Women in premenopausal state are relatively immune to peptic ulcer. Gastrin is a local hormone. Excessive production of gastrin is one of the factors that may cause peptic ulcer. Stomach is lined with cells that secrete potent acids and pepsin that digest food. When we are calm and happy, these digestive juices pour in to our stomach at the time of eating.
Food neutralises the acid.
This secretion is also stimulated by vegas nerve. Whenever we feel hungry, see or smell food, or we become anxious or angry, impulses transmitted by this nerve stimulate stomach secretion. It is secreted through out the day. In absence of food this excess secretion may work on stomach and duodenal mucosa and digest it and form peptic ulcer. Peptic ulcer is a chronic condition.