Is bleeding from a gastric ulcer serious?

Written by Jiang Guo Ming
Gastroenterology
Updated on January 09, 2025
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Upper gastrointestinal bleeding is one of the common complications of peptic ulcers. If gastric ulcers cause vomiting blood, it often indicates that the bleeding is not minor and the condition is generally severe. It is usually considered that when about 250-300mL of blood accumulates in the stomach, vomiting blood may occur. Clinically, if vomiting blood occurs, it is firstly necessary to promptly hospitalize for treatment, including establishing venous access, nutritional support, and hemostatic treatment. Proton pump inhibitors or somatostatin analogs are commonly used. Additionally, if the bleeding does not stop, endoscopic treatment can be performed, such as spraying hemostatic drugs, electrocoagulation, or mechanical hemostasis. It is also necessary to monitor the patient's vital signs. If repeated bleeding occurs, a comprehensive treatment plan may be needed.

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Written by Zhu Dan Hua
Gastroenterology
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What can you eat with a gastric ulcer?

If a gastric ulcer is in the recovery phase, there are generally no special dietary restrictions. It is advisable to choose easily digestible, bland foods. Of course, it is recommended that patients avoid intake of spicy and stimulating foods such as coffee, strong tea, and alcohol, as well as avoiding pickled foods like salted fish and cured meat. Therefore, if a gastric ulcer is well-controlled, dietary restrictions can be relaxed somewhat. However, if the patient also has gastrointestinal bleeding, such as bleeding from the gastric ulcer, it is advised for the patient to fast initially. After temporarily fasting, if symptoms are controlled, a liquid diet can be adopted, such as drinking soups and eating porridge. If this regimen is effective over a regular period, a gradual return to a normal diet can be considered.

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Written by Jiang Guo Ming
Gastroenterology
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What can I eat with a stomach ulcer?

Gastric ulcers are a common upper gastrointestinal disease. The main causes are related to Helicobacter pylori infection, poor dietary habits, medication irritation, or chronic mental stress. Incomplete treatment of gastric ulcers can lead to recurrent episodes, and in severe cases, may evolve into gastric cancer. Thus, it is crucial to develop good dietary and living habits while undergoing proper treatment. Dietarily, it is advised to eat light, easily digestible foods such as soft, mushy rice, noodles, porridge, and fresh fruits and vegetables. Meat products should be cooked in a light manner, avoiding overly greasy or spicy foods. Additionally, quitting smoking and alcohol and maintaining a positive mood are also beneficial.

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Written by Si Li Li
Gastroenterology
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What are the symptoms of gastric ulcers?

The symptoms of gastric ulcers mainly include upper abdominal pain, belching, acid reflux, nausea, vomiting, heartburn, early satiety, poor appetite, and indigestion. The characteristic of the upper abdominal pain is that it worsens after eating and decreases or disappears when hungry or on an empty stomach, indicating a regular pattern of pain. For patients exhibiting these symptoms, it is advised to undergo a gastroscopy to confirm the diagnosis. If the gastroscopy reveals ulcers on the gastric mucosa, the diagnosis of gastric ulcers can be confirmed. It is also recommended to conduct a Carbon-14 breath test to determine if there is an infection with Helicobacter pylori. It has been confirmed that Helicobacter pylori can cause peptic ulcers and chronic gastritis among other diseases. If the infection test is positive, eradication treatment for Helicobacter pylori is needed.

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Written by Li Xue Qing
Gastroenterology
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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 Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
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How to care for gastric ulcer bleeding

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.)