A gastroenterologist has issued advice to people who suffer from upper belly pain.
Taking to his TikTok channel, Dr Saurabh Sethi, a board-certified gastroenterologist, explained how to spot stomach ulcers and how to prevent them.
Stomach ulcers, which are also known as gastric ulcers, are painful sores in the stomach lining.
While not all stomach ulcers are painful, the first telltale sign can often be a pain that feels like burning in your tummy.
The NHS explains that this sign often crops up within a few hours of eating and can last from a few minutes to a few hours.
Other less common symptoms of a stomach ulcer can include:
- Indigestion
- Heartburn
- Loss of appetite
- Feeling and being sick
- Weight loss
- Burping or becoming bloated after eating fatty foods.
The health service recommends speaking to your GP if you experience persistent symptoms of stomach ulcers.
Dr Sethi explained that there are two most common causes of these sores: non-steroidal medications like ibuprofen or aspirin; and a bacterial infection called H. pylori.
H. pylori, also known as Helicobacter pylori usually happens during childhood.
The Mayo Clinic explains that H. pylori infection may actually be present in more than half the people in the world.
Fortunately, there are measures that can reduce your risk of stomach ulcers developing.
The doctor said: “If you have to take non-steroidals, make sure that you take those with meals or snacks and never on an empty stomach.
“If you’re diagnosed with H. pylori infection, make sure to finish the whole course of [antibiotics]. Refrain from smoking, and minimise alcohol intake.”
