Health Tips for March 1

Health Tip: Watch Your Diet if You Have an Ulcer

Watching your diet can help manage a peptic ulcer, simply by avoiding irritants and eating the foods that can help promote healing.

The ADAM Encyclopedia suggests these dietary practices:

• Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.
• Drink only moderate amounts of milk, and include yogurt in your diet.
• Limit coffee to a maximum of three cups per day.
• Avoid large amounts of garlic, peppers or spices if they irritate your stomach.
• Consume olive oil, which may be effective in combating many strains of H. pylori bacteria, which have been shown to be a major cause of peptic ulcers.

Health Tip: NSAIDs Induce Ulcers in Some

Peptic ulcers are sores that form inside the stomach or intestines. Taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for chronic pain can contribute to NSAID-induced ulcers in some people, the American Gastroenterological Association says.

The association mentions these risk factors for NSAID-induced ulcers:

• Being age 60 or older.
• Having a history of internal bleeding or ulcers.
• Taking steroids such as prednisone, or blood thinners such as warfarin.
• Regularly using tobacco or alcohol.
• Having side effects from NSAIDs, such as heartburn or upset stomach.
• Using NSAIDs in greater doses than recommended, or using them long term.
• Taking multiple medications that contain NSAIDs.