In fact, research has shown that milk, which was a mainstay in the diets of ulcer patients, actually can be a potent stimulant of gastric acid secretion. One of the most popular myths about peptic ulcers is that people who drink alcohol are more likely to get an ulcer. The truth is that even those people who are moderate to heavy users of alcohol do not have an increased chance of developing an ulcer. Although alcohol often was though to be a stimulant of stomach acid secretion, numerous studies have failed to establish such a relationship between acid secretion and concentrated alcoholic drinks. Although stress may aggravate the pain or indigestion associated with an ulcer, scientists have not yet been able to determine whether stress is an important factor in causing ulcers.
Stress is difficult to measure, because people react differently to similar circumstances.
A situation that may cause stress in one person may have no effect on someone else. So far, there is no convincing proof that people who have high pressure jobs or who experience a great deal of tension in their lives are more likely to develop ulcers. However, some ulcer patients may be less able to tolerate large amounts of stress or tension. Regardless of the level of effect that stress may have on a patient's ulcer, it is a good idea for the patient and his or her physician to work together to identify and then try to reduce or remove stressful factors in the patient's life. Physical stress, however, is associated with an increase in ulcer incidence.