The Health bulletin [serial] - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

16 The Health Bulletin August, 1951YOU CAN LIVE WITH YOURULCER, BUT IT'S UP TO YOUYou can live with your ulcer if youcan learn to relax and enjoy life. Thismay involve some changes in diet andthe elimination of such things as smoking,liquor and hot dogs, but these sacrificeswill be worth while."So said Dr. Paul Wermer of Chicagoin an article in Today's Health, publishedby the American Medical Association.Dr. Wermer is secretary of theCommittee on Research of the A.M.A.'sCoimcil on Pharmacy and Chemistry.About 5 per cent of the populationeventually will become victims of pepticulcer, he said. But, for the most part,these sufferers can take a pat on theback, for the disease occurs usually inhard-driving, intelligent and conscientiouspersons when under undue stress.Peptic ulcers are open sores in twoorgans, the stomach and the duodenum,the first part of the intestine. Those ofthe stomach are called gastric ulcers;those of the duodenum, duodenal ulcers.These areas are bathed in the stomachjuices, which contain pepsin. Pepsin ispresident in both types and for that reasonthey are called peptic.Their cause never has been determineddefinitely. One theory is thatsevere emotional and nervous straincauses a disturbance of the nerve supplyingthe stomach. This nerve, knownas the vagus, influences the blood supplyof the stomach lining."In some manner, the blood supply toa small area of the stomach is sharplydiminished, causing damage," Dr. Wermerpointed out. "The stomach juicesand ferments do the rest."All authorities agree that two conditionsmust exist for a peptic ulcer todevelop. First, there must be an injuryor damage to the mucous membrane,or lining of the stomach. Second,there must be ample stomach juices containingacid and a digestive ferment,pepsin."In the presence of these conditions,the stomach juices treat the damagedarea almost as if it were food. They tryto digest it. Furthermore, the action ofthe acid juices on the ulcer stimulatesthe stomach to manufacture more digestivejuice. If nothing is done, the ulcercan actually be digested through thestomach wall and cause a perforation.This occurs more rarely with duodenalulcer. Only emergency measures will doin such a case."Hut, perforation can occur only ifthe patient neglects the rules of medicationand diet that the physician hasprescribed."By modern-day methods, most ulcerscan be controlled adequately throughmedication and without resort to surgery,provided the patient is cooperative,Dr. Wermer said. The doctor will prescribesomething to counteract theacidity of the stomach juices and suggesta diet which will not upset thedelicate chemical balance of the body.He also will advise what must be doneto relieve nervous tension.How soon relief of the ulcer pain maybe expected depends upon the patient'swillingness to obey orders. It may be aweek or 10 days, even earlier in somecases. But, Dr. Wermer stressed, reliefdoes not mean cure. The doctor willhave to watch the ulcer crater withrepeated fluoroscopic and x-ray examinations.As conditions improve, diet andother restrictions will be liberalized."When you think it over, having anulcer is not too bad," he concluded."You just have to adopt a changed outlook.Don't let things get you riled. Relaxand enjoy life."Summer means that children arespending more time out-of-doors, andthe chances of traffic tragedy in thestreets are increased, the NationalSafety Council warns. Motorists shouldremember that more than three-fourthsof all child traffic deaths result fromthe children crossing between intersections,coming from behind parked carsor playing in the roadway.To keep your vacation free of tragedy,the National Safety Council advises youto limit the distance you drive eachday. Trying to cover too many milesleads to speeding, fatigue and mechanicalfailure. And it's no fun anyway!