Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsStress ManagementLifestyle ChangesHelpful TipsFrequently Asked QuestionsNext in Peptic Ulcer Disease GuideWhat Is Peptic Ulcer Disease?
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Stress Management
Lifestyle Changes
Helpful Tips
Frequently Asked Questions
Next in Peptic Ulcer Disease Guide
If you have been diagnosed with a peptic ulcer orpeptic ulcer disease, your healthcare provider will provide medications to reduce stomach acid. Lifestyle is also an important part of your treatment plan. Reducing stress levels, eating healthy, and avoiding alcohol and certain medications, for example, can help to relieve symptoms and help ulcers to heal.
Verywell / Alex Dos Diaz
This may be because people who are under stress may turn to unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, or eating an unhealthy diet, all of which also increase the risk of peptic ulcers. These behaviors can also worsen symptoms in those who already have this diagnosis.
Learning to manage stress in healthier ways can help to keep uncomfortable peptic ulcer disease symptoms at bay. Mind-body exercises, such as deep breathing, meditation, yoga, tai chi, and massage are tools that can help to reduce your stress. Some people also find that working one-on-one with a therapist can help them learn better coping mechanisms to alleviate anxiety, worry, and negative thinking.
Meditation
Meditation is a good way to reduce your stress.Headspace.comoffers free guided meditations to help calm the mind and body. In addition to the website, there is a free app and a paid version with more advanced options.
Breathing
The websiteCalm.comoffers a guided breathing exercise featuring an expanding circle. As it expands, inhale, and as it contracts, exhale. There are also several free apps that can help you practice taking calming breaths. Search the app store to find the one that suits you best.
Therapy
If carving out time for an in-person therapy appointment isn’t possible, online therapy can help. Reputable companies providing this service includeTalkspace.comandBetterhelp.com.
Exercise
Relax
If your go-to stress relievers trend toward unhealthy, find alternative ways to unwind after a hard day. Take a long bath or shower, go for a walk around the block, listen to music, engage in hobbies, or read a book.
Connect
Spending quality time with people who we enjoy can ease our daily burdens. Research shows sharing experiences with a best friend can measurably decrease levels of the stress hormone cortisol.
One particular study found the presence of a loved one can reduce situational stress through emotional load sharing—an effect investigators found is even stronger when people hold hands.
In addition to reducing stress, healthcare providers say making other lifestyle changes can help reduce symptoms of peptic ulcer disease. Many people with ulcers feel better when they avoid spicy, fatty, and acidic foods. In fact, prior to the introduction of medications that treat ulcers, a bland diet was the recommended course of treatment.
Some people with peptic ulcers find common trigger foods can cause stomach irritation, excessive acid production, andheartburn. Others may not experience symptoms related to specific foods but may react after eating at certain times of the day or eating too much in one sitting.
Lifestyle choices can also irritate an ulcer and lead to uncomfortable symptoms.
Eat More Frequent, Smaller Meals
Eating six small meals instead of three big ones keeps your stomach from getting too full and reduces gastric pressure. Be sure to eat slowly as well.
Foods and Drinks to Avoid With an Ulcer (and What to Have Instead)
Don’t Eat For Two Hours Before Bed
If you take naps, try sleeping in a chair. Lying down with a full stomach can cause stomach contents to press harder against the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), increasing the chances of reflux. Gravity will help keep food and stomach acid in the stomach where it belongs.
How to Relieve Stomach Ulcer Pain at Night
Avoid Acid-Increasing Foods
Several foods and beverages may cause symptoms. Get to know thefoods most likely to cause problemsfor those with ulcers. If you aren’t sure what foods trigger your symptoms, try keeping a food diary for a week.
Avoid Alcohol
Alcohol increases the production of stomach acid, which will irritate an ulcer and worsen symptoms. Alcohol also relaxes the LES, allowing stomach contents to reflux back up into the esophagus.
Don’t Smoke
Smoking stimulates the production of stomach acid. It can also delay the healing of an ulcer and has been linked to a recurrence of ulcers.
Use Caution With Over-the-Counter Pain Relievers
Certain medications can irritate the stomach lining, including aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). They can contribute to the development of ulcers in people withH. pylori.
In addition, taking NSAIDs in combination with some medications may compound the problem. These drugs include:
If you need to take these medicines, your healthcare provider may prescribe another medicine to protect your stomach.
These tips can help:
Frequently Asked QuestionsIt’s recommended that you drink no alcohol at all. In studies, having even one alcoholic drink per day seemed to increase the risk of gastrointestinalbleeding, which can lead to serious complications and require hospitalization for further management.No. Whilecoffee might increase stomach acid, research shows no relationship between drinking coffee and upper gastrointestinal disorders including peptic ulcer disease.In fact, the ingredients in coffee may actually protect the stomach from peptic ulcers.Antacidscan help you manage symptoms such as heartburn, but they won’t cure your ulcers.And taking antacids frequently can interfere with the absorption of other medications. If you’re taking other prescription drugs, talk with your healthcare provider about whether using antacids is a good idea.
It’s recommended that you drink no alcohol at all. In studies, having even one alcoholic drink per day seemed to increase the risk of gastrointestinalbleeding, which can lead to serious complications and require hospitalization for further management.
No. Whilecoffee might increase stomach acid, research shows no relationship between drinking coffee and upper gastrointestinal disorders including peptic ulcer disease.In fact, the ingredients in coffee may actually protect the stomach from peptic ulcers.
Antacidscan help you manage symptoms such as heartburn, but they won’t cure your ulcers.And taking antacids frequently can interfere with the absorption of other medications. If you’re taking other prescription drugs, talk with your healthcare provider about whether using antacids is a good idea.
16 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Yegen BC.Lifestyle and peptic ulcer disease.Curr Pharm Des.2018;24(18):2034-2040. doi:10.2174/1381612824666180510092303Deding U, Ejlskov L, Grabas MP, Nielsen BJ, Torp-pedersen C, Bøggild H.Perceived stress as a risk factor for peptic ulcers: a register-based cohort study.BMC Gastroenterol.2016;16(1):140. doi:10.1186/s12876-016-0554-9Levenstein S, Rosenstock S, Jacobsen RK, Jorgensen T.Psychological stress increases risk for peptic ulcer, regardless of Helicobacter pylori infection or use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol.2015;13(3):498-506.e1. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2014.07.052Anxiety and Depression Association of America.Physical activity reduces stress.Adams RE, Santo JB, Bukowski WM.The presence of a best friend buffers the effects of negative experiences.Dev Psychol. 2011;47(6):1786-91. doi:10.1037/a0025401Lougheed JP, Koval P, Hollenstein T.Sharing the burden: The interpersonal regulation of emotional arousal in mother-daughter dyads.Emotion. 2016;16(1):83-93. doi:10.1037/emo0000105Marotta RB, Floch MH.Diet and nutrition in ulcer disease.Med Clin North Am.1991;75(4):967-79. doi:10.1016/s0025-7125(16)30424-2Yamamichi N, Mochizuki S, Asada-hirayama I, et al.Lifestyle factors affecting gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms: a cross-sectional study of healthy 19864 adults using FSSG scores.BMC Med. 2012;10:45. doi:10.1186/1741-7015-10-45Vomero ND, Colpo E.Nutritional care in peptic ulcer.Arq Bras Cir Dig.2014;27(4):298-302. doi:10.1590/S0102-67202014000400017Goodwin RD, Keyes KM, Stein MB, Talley NJ.Peptic ulcer and mental disorders among adults in the community: the role of nicotine and alcohol use disorders.Psychosom Med. 2009;71(4):463-8. doi:10.1097/PSY.0b013e3181988137Li LF, Chan RL, Lu L, et al.Cigarette smoking and gastrointestinal diseases: the causal relationship and underlying molecular mechanisms (review).Int J Mol Med.2014;34(2):372-80. doi:10.3892/ijmm.2014.1786Musumba C, Pritchard DM, Pirmohamed M.Review article: cellular and molecular mechanisms of NSAID-induced peptic ulcers.Aliment Pharmacol Ther.2009;30(6):517-31. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2036.2009.04086.xNational Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment for peptic ulcers (stomach ulcers).Strate LL, Singh P, Boylan MR, Piawah S, Cao Y, Chan AT.A prospective study of alcohol consumption and smoking and the risk of major gastrointestinal bleeding in men. Green J, ed.PLoS ONE. 2016;11(11):e0165278.Shimamoto T, Yamamichi N, Kodashima S, et al. No association of coffee consumption with gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer, reflux esophagitis, and non-erosive reflux disease: a cross-sectional study of 8,013 healthy subjects in japan.Guan X-Y, ed. PLoS ONE. 2013;8(6):e65996.Cleveland Clinic. Peptic ulcer disease.
16 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Yegen BC.Lifestyle and peptic ulcer disease.Curr Pharm Des.2018;24(18):2034-2040. doi:10.2174/1381612824666180510092303Deding U, Ejlskov L, Grabas MP, Nielsen BJ, Torp-pedersen C, Bøggild H.Perceived stress as a risk factor for peptic ulcers: a register-based cohort study.BMC Gastroenterol.2016;16(1):140. doi:10.1186/s12876-016-0554-9Levenstein S, Rosenstock S, Jacobsen RK, Jorgensen T.Psychological stress increases risk for peptic ulcer, regardless of Helicobacter pylori infection or use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol.2015;13(3):498-506.e1. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2014.07.052Anxiety and Depression Association of America.Physical activity reduces stress.Adams RE, Santo JB, Bukowski WM.The presence of a best friend buffers the effects of negative experiences.Dev Psychol. 2011;47(6):1786-91. doi:10.1037/a0025401Lougheed JP, Koval P, Hollenstein T.Sharing the burden: The interpersonal regulation of emotional arousal in mother-daughter dyads.Emotion. 2016;16(1):83-93. doi:10.1037/emo0000105Marotta RB, Floch MH.Diet and nutrition in ulcer disease.Med Clin North Am.1991;75(4):967-79. doi:10.1016/s0025-7125(16)30424-2Yamamichi N, Mochizuki S, Asada-hirayama I, et al.Lifestyle factors affecting gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms: a cross-sectional study of healthy 19864 adults using FSSG scores.BMC Med. 2012;10:45. doi:10.1186/1741-7015-10-45Vomero ND, Colpo E.Nutritional care in peptic ulcer.Arq Bras Cir Dig.2014;27(4):298-302. doi:10.1590/S0102-67202014000400017Goodwin RD, Keyes KM, Stein MB, Talley NJ.Peptic ulcer and mental disorders among adults in the community: the role of nicotine and alcohol use disorders.Psychosom Med. 2009;71(4):463-8. doi:10.1097/PSY.0b013e3181988137Li LF, Chan RL, Lu L, et al.Cigarette smoking and gastrointestinal diseases: the causal relationship and underlying molecular mechanisms (review).Int J Mol Med.2014;34(2):372-80. doi:10.3892/ijmm.2014.1786Musumba C, Pritchard DM, Pirmohamed M.Review article: cellular and molecular mechanisms of NSAID-induced peptic ulcers.Aliment Pharmacol Ther.2009;30(6):517-31. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2036.2009.04086.xNational Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment for peptic ulcers (stomach ulcers).Strate LL, Singh P, Boylan MR, Piawah S, Cao Y, Chan AT.A prospective study of alcohol consumption and smoking and the risk of major gastrointestinal bleeding in men. Green J, ed.PLoS ONE. 2016;11(11):e0165278.Shimamoto T, Yamamichi N, Kodashima S, et al. No association of coffee consumption with gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer, reflux esophagitis, and non-erosive reflux disease: a cross-sectional study of 8,013 healthy subjects in japan.Guan X-Y, ed. PLoS ONE. 2013;8(6):e65996.Cleveland Clinic. Peptic ulcer disease.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Yegen BC.Lifestyle and peptic ulcer disease.Curr Pharm Des.2018;24(18):2034-2040. doi:10.2174/1381612824666180510092303Deding U, Ejlskov L, Grabas MP, Nielsen BJ, Torp-pedersen C, Bøggild H.Perceived stress as a risk factor for peptic ulcers: a register-based cohort study.BMC Gastroenterol.2016;16(1):140. doi:10.1186/s12876-016-0554-9Levenstein S, Rosenstock S, Jacobsen RK, Jorgensen T.Psychological stress increases risk for peptic ulcer, regardless of Helicobacter pylori infection or use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol.2015;13(3):498-506.e1. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2014.07.052Anxiety and Depression Association of America.Physical activity reduces stress.Adams RE, Santo JB, Bukowski WM.The presence of a best friend buffers the effects of negative experiences.Dev Psychol. 2011;47(6):1786-91. doi:10.1037/a0025401Lougheed JP, Koval P, Hollenstein T.Sharing the burden: The interpersonal regulation of emotional arousal in mother-daughter dyads.Emotion. 2016;16(1):83-93. doi:10.1037/emo0000105Marotta RB, Floch MH.Diet and nutrition in ulcer disease.Med Clin North Am.1991;75(4):967-79. doi:10.1016/s0025-7125(16)30424-2Yamamichi N, Mochizuki S, Asada-hirayama I, et al.Lifestyle factors affecting gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms: a cross-sectional study of healthy 19864 adults using FSSG scores.BMC Med. 2012;10:45. doi:10.1186/1741-7015-10-45Vomero ND, Colpo E.Nutritional care in peptic ulcer.Arq Bras Cir Dig.2014;27(4):298-302. doi:10.1590/S0102-67202014000400017Goodwin RD, Keyes KM, Stein MB, Talley NJ.Peptic ulcer and mental disorders among adults in the community: the role of nicotine and alcohol use disorders.Psychosom Med. 2009;71(4):463-8. doi:10.1097/PSY.0b013e3181988137Li LF, Chan RL, Lu L, et al.Cigarette smoking and gastrointestinal diseases: the causal relationship and underlying molecular mechanisms (review).Int J Mol Med.2014;34(2):372-80. doi:10.3892/ijmm.2014.1786Musumba C, Pritchard DM, Pirmohamed M.Review article: cellular and molecular mechanisms of NSAID-induced peptic ulcers.Aliment Pharmacol Ther.2009;30(6):517-31. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2036.2009.04086.xNational Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment for peptic ulcers (stomach ulcers).Strate LL, Singh P, Boylan MR, Piawah S, Cao Y, Chan AT.A prospective study of alcohol consumption and smoking and the risk of major gastrointestinal bleeding in men. Green J, ed.PLoS ONE. 2016;11(11):e0165278.Shimamoto T, Yamamichi N, Kodashima S, et al. No association of coffee consumption with gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer, reflux esophagitis, and non-erosive reflux disease: a cross-sectional study of 8,013 healthy subjects in japan.Guan X-Y, ed. PLoS ONE. 2013;8(6):e65996.Cleveland Clinic. Peptic ulcer disease.
Yegen BC.Lifestyle and peptic ulcer disease.Curr Pharm Des.2018;24(18):2034-2040. doi:10.2174/1381612824666180510092303
Deding U, Ejlskov L, Grabas MP, Nielsen BJ, Torp-pedersen C, Bøggild H.Perceived stress as a risk factor for peptic ulcers: a register-based cohort study.BMC Gastroenterol.2016;16(1):140. doi:10.1186/s12876-016-0554-9
Levenstein S, Rosenstock S, Jacobsen RK, Jorgensen T.Psychological stress increases risk for peptic ulcer, regardless of Helicobacter pylori infection or use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol.2015;13(3):498-506.e1. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2014.07.052
Anxiety and Depression Association of America.Physical activity reduces stress.
Adams RE, Santo JB, Bukowski WM.The presence of a best friend buffers the effects of negative experiences.Dev Psychol. 2011;47(6):1786-91. doi:10.1037/a0025401
Lougheed JP, Koval P, Hollenstein T.Sharing the burden: The interpersonal regulation of emotional arousal in mother-daughter dyads.Emotion. 2016;16(1):83-93. doi:10.1037/emo0000105
Marotta RB, Floch MH.Diet and nutrition in ulcer disease.Med Clin North Am.1991;75(4):967-79. doi:10.1016/s0025-7125(16)30424-2
Yamamichi N, Mochizuki S, Asada-hirayama I, et al.Lifestyle factors affecting gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms: a cross-sectional study of healthy 19864 adults using FSSG scores.BMC Med. 2012;10:45. doi:10.1186/1741-7015-10-45
Vomero ND, Colpo E.Nutritional care in peptic ulcer.Arq Bras Cir Dig.2014;27(4):298-302. doi:10.1590/S0102-67202014000400017
Goodwin RD, Keyes KM, Stein MB, Talley NJ.Peptic ulcer and mental disorders among adults in the community: the role of nicotine and alcohol use disorders.Psychosom Med. 2009;71(4):463-8. doi:10.1097/PSY.0b013e3181988137
Li LF, Chan RL, Lu L, et al.Cigarette smoking and gastrointestinal diseases: the causal relationship and underlying molecular mechanisms (review).Int J Mol Med.2014;34(2):372-80. doi:10.3892/ijmm.2014.1786
Musumba C, Pritchard DM, Pirmohamed M.Review article: cellular and molecular mechanisms of NSAID-induced peptic ulcers.Aliment Pharmacol Ther.2009;30(6):517-31. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2036.2009.04086.x
National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment for peptic ulcers (stomach ulcers).
Strate LL, Singh P, Boylan MR, Piawah S, Cao Y, Chan AT.A prospective study of alcohol consumption and smoking and the risk of major gastrointestinal bleeding in men. Green J, ed.PLoS ONE. 2016;11(11):e0165278.
Shimamoto T, Yamamichi N, Kodashima S, et al. No association of coffee consumption with gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer, reflux esophagitis, and non-erosive reflux disease: a cross-sectional study of 8,013 healthy subjects in japan.Guan X-Y, ed. PLoS ONE. 2013;8(6):e65996.
Cleveland Clinic. Peptic ulcer disease.
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