| Show r The underlying cause of many ulcers was discovered in but old attitudes and habits have been hard to break the 1980s Get Rid Of Ulcer-sm BY A Ask Dr Rosenfeld distinguished physician teacher and author PARADE Contributing Editor Dr Isadore m w u hi mi m i best-sellin- g Rosenfeld is known to readers as an astute commentator on a wide range of health issues His expertise in mainstream medicine attention to medical breakthroughs and openness to the uses of alternative forms of medicine qualify him as one of the most authoritative and versatile health writers in America The following article describes a common pmblem in medical practice and extends a gentle warning to patients and some diKtors have questions about health or medicine? Send them to Dr Rosenfeld Do you and he will ANY OF US doctors try to are slow to ac- cept change We don't always take advantage of new knowledge in medicine as quickly as we should A case in point is the H pylori bug and its relation to peptic ulcer disease and stomach cancer Most peptic ulcers are holes" in the lining of the stomach or duodenum (the First portion of the small intestine) This disease which strikes more than one in 10 Americans at some point in life has traditionally been linked to stress The conventional treatment: stress reduction (worry and anxiety increase stomach acid production) antacids (to neutralize excess acid) medications such as cimetidine (Tagamet) and ranitidine (Zantac) which reduce the amount of acid made by stomach cells and a bland diet free of spices irritants or acid These measures do heal an active ulcer But then weeks or months later symptoms commonly flare up again The lining of the upper intestinal tract There is another kind of ulcer that can occur especially in older people after prolonged use of drugs such as aspirin (to prevent heart attacks and strokes) or ibuprofen These are effective drugs Don't stop using them but pay attention if you develop a stomachache or see blood in your stool For a long time we were comfortable with our understanding of peptic ulcer disease and satisfied with all the new drugs that controlled its symptoms Then in live early 1980s two Australian dix:tors J Robin Warren and Barry Marshall noted that samples of stomach fluid from ulcer patients almost always stress-acid-ulc- the pain in ulcer patients bellies responded well to antacids and drugs Furthermore the medical establishment was certain that no bacteria or virus including H pylori could surg vive in the half-gallo- of acid n produced every day by a normal stomach But Barry Marshall was convinced he was right Frustrated by his inability to persuade his colleagues he resorted to the ultimate experiment: He prepared Box 5099 New York NY 10017 MYTH: Once youve had an ulcer its better never to drink again FACT: Avoid alcohol when the ulcer Is acute After it has healed it's okay to drink MYTH: Excess acid causes ulcers FACT: Even normal amounts of acid can cause an ulcer if the bacterium H pylori is present MYTH: Milk is good for ulcers FACT: Milk may relieve ulcer pain briefly but its protein content stimulates acid production MYTH: If you are ulcer-pron- e you must avoid spices and eat a bland diet FACT: Diet has nothing to do with causing ulcers If you harbor H pylori a bland diet wont protect you Isadore Rosenfeld physician teacher author and commentator on medical news and trends culprit (again): the acid chewing out the The new infection theory by Warren and Marshall was generally greeted with a huge yawn and derision Doctors belink and lieved in the answer at least some of them in future articles Personal replies are not possible Write to: Ask Dr Rosenfeld PO and patients alike MD ISADORE ROSENFELD baccontained a tiny corkscrew-shape- d terium called Helicobacter pylori Healthy stomach juices did not Since all of us have lots of stomach acid but most of us don't have ulcers Warren and Marshall reasoned this bacterium is what makes the stomach and upper intestinal lining vulnerable to ulceration by normal amounts of acid H pylori not acid is the cause of ulcers Unless you get rid of the bug they insisted the ulcer will keep coming back H pylori has been around for millions of years though it was more prevalent when public health standards were lower It is believed to be transmitted mainly by mouth from tainted food or water but kissing or other oral contact also can do it Ulcer Myths All you need to avoid and only when the ulcer is "hot" are tobacco alco- hol caffeine and aspirintike drugs MYTH: The new anti-ulcdrugs and antacids cure ulcers FACT: Conventional therapy heals but doesnt cure an ulcer It is likely to recur unless H pylori is eradicated er page to December - T ibbt parade magazine: |
