My family always says that I am going to provoke myself sore if I don’t control my stress. But is that true? Although people have long believed – and doctors used to claim – that stress can cause stomach ulcers, the relationship between the two is not direct, experts say.
It is true that some patients in critical condition, such as those admitted to intensive care units, intensive carethey can develop stress ulcers, which are sores on the lining of the gastrointestinal tract that develop quickly after extreme physical stress. But “there is simply no data” that confirm that everyday psychological stress can directly cause ulcers, he said Tonya Adamsgastroenterologist Gastro Health in Fairfax, Virginia.
That said, it’s possible that among people who are at high risk of developing ulcers for other reasons, such as overusing specific medications or being infected with a certain type of bacteria, stress could drive them to that point, he said. Neha Mathura gastroenterologist at Houston Methodist Hospital.
A common type of ulcer, peptic ulceris formed when the acid of the stomach erodes the protective lining of the stomach or small intestine, causing sores to appear, explains Carolyn Newberrygastroenterologist New York Presbyterian Hospital.
Another type, known as gastric ulceris formed when sores develop specifically in the lining of the stomach.
Researchers estimate that 5 to 10 percent of the world’s population will develop an ulcer.
According to Mathurmost people with peptic ulcer They do not present symptoms. But some may have upper abdominal pain, stomach upset, heartburn, bloating, or nausea. Some ulcers also bleed and cause dark, tar-like stools or stools tinged with bright red blood.
It is not unreasonable to think that stress can cause ulcerstaking into account that “stress can undoubtedly cause many gastrointestinal diseases,” he stated Mathuramong them the irritable bowel syndromesevere acid reflux and inflammatory bowel disease.
But the role of stress in causing the ulcers It is less clear, with some studies suggesting a connection and others not. In a study of Denmark In 2015 with about 3,400 adults, researchers found that those who reported the highest levels of stress, compared to those who reported the lowest levels, were 2.2 times more likely to develop ulcers over the next 11 to 12 years.
However, the researchers noted that about a third of this excess risk was probably not due to the direct effects of stress, but rather to the way people reacted to stress, perhaps smoking or drinking alcohol excessivelytwo factors that can increase the risk of ulcer.
Furthermore, when researchers analyzed the medical records of nearly 24,000 adults from South Korea who had undergone a procedure called endoscopy to diagnose ulcers, and gave patients a test to assess their stress levels, they found that stress was associated with an increased risk of suffer from various gastrointestinal conditionsbut not ulcers.
Stress may thus contribute to the development of ulcers, but a stressed person may not develop an ulcer without other risk factors, he said. Newberry.
There are several known causes of ulcers. In a study published in 2020, researchers analyzed the medical records of about 1.3 million patients who had visited endoscopy centers in USA. They found that 17 percent of peptic ulcers were caused by infection with bacteria called Helicobacter pylori. When people ingest the bacteria, their immune system releases inflammatory cells that can damage the lining of the gastrointestinal tract, he explained. Mathur.
People who consume regularly steroids or drugs non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (such as ibuprofen or aspirin, which are known by their acronym, NSAIDs)) can also develop ulcers, according to Mathur. Taken continuously, over a long period of time, and especially in high doses, these drugs can damage the gastrointestinal lining.
In a landmark 1987 study, researchers evaluated the gastrointestinal tracts of 63 men and two women who had taken NSAIDs continuously for at least six weeks to treat arthritis. They found that 68 percent of patients showed evidence of gastrointestinal injury and 15 percent had developed ulcers.
According to Adams, cigarette smoking and excessive alcohol consumption can also cause ulcers, as they inflame and damage the gastrointestinal tract. People with Zollinger-Ellison syndromea rare disorder that causes cells in the gastrointestinal tract to release too much acid, also often have ulcers, he added. Adams.
Treatment of ulcers depends on their cause. If it is bacteria – which doctors can determine through stool or breath tests or by performing an endoscopy – they are usually prescribed antibiotics and antacids prescription-only products, Mathur explained. If not, they are usually treated with prescription antacids and patients are given advice on possible lifestyle changes, such as stopping smoking, drinking, or taking any medications. NSAIDs.
Often, to be sure, doctors perform a endoscopy after six or eight weeks to check that the treatment has worked. “We want to go back and make sure things have healed,” Mathur said.
