Ulcers, also referred to as peptic ulcers, are defined as the sores that usually develop in the stomach’s or on the spot just right at the beginning of the small intestine. One sign of an ulcer can be a gnawing stomach pain that comes and goes for days or weeks at a time, occurs two to three hours after meals or in the middle of the night, and goes away when you eat or when you take an antacid.

Other ulcer symptoms may include weight loss, bloating poor appetite, burping, and nausea or vomiting. If you suspect you have an ulcer, you should take appropriate measures right away.

Some painkillers can be like the double agent in an old spy movie. Just when you think they have come to help you, you discover they are working against you. That’s the case with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These NSAIDs can undermine your stomach’s natural protection. Aspirin and ibuprofen are common NSAIDs taken for arthritis, headaches, and minor aches and pains. If they cause you stomach pain, ask your doctor about switching to another type of pain reliever.

Meanwhile, chiropractors advise that working on these new habits can help you avoid ulcers and the pain that comes with them.

1. Get a good night’s sleep. Experts believe natural compounds called TFF2 patch up everyday wear-and-tear in your gut, so that it won’t get bad enough to cause ulcers. While there’s some TFF2 in your stomach most of the time, the amount seems to increase up to 300 percent during normal sleep. So make sure you’re snoozing from at least one to five in the morning. That way you will get the best natural repair to your stomach.
2. Although stress and spicy foods are no longer considered ulcer-causers, they may trig¬ger pain once you have an ulcer. Try to control stress and avoid triggers until your ulcer heals. Experiment with walking or other exercise to see if that lowers your stress and makes you feel better.
3. Fill up on fiber-rich fruits and vegetables, and you could lower your risk of ulcers. Peo¬ple who eat a lot of fruits and vegetables are less likely to develop ulcers, and research¬ers think fiber could be the reason. Fiber seems to encourage the growth of the mucous layer that protects your stomach from digestive acids. What’s more, a combination of fiber and vitamin A can help protect your poor battered stomach lining and may playa role in rebuilding it. Try a tasty sweet potato to get both of these stomach helpers at the same time.
4. Stop smoking to ease the burn. Cigarette smoking raises your risk of developing an ulcer. It also makes existing ulcers heal more slowly and increases the odds that your ulcers will return again.
5. To protect your stomach, think before you sip a drink. Alcohol, black tea, and coffee, even decaffeinated, are all known to irritate your digestive tract. While drinking these products may not give you an ulcer, they can make the one you have feel worse – and maybe even take longer to heal. Replace your morning cup of coffee with another hot drink that is milder on your stomach.