How to stop bleeding from a gastric ulcer?

Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
Updated on March 15, 2025
00:00
00:00

Gastric ulcer bleeding is a relatively common complication. Treatment methods can be selected based on the endoscopic characteristics of the bleeding lesion. Active bleeding can be treated with acid-suppressing medications such as proton pump inhibitors, combined with endoscopic treatment, and if necessary, vascular interventional treatment or surgery. For those with blood clots, proton pump inhibitors can also be chosen, with endoscopic treatment if necessary. During endoscopy, fibrin glue can be sprayed on the surface of the ulcer, adrenaline can be injected at the bleeding site, and endoscopic hemostatic clip techniques can be used. During treatment, it’s important to adjust the diet. For those with significant bleeding, temporary parenteral nutrition should be chosen, and no food should be consumed to avoid further gastrointestinal irritation. (Please use medications under the guidance of a doctor.)

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhu Dan Hua
Gastroenterology
1min 16sec home-news-image

What should I do if I have a stomach ulcer?

Gastric ulcers are generally treated with internal medicine medications in clinical settings, primarily through oral medications. Patients may select from antacid and stomach-protecting drugs for a course of 6-8 weeks, after which most ulcers can be healed. It is advised that patients eat clean, easily digestible foods, and avoid intake of spicy, stimulative, and pickled foods, as well as foods like raw fish and strong coffee. If the patient has a habit of drinking alcohol, it is advised to abstain from alcohol for these two months. It is also important to focus on resting and maintaining adequate sleep. Gastric ulcers are relatively common in clinical settings and generally improve with active treatment. Patients typically seek treatment for abdominal pain or complications, with the pain usually manifesting as upper abdominal pain. The most common complication is gastrointestinal bleeding, presenting as vomiting blood or bloody stools. Therefore, it is recommended that patients experiencing such discomfort should actively seek a comprehensive gastroscopy examination.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhu Dan Hua
Gastroenterology
1min 23sec home-news-image

How is a gastric ulcer diagnosed?

Gastric ulcers can generally be diagnosed through gastroscopy. They are commonly found in middle-aged and elderly patients, particularly those between the ages of 30-40. Some patients present with abdominal pain, bloating, and general discomfort, while a small number of patients might not experience abdominal pain but present with gastrointestinal bleeding, indicated by black stools or blood in stool. Therefore, if abdominal pain is suspected, it is generally recommended that patients undergo routine blood tests and gastroscopy, among other examinations. The abdominal pain from gastric ulcers usually manifests as upper abdominal pain, occurring in episodic attacks, with chronic and recurrent episodes and a long history of illness. Symptoms typically worsen after eating but may gradually alleviate on their own. Of course, taking some stomach-protecting medication can help manage the condition. A small portion of patients may also experience nausea and belching, which are nonspecific gastrointestinal symptoms. If gastric ulcers are suspected, further screening for Helicobacter pylori is usually conducted. (The use of medication should be under the guidance of a professional doctor.)

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Xue Qing
Gastroenterology
40sec home-news-image

What foods to eat for gastric ulcers?

People with stomach ulcers should eat foods that are easy to digest and high in protein and vitamins, such as soft rice, porridge, and noodles. Foods rich in protein include fish, milk, and walnuts. Foods high in vitamins include tomatoes, carrots, bean sprouts, and spinach. Patients with stomach ulcers should avoid spicy and stimulating foods such as chili peppers, garlic, leeks, and ginger, as well as seasonings like cinnamon, star anise, and Sichuan pepper. They should also avoid overly acidic foods, raw and cold foods, fried foods, and foods that are high in rough fiber.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Si Li Li
Gastroenterology
50sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Jiang Guo Ming
Gastroenterology
59sec home-news-image

What medicine to take for gastric ulcer?

The stomach ulcers referred to here are generally benign gastric ulcers. The treatment plan should be determined based on whether there is a Helicobacter pylori infection. If there is no Helicobacter pylori infection, it is first important to develop good dietary and living habits, and then treat the symptoms, such as suppressing stomach acid, protecting the gastric mucosa, and increasing gastric motility. If there is a Helicobacter pylori infection, antibacterial treatment is needed. Typically, a triple or quadruple antibiotic therapy is used; a proton pump inhibitor plus two antibiotics constitute the triple therapy, and adding a bismuth agent constitutes the quadruple therapy. A course of treatment lasts for two weeks, which generally can eradicate the bacteria for a definitive cure. (Medications should be used under the guidance of a clinical doctor, according to specific conditions.)