Many people think that peptic ulcers are very common; so they need not be taken seriously. Of course there is no logic in this. In fact, this is a very dangerous disease when not treated properly and can it even lead to some life threatening complications like perforation. People must take proper treatment for this disease and also follow some precautions to avoid such consequences.

What is a Peptic Ulcer?

It is a condition that occurs because of a hole or a break in the inner lining of the stomach, the duodenum or the esophagus. It forms when the mucosa is corroded by the acidic juices secreted in the stomach.

The symptoms that should alarm people about this disease:

• Pain that is worse on empty stomach and at night
• Difficulty in swallowing
• Regurgitation of food
• Retching after eating
• Weight loss
• Loss of appetite
• Vomiting of blood
• Black stools

Precautions to be taken:

• Reduce intake of spicy food
• Avoid alcohol and caffeine
• Avoid smoking
• Avoid using pain killers like ibuprofen and aspirin
• Avoid chewing lots of chewing gum
• Eat frequent small meals

Foods to eat:

• Food containing omega-3 fatty acids like salmon and tuna
• Vegetables and fruits like carrots, cabbage juice, kiwifruit and apricots
• Vitamin E rich foods like hazelnut, wheat germ and soybean oil
• Chamomile tea
• Low-fat yogurt
• Fiber rich foods like fruits and oats

Medicines for peptic ulcers:

The symptoms and the complications caused by this disease can be easily controlled by using Nexium. The active component of this medication is Esomeprazole. It helps by decreasing the production of acid in the stomach, thereby preventing the corrosion of the stomach mucosa. It also helps to hasten the healing of the ulcer.

Dosage instructions:

Patients can use Nexium in a dose of 20 mg, once daily. They can contact a doctor to learn more regarding this drug.

Peptic ulcer is a serious illness, but is not difficult to manage. If patients take treatment with Nexium and follow the above-mentioned precautions, they can easily get rid of its symptoms and avoid the complications.