

Tips & Warnings

• Understand that smoking is harmful to the stomach and intestinal health. If you smoke, discontinue smoking to decrease ulcer irritation and protect against the formation of future ulcers.

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