In the United States today, around 20 million Americans will develop ulcers each year. Four million will be affected by them. 40,000 will require surgery due to the unbearable symptoms or complications. And 6,000 will die from ulcer-related complications.
Lifestyle choices in the U.S., such as smoking and consuming caffeine, attribute to these numbers. Although many need the relaxing effects of nicotine, they are ignoring the many health risks. Aside from the fact that nicotine is one of the most dangerous substances on the market, it can decrease the stomach's ability to defend itself. With low defenses the stomach's healing process will slow, allowing existing ulcers to become stronger and recurrence to be almost definite. Caffeine can cause increased acid secretion, which also lowers the defense system and agitates existing ulcers.
Another choice that has made us Americans susceptible to ulcers is our constant need to self medicate. Many of the over-the-counter pain relievers are NSAIDS (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) which make the stomach vulnerable to the harmful effects of acid and pepsin, the two dominant digestive fluids. The stomach produces bicarbonate and mucus as its defense against digestive fluids. When NSAIDS are introduced to the body, they interfere with the stomach's ability to produce these.
The most common cause of ulcers today is a bacterium called H. Pylori (Helicobacter Pylori). It is a spiral-shaped bacterium found in the stomach transferred through a fecal->oral route. H. Pylori survives in the stomach by releasing urease, an enzyme that generates substances which neutralize the stomach's acid. The bacterium can then penetrate the stomach's mucus lining and weaken its defenses. With defenses down, inflammation occurs and tissue damage results. The bacterium is most common in elderly, African-Americans, Hispanics, and those exposed to poor living conditions (drinking water, especially).
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