Stomach ulcers are more likely to develop in people over age 60. For almost a century, doctors believed lifestyle factors such as stress and diet caused ulcers. While scientific evidence refutes the old belief that stress and diet cause ulcers, several lifestyle factors continue to be suspected of playing a role. These factors include cigarettes, foods and beverages containing caffeine, alcohol, and physical stress. Smoking Studies show that cigarette smoking increases one's chances of getting an ulcer.
Smoking slows the healing of existing ulcers and also contributes to ulcer recurrence.
Caffeine Coffee, tea, colas, and foods that contain caffeine seem to stimulate acid secretion in the stomach, aggravating the pain of an existing ulcer. However, the amount of acid secretion that occurs after drinking decaffeinated coffee is the same as that produced after drinking regular coffee. Thus, the stimulation of stomach acid cannot be attributed solely to caffeine. Alcohol Research has not found a link between alcohol consumption and peptic ulcers. However, ulcers are more common in people who have cirrhosis of the liver, a disease often linked to heavy alcohol consumption.