In my career as a doctor, I have witnessed countless patients suffering from chronic stomach problems. Many of them have one thing in common: the tiredness and uneasiness on their faces when they first meet. Chronic stomach disease is not just a condition, it is a reflection of a lifestyle that has a profound and complex impact on daily life. I often tell my patients that to really improve your stomach problems, medication alone is not enough, you need to fundamentally change your lifestyle and eating habits.
Let me share a story about one of my patients, Mr. Lee. He is a middle-aged man who suffers from chronic gastritis due to high work pressure and irregular diet. When he first came to me, his face was full of pain and helplessness. Mr. Lee's stomach pain has become so much of his life that he has almost forgotten what it feels like to be without a stomach ache. After talking to him in detail, I customized a treatment plan for him, which not only included medication, but more importantly, lifestyle and diet adjustments. Mr. Lee was skeptical about this integrative approach at first, but he decided to give it a chance anyway.
A few months later, Mr. Li came to my office again, and this time, he had a smile on his face that he hadn't seen in a long time. He told me that after following the treatment plan, his stomach pain was significantly reduced and he did not feel pain at all for many days. He began to enjoy life and was more productive. Mr. Lee's story reminded me that treating chronic stomach diseases is not only the responsibility of doctors, but also the active participation of patients and lifestyle adjustments.
Eat a reasonable diet to protect the gastric mucosa
I am a medical doctor who has been working for many years and has witnessed countless patients struggling with chronic stomach problems. Today, I would like to talk to you about how to protect our gastric mucosa, relieve stomach pain, and regain health through a reasonable diet.
Guardian of the gastric mucosa
First, let's take a brief look at the gastric mucosa. The gastric mucosa is a protective membrane that prevents the erosion of the stomach wall by gastric acid. But when we don't pay attention to our diet or lifestyle, this protective film is susceptible to damage, triggering various stomach upsets.
The power of dietary modification
Improving eating habits is the key to protecting the gastric mucosa and alleviating and preventing chronic gastric diseases. Here are some practical dietary suggestions:
Divide meals: Eat smaller, more frequent meals to help reduce the burden on your stomach and avoid excessive stomach acid. For example, divide three meals into five meals and reduce the amount of food you eat at each meal.
Avoid irritating foods: Spicy, fried, and excessively sour and spicy foods can irritate the stomach lining and exacerbate stomach pain. It is advisable to choose light, easily digestible foods, such as steamed vegetables and fish.
Maintain a balanced diet: Consume a balanced diet of various nutrients, including proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, to support the health of the body and stomach lining.
Real-life case sharing
Let me share with you a case. Mr. Zhang, a programmer who often works overtime late into the night, has been eating irregularly for a long time, and likes to eat spicy and fried food. He came to the clinic with stomach pain, and we advised him to adjust his diet according to the dietary principles mentioned above. After a few weeks, he felt a noticeable relief from his stomach pain and an improvement in his overall condition.
Improve lifestyle habits and reduce stomach pressure
In this fast-paced era, chronic stomach problems have become an "invisible burden" for many people, not only affecting our daily lives, but also causing serious impacts on health and work efficiency. I am often asked by patients in the consultation room if there is any other way to relieve their stomach pain and restore their health besides medication. My answer is always yes – it's to improve your lifestyle habits and reduce stomach pressure. Here are a few practical tips I've summarized based on years of clinical experience.
Have a regular schedule
Our stomach likes regularity, but the various irregularities of modern life, especially staying up late, tend to disrupt the rhythm of the stomach. Irregular eating and drinking times can leave the stomach in a state of fasting for a long time, resulting in excessive gastric acid secretion, which can damage the gastric mucosa. Therefore, it is recommended that everyone try to maintain a regular work and rest time, especially the eating time should be timed, which can help the stomach adapt and reduce its burden.
Exercise in moderation
In fact, proper exercise can accelerate gastrointestinal peristalsis, help food to be better digested and absorbed, and reduce the burden on the stomach. In addition, exercise can also improve blood circulation and improve overall health. Exercises suitable for people with stomach problems include low-impact exercises such as walking, jogging, yoga and other low-impact exercises for 30 minutes each time, at least 3 times a week, which can not only help relieve stomach discomfort, but also improve quality of life.
Avoid excessive stress
Stress in life and work is an important factor in the onset of chronic stomach problems. When we are in a state of high pressure, the body secretes more stomach acid, which increases the burden on the stomach. Therefore, it is crucial to learn to manage stress effectively. You can try deep breathing, meditation, listening to soft music, and more to relax your mind. In addition, communicating with family and friends and sharing stress and worries is also a good way to reduce stress.
How-to
Eat regularly: Eat three meals a day at regular intervals to avoid overhunger.
Exercise in moderation: Choose an exercise that works for you and be consistent.
Stress reduction techniques: Try a variety of relaxation methods to find what works best for you.
The principle of rational use of drugs
Choose the right medication: Depending on your specific condition, your doctor will prescribe the right medication for you. Common proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) that inhibit gastric acid secretion and drugs that protect the gastric mucosa are common. For example, patients with chronic gastritis may need PPIs to reduce stomach acid and relieve stomach pain, while patients with gastric ulcers may need additional medications to protect the gastric lining and promote wound healing.
Take your medication on time and in the right amount: Strictly follow your doctor's instructions and do not increase or decrease the dose or stop taking the medicine at will. Some medications may need to be taken before a meal, while others may need to be taken after a meal, and these details can have an important impact on how effective the drug is.
Know the side effects of medications: Any medication can have side effects, but it is safe to use under the guidance of a doctor and the principle that the benefits outweigh the harms. If you feel unwell while taking the medication, you should inform your doctor immediately and not stop taking the medication without permission.
Follow-up results
Regular check-ups: The treatment of chronic stomach disease is a dynamic adjustment process, which requires regular review of the stomach condition and adjustment of the treatment plan according to the changes in the condition. Follow-up can help doctors understand the effect of drug treatment, identify and solve problems in time.
Record changes in symptoms: Patients are advised to self-monitor changes in their condition, such as the frequency of stomach pain, changes in eating habits, etc., and report them to the doctor at follow-up visits. This information is important for doctors to evaluate outcomes and adjust treatment plans.
Maintain communication: During the treatment, if you have any questions or discomfort, you should communicate with your doctor in a timely manner. Good communication between doctors and patients is the key to successful treatment.