People who smoke also have trouble getting an ulcer to heal. Smokers are normally advised to quit once a lesion is discovered. Coffee and cola drinkers are also told to reduce their caffeine intake as it stimulates acid secretion. Some anti-inflammatory drugs used to treat fever, headache and arthritis interfere with the body s ability to produce the protective chemical neutralizer and mucus layer, making the stomach lining more susceptible to attack. These drugs include aspirin, ibuprofen and naprosen.
Ulcers usually heal once their use is discontinued.
Interestingly and contrary to popular perception personality type and lifestyle are no longer considered risk factors. These spiral-shaped bacteria survive in the acid bath of the stomach because they are constantly on the move and because of a coating that neutralizes the acid s effect. They then wriggle into the stomach lining, imbed and cause inflammation. It is not known how H.pylori gets in the gastric tract in the first place, but the evidence is that most hosts are infected in childhood by fecal- contaminated food or water. Research has not established why some people with H.pylori develop ulcers and others do not.