Dehydration: Is It A Cause Of Peptic Ulcers?
An estimated one in 10 Americans
develops a peptic ulcer at some time in his or her life according to the
National Institutes of Health (NIH). A peptic ulcer is a sore on the lining of
the esophagus, stomach, or duodenum.
Peptic ulcers have different names
depending on their location in the gastric system: gastric ulcer (for a peptic
ulcer that develops in the stomach), duodenal ulcer (the ulcer that occurs in
the upper part of the small intestine), and esophageal ulcer (an ulcer that is
located in the lower portion of the esophagus, which is usually associated with
gastroesophageal reflux disease).
Disagreement on
the Causes Peptic Ulcers: Bacteria Helicobacter pylori vs. Dehydration and
Stress
There are
different schools of thought on the causes of peptic ulcers.
Rather, some
peptic ulcers have been attributed to the long-term use of certain medications
(i.e., nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen) and
cancerous tumors in the stomach or pancreas.
Many researchers
and doctors believe that most peptic ulcers are caused by bacterial infection
of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), which attacks and weakens the protective
mucous coating of the stomach, esophagus, and duodenum, allowing the gastric
acid (containing hydrochloric acid, HCl, at approximately pH of 1 to 2) to penetrate
the sensitive lining underneath.
Helicobacter pylori |
Both the stomach
acid and H. pylori irritate the lining and cause the ulcer. Scientists have
found that H. pylori can survive in the harsh acidic environment of the stomach
because it secretes enzymes that neutralize the acid, thus permitting this
spiral-shape bacterium to lodge in the "safe" area-the protective
mucous lining-and then burrow through the lining.
The other school
of thought on the triggers or causes of peptic ulcers is dehydration and
stress. Researchers who subscribe to this belief point out that approximately
40 percent of population carry the bacterium H. pylori in the United Kingdom
(UK), yet only one out of five people who are infected with this bacterium
actually develop peptic ulcers.
Helicobacter pylori |
So H. pylori alone
is not the cause of peptic ulcers. Medical practitioners who hold this theory
believe that when people don't drink enough water, the lining of their stomach
and duodenum are unable to generate the thick layer of mucus required to
protect them from the highly acidic gastric juices. The mucus layer is thus
more susceptible to attacks by the bacterium H. pylori.
There are many problems with this
treatment regimen:
·
Antibiotics can
damage the body's natural immunity, killing off the "good" bacteria in
the gut, leading to symptoms like diarrhoea.
·
Commercially
available drugs such as Zantac and Tagamet can reduce stomach acidity, but in
the process, they also have side effects such as dizziness, nausea, headaches,
and diarrhea. Tagamet has been shown to interfere and weaken liver function; it
can also lead to breast enlargement and importance in men.
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Complementary (alternative, natural, or
traditional) medicine—Because medical practitioners view peptic ulcers to be
caused by dehydration, which reduces and thins the stomach's and duodenum's
mucus layer and makes the lining vulnerable to bacterial infection, they
prescribe drinking a large glass of water approximately 30 minutes before each
meal and drink about 2 liters of water each day.
Researchers have long known that stress
boosts acid production in the stomach while suppressing the body's natural
immunity so that it is less able to fight off bacterial infection by H. pylori.
A more holistic approach to preventing
and treating peptic ulcers includes the following:
·
Drink plenty of
water: about 2 liters per day.
·
Drink a large glass
of water 30 minutes before the meal.
·
Avoid stress whenever
possible.
·
Avoid cigarettes:
nicotine has been shown to increase stomach acid.
·
Avoid caffeine:
caffeine also stimulates the stomach to increase stomach-acid production.
For treating ulcers, use a natural
product called mastic gum, the resinous gum of a species of Greek spice tree
belonging to the pistachio family (Pistacia lentiscus, now growing all over the
Mediterranean and Middle Eastern regions).
Mastic gum which has been used by the
people of the Mediterranean for several thousand years to treat
gastrointestinal problems. It is a natural antibiotic which can kill H. pylori
but does not harm the friendly bacteria in the intestines.
To treat gastric ulcers and cankerous
sores, one can also use a natural herb called deglycyrrhizinated liquorice
(DGL), which is made from licorice with the glycyrrhizin removed. In numerous
research studies, this herb has been shown to be effective in treating gastric
ulcers
So, if you are already carrying the
bacterium H. pylori, would you rather be drinking two liters of water daily, or
to suffer the extreme pains of peptic ulcer and then having to undergo
conventional antibiotic treatment and perhaps even get the side effects of
enlarge breasts and impotence (a side effect of Tagamet)?
Basic lifestyle changes can help you
prevent the occurrence of peptic ulcers, for example:
·
Drink about 2 liters
of water daily. Avoid dehydrating your body.
·
Drink a large glass
of water before meal.
·
Drink herbal tea
rather than alcohol, coffee, or caffeinated tea. Caffeine can stimulate
stomach-acid production.
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·
Eat plenty of fruits
and vegetables (especially cabbage and broccoli everyday).
·
Avoid overly spicy food,
which can stimulate acid production in stomach.
·
Avoid taking
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen.
·
Avoid smoking
cigarettes as nicotine can increase acid production in the stomach.
·
Avoid stress and take
measures to relieve stress whenever possible.
·
Again, the most
important lifestyle change is to regularly hydrate your body and drink a large
glass of water before meals.
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source: freedrinkingwater.com
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