How to care for gastric ulcer bleeding

Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
Updated on January 21, 2025
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Gastric ulcer bleeding is a relatively common complication. First, it is important to soothe the patient's emotions, encourage rest, reduce mental stress, and pay attention to significant bleeding, which can cause vomiting of blood. It is necessary to promptly clean the blood stains in the mouth to prevent aspiration, provide timely symptomatic treatment, and choose to use proton pump inhibitors combined with endoscopic hemostasis. Vascular intervention or surgery may be required when necessary. Dietary management should be strengthened, with regular meals, consumption of soft, easily digestible food, and avoidance of hard, cold foods. It is crucial to strictly abstain from smoking and alcohol, and to consume less strong tea, coffee, etc., while actively treating any complications. (Please use medications under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Li Xue Qing
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What causes stomach ulcers?

Gastric ulcers are primarily caused by several major factors: Helicobacter pylori infection; medications that harm the stomach and damage the gastric mucosa, such as corticosteroids, aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, macrolide antibiotics, etc.; long-term irregular eating habits and the consumption of spicy, raw, or irritating foods; long-term mental stress, being in a prolonged state of stress, which can easily lead to gastric ulcers; and excessive stomach acid and pepsin, as well as other physical and biological factors.

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What should not be eaten with gastric ulcers?

Patients with gastric ulcers should be cautious about their diet, abstain from smoking and alcohol, and avoid drinking strong tea, coffee, eating fatty, greasy, spicy, fried, barbecued, raw, cold, and sweet foods, as well as drinking milk and soy milk, or eating glutinous rice and sweet potatoes. This is because some of these foods can stimulate the secretion of gastric acid, worsening the irritation of gastric mucosa and exacerbating gastric ulcers. Some are difficult to digest, thus, they are not recommended. It is advisable to eat porridge, drink soups, eat noodles, such as millet porridge, yam porridge, barley porridge, chicken soup, and pork rib soup. When eating meats, ensure they are well-stewed before consumption.

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Written by Li Xue Qing
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Foods to avoid for gastric ulcers

Foods to avoid for gastric ulcers include spicy and stimulating foods such as chili peppers, garlic, onions, leeks, ginger, and alcoholic beverages. Seasonings like cinnamon, star anise, black pepper, and fennel should also be avoided. Acidic foods such as lemons, limes, and green apples are not recommended, as well as foods that can cause bloating like soybeans and peanuts. Additionally, cold foods such as ice water and frozen fruits, as well as fried and grilled foods like street food and barbecues, should be avoided. It is also advisable to limit intake of foods high in roughage, such as corn, buckwheat, and celery.

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Written by Jiang Guo Ming
Gastroenterology
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Gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer

Gastric ulcers and duodenal bulb ulcers both belong to upper gastrointestinal ulcers. Their symptoms slightly differ; gastric ulcers typically manifest as postprandial pain in the upper abdomen, whereas duodenal bulb ulcers present as hunger pains in the upper abdomen, sometimes accompanied by nocturnal pain. Both types generally exhibit symptoms such as acid reflux and heartburn. The predominant cause for these is infection by Helicobacter pylori, detectable through tests such as the carbon-13 or carbon-14 breath test. If an infection is present, antimicrobial treatment can typically lead to a complete recovery of the ulcers. If there is no Helicobacter pylori infection, the initial approach should still focus on symptomatic treatment. Additionally, adopting good dietary and living habits can facilitate regular gastroscopic follow-ups.

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Written by Wang Hui Jie
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Medications for treating gastric ulcers

Here I will introduce several major types of medications for treating gastric ulcers, but specific medication use should be consulted with a doctor or pharmacist according to individual conditions. The first major type is anti-gastric acid medications. Since gastric acid plays a significant role in ulcerative lesions, it is considered appropriate to treat gastric ulcers by adjusting the stomach environment to a pH of 3.5. Anti-acid medications include antacids, H2 receptor antagonists, proton pump inhibitors, and others. The second major type is gastric mucosal protectants, which include some class B drugs, prostaglandin derivatives, and some containing sucralfate. The third major type is medications that treat Helicobacter pylori, with quadruple therapy currently being a common practice. Note: Medications should be used under the guidance of a doctor.