Duodenal ulcers occur for the first time usually between the ages of 30 and 50. 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 str ess.
Smoking slows the healing of existing ulcers and also contributes to ulcer recurrence.
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. However, ulcers are more common in people who have cirrhosis of the liver, a disease often linked to heavy alcohol consumption. Physical stress, however, increases the risk of developing ulcers particularly in the stoma ch. For example, people with injuries such as severe burns and people undergoing major surgery often require rigorous treatment to prevent ulcers and ulcer complications.