One condition a person never wants to suffer from is gastritis. Gastritis is when the stomach becomes inflamed and irritated. On top of causing the stomach to be inflamed and irritated, gastritis also makes the stomach more susceptible to developing new sores and ulcers.
One action that can cause a person to suffer from gastritis and the possible development of stomach sores and ulcers as a result of the condition is excessive drinking. Excessively drinking alcohol also makes it harder for the body to heal itself from any pre-occurring stomach sores and alcohol ulcers. Thus, in many ways, ulcers and alcohol consumption are related, highlighting the importance of alcohol addiction treatment in such cases.
What is an Ulcer?
An ulcer is a painful bodily sore that is very slow to heal. Ulcers can occur on the inside and the outside of the human body. For example, ulcers can be found on the human skin outside of the body or inside the body’s internal organs.
The most common places for ulcers to occur are the peptides, stomach, and small intestines. Excessive drinking typically makes it easier to develop stomach ulcers. Stomach ulcers are extremely painful sores that cause damage to the lining of the stomach and make it difficult to digest food.
What is Considered Excessive Drinking?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), excessive use of alcohol is defined as the following:
- Binge drinking, otherwise known as when a woman consumes four or more drinks on an occasion or a man consumes 5 or more drinks on an occasion
- Heavy drinking, otherwise known as when a woman consumes eight or more drinks per week or a man consumes 15 or more drinks per week
- Any drinking of alcohol by a pregnant woman or individual under the legal drinking age of 21 in America
Common Reasons People Develop Stomach Ulcers Outside of Excessive Drinking
Excessive drinking isn’t the only risk factor for developing stomach ulcers. Two other things that can make a person susceptible to developing stomach ulcers are the H. pylori bacteria and anti-inflammatory medications.
The H. pylori bacteria infects millions of people around the world each year. Luckily, the H. pylori bacteria are typically harmless to humans. Most people who contract an infection from the H. pylori bacteria do so without realizing it.
The only issue is that, if for some reason, a person suffers from an infection from the H. pylori bacteria for a prolonged time, that person may develop a stomach ulcer. That’s why it’s important for anyone aware of his or her H. pylori infection to receive treatment as soon as possible.
Anti-inflammatory medications are another common cause of stomach ulcers because taking such medications for a prolonged time can lead to stomach ulcers as a side effect. Many commonly used medications can be considered anti-inflammatory.
For example, any medication used to treat back pain, stomach pain, high temperatures, and/or swelling and inflammation is typically anti-inflammatory. Thus, any person who already struggles with stomach ulcers should avoid using such medications as much as possible.
On top of excessive use of anti-inflammatory medications, excessive drinking, and the H. pylori bacteria, a person’s lifestyle can also play a huge role in why a person is more susceptible to developing stomach ulcers.
Some lifestyle choices that can increase a person’s susceptibility to developing stomach ulcers include frequently eating spicy foods and frequently suffering from stress and anxiety. Not only can such lifestyle choices increase a person’s susceptibility to developing stomach ulcers, but they have also been proven to worsen the condition of existing stomach ulcers.
Signs and Symptoms of Stomach Ulcers
There are many signs and symptoms of ulcers. Some of the most common signs and symptoms of stomach ulcers include the following:
- Feeling sick
- Being physically ill
- Feeling bloated even when you haven’t eaten much
- Feeling full very quickly, even when you haven’t eaten much
- Feeling an unexplained burning sensation in your stomach
- Suffering from stomach pain at night
- Stomach pain that makes it hard to eat and drink
- Belching after or in between meals
- Blood in stool
- Blood in vomit
- Losing weight for no reason
- Back pain
- Stomach pain in between meals
- Burning stomach pain
- Indigestion
- Nausea and vomiting
Anyone who suffers from some of these symptoms should consult their doctor to see if they suffer from stomach ulcers.
Anyone who suffers from some of these symptoms should consult their doctor to see if they suffer from stomach ulcers.
What Should I Do If I Think That I’m Suffering from an Ulcer?
Anyone who suspects that they’re suffering from an ulcer of any kind, in particular, a stomach, peptide, or small intestine ulcer, should seek medical help as soon as possible. Typically, a primary physician will refer anyone who’s suffering from a stomach, peptide, or small intestine ulcer to a doctor who’s a gastrointestinal specialist.
To diagnose someone with an ulcer, a gastrointestinal specialist will conduct some physical examinations. A gastrointestinal specialist who tests to see if a patient is suffering from an ulcer or not may also require the patient to provide him or her with a blood or stool sample to check for H. pylori bacteria among other things.
A gastrointestinal specialist who tests a patient for ulcers may even ask the patient to undergo an endoscopy or X-ray. Regardless, of the measures that one’s doctors want to take to test for ulcers, it’s worth it, as stomach ulcers don’t go away on their own and will only continue to get worse if not diagnosed and treated.
Common Risk Factors of Drinking Alcohol While Suffering from Stomach Ulcers
 The relationship between ulcers and alcohol is always negative. This is because not only can a person develop ulcers from drinking alcohol, but alcohol can also worsen existing stomach ulcers. Furthermore, excessively drinking alcohol worsens the symptoms of existing stomach ulcers and irritates existing ulcers, making it harder for them to heal.
Drinking alcohol while suffering from stomach ulcers can even cause any existing stomach ulcer to start bleeding and become more inflamed. Once a stomach ulcer starts bleeding, it becomes life-threatening. Thus, one mustn’t drink any alcohol while suffering from stomach ulcers.
Beer and Ulcers
Beer is a particular alcoholic beverage that one should avoid consuming when suffering from a stomach ulcer. This is because beer makes the stomach and body produce and release a certain type of acid that irritates stomach ulcers. Beer also creates more gastrin in the body than most other alcoholic beverages. This information is just further evidence of the negative relationship between ulcers and alcohol.Â
Signs and Symptoms of Worsening Ulcers Due to Drinking Alcohol
While it’s often hard to determine if a person has developed ulcers from drinking alcohol, there are signs and symptoms that signal that drinking alcohol is making an ulcer worse. These signs and symptoms include the following:
- Blood in stool
- Producing stool that looks like coffee grounds and is very dark in color
- Experiencing severe heartburn and acid reflux
- Suddenly losing or gaining a lot of weight for no reason
- Continuously feeling tired, weak, or faint
- Struggling to breathe or take deep breaths
- Experiencing sharp pains in the stomach
Anyone who simultaneously suffers from stomach ulcers and alcohol use issues should seek medical advice and treatment immediately. This is especially true if such a person is exhibiting any of the signs and symptoms of a worsening ulcer due to alcohol drinking.
Other Ways That Excessive Drinking Can Damage the Body
Because drinking alcohol causes alcohol to enter the bloodstream and travel to all different parts of the body, drinking excessive amounts of it can damage the body in many different ways. For one, drinking excessive amounts of alcohol can severely damage a person’s gastrointestinal system. This not only can cause a person to become more susceptible to developing ulcers, but it also can cause a person to suffer from issues such as chronic sickness and diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, otherwise known as IBS, acid reflux, and sudden, unhealthy weight loss.
Excessive alcohol abuse can also lead to health issues such as alcohol poisoning, high blood pressure, heart disease, a weakened immune system, and even cancer. Excessive alcohol abuse can even trigger mental health issues in a person. Such mental health issues may include anxiety, depression, paranoia, and memory loss.
Treatment for Ulcers and Alcohol
Ulcers can often heal once given a break from the factors that are causing the ulcers. Thus, oftentimes, to treat ulcers, healthcare providers will prescribe a combination of medications to reduce stomach acid, kill any bacterial infections involved, and coat and protect the ulcer while it’s healing. This combination of medications often includes antibiotics such as tetracycline, metronidazole, clarithromycin, and amoxicillin.
The combination of medications that doctors prescribe to patients to treat their ulcers also often includes proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) such as esomeprazole, dexlansoprazole, lansoprazole, omeprazole, pantoprazole, and rabeprazole. Histamine receptor blockers, antacids, and cytoprotective agents. Doctors may even suggest that patients with ulcers take Pepto-Bismol to help coat and protect their stomach ulcers from stomach acid.
To treat complicated ulcers that have started bleeding or have perforated a person’s stomach or intestinal wall, surgery needs to occur. Surgeons should remove malignant ulcers or ulcers that are obstructing a passageway. In severe cases, a surgeon may need to cut some of the nerve supply to the stomach that produces stomach acid to treat ulcers.
Alcohol Addiction Treatment
As mentioned earlier in this article, ulcers and alcohol have a negative relationship, as many people develop ulcers from drinking alcohol excessively. Individuals who suffer from ulcers and alcohol addiction should seek out medical treatment for their ulcers and rehab for their alcohol addictions.
To treat alcohol addiction, individuals should attend alcohol addiction treatment programs at rehab facilities. Individuals with severe alcohol addictions should seek out inpatient or residential treatment programs or an outpatient partial hospitalization program (PHP) that specializes in treating alcohol addiction. Individuals with moderate to severe level alcohol addictions should seek out either PHP treatment or intensive outpatient program (IOP) treatment for alcohol addiction at rehab centers.
Anyone who suffers from mild alcohol addiction can attend a standard outpatient program (OP) for alcohol addiction at a rehab facility. Most rehab facilities even contain dual diagnosis treatment programs that simultaneously provide alcohol addiction and mental health treatment.
Receive Alcohol Addiction Treatment at Laguna Shores Recovery
Laguna Shores Recovery is a behavioral healthcare facility in beautiful Orange County, CA that provides detox programs along with specialized residential treatment and dual diagnosis treatment programs for individuals who are suffering from addiction to substances such as alcohol. Here at Laguna Shores Recovery, we are focused on providing each of our patients with premier, client-focused treatment that equips them with the knowledge, life skills, spiritual tool kits, and emotional support that they need to not only achieve recovery from their substance addictions but to also produce a meaningful character and life transformation.
To learn more about Laguna Shores Recovery and how we can help you achieve recovery from your alcohol addiction, contact us today! Our team is here to serve you.
Matthew Beck B.A, M.A, LMFT 
