How to deal with ulcers can be done in various ways, from improving diet and lifestyle to using drugs from doctors. However, to be more effective, the treatment of heartburn symptoms must be adjusted to the cause.
In medical terms, ulcers are called dyspepsia. Ulcer is actually not a disease, but a symptom of gastric disorders, such as GERD, gastric infection, gastritis or gastric ulcers.
The emergence of ulcer symptoms is also often caused by unhealthy eating patterns and lifestyles, such as the habit of consuming too spicy food, smoking, consumption of alcoholic beverages and coffee, as well as psychological problems, such as severe stress, depression, and anxiety disorders.
Therefore, how to deal with ulcers cannot be done carelessly and must be adjusted to the cause.
How to Overcome an Ulcer with Medical Drugs
The following are a number of drugs that can be used to treat ulcers:
1. Antacids
Antacids are drugs used to neutralize stomach acid and prevent the risk of irritation to the stomach and esophagus. There are several types of antacids that are commonly used, including calcium carbonate, aluminum hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, simethicone, and sodium bicarbonate.
2. H2 receptor antagonist (H2RA)
H2RA is a class of drugs used to reduce stomach acid production. Types of drugs that belong to the H2RA group include: cimetidine, famotidine, nizatidine, and ranitidine.
3. Protons pump inhibitors (PPI)
Just like H2RA, PPI class drugs also function to reduce stomach acid production. The PPI class of drugs is also quite effective for treating ulcer symptoms and heartburn.
Drugs belonging to the PPI class include: omeprazole, lansoprazole, rabeprazole, pantoprazole, and esomeprazole.
4. Antibiotics
Antibiotic drugs are only used to treat ulcers caused by bacterial infections Helicobacter pylori on the stomach. There are several types of antibiotics that doctors can prescribe to treat ulcers due to gastric infections, including: amoxicillin, clarithromycin, metronidazole, tetracycline, tinidazole, and levofloxacin.
5. Prokinetics
This drug helps treat ulcers by speeding up the process of gastric emptying. Some types of drugs that belong to the class of prokinetic drugs are: bethanechol and metoclopramide.
6. Gastroprotector drugs
Gastroprotector drugs work by coating and protecting the stomach wall from irritation. In addition to treating ulcers, this drug is also used to support the healing process of gastric damage. Examples of drugs that include gastroprotector drugs are: sucralfate.
Some Other Ways to Overcome Gastritis
In addition to the use of medical drugs, ulcers can also be treated in the following ways:
Regulating Diet
To overcome the ulcer, you are advised to eat food in small portions, but more often. Also make it a habit not to lie down immediately after eating and wait at least 2-3 hours before lying down.
In addition, avoid eating spicy foods and foods that are too acidic, such as tomatoes and oranges. Avoid fizzy drinks, caffeine, and alcoholic beverages, as well as heartburn-triggering foods such as chocolate and mint.
Changing habits
Some positive habits that you can apply to treat and prevent ulcers are:
- Do not smoke
- Don't drink much when it's late at night
- Exercise regularly
- Don't exercise immediately after eating
- Don't wear tight clothes that can compress the stomach and trigger stomach acid disease
- Not taking drugs that can cause stomach irritation, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
Managing stress
If the ulcer is caused by stress, the doctor will also recommend meditation, relaxation exercises, and counseling, in addition to giving medication to treat the ulcer.
However, if your ulcer is triggered by a more serious psychological problem, your doctor may recommend that you undergo psychotherapy and use drugs to treat the psychological problem.
Ulcer symptoms may also be relieved with some natural ingredients or herbal remedies, such as ginger and Moringa leaves. However, the effectiveness and safety of these ingredients to treat stomach disorders or heartburn still needs to be studied further.
Untreated ulcers can get worse and cause serious complications, such as gastric bleeding, ulcers in the stomach wall, gastric leakage, and even gastric cancer.
Therefore, you should consult a doctor if you experience heartburn that does not go away for more than 2 weeks, especially if it causes weight loss, nausea and vomiting, body feels weak, difficult to chew, black bowel movements, shortness of breath, or pain. chest.