5. Stool Discoloration
Another late stage symptom of peptic ulcers is a discoloured stool which may appear darker or you may notice blood in the stool. This could be from a bleeding peptic ulcer and again it is recommended that you seek medical advice immediately.
If you suspect that you have a peptic ulcer you should speak to your medical practitioner as soon as possible but there are also a number of things you can do to both prevent and treat peptic ulcers:
#1 – Watch Your Diet
Eat a diet high in good quality fibre, such as from fruit and vegetables, and foods containing flavonoids (apples, celery, cranberries, etc.) to fight against the H Pylori bacteria which can cause peptic ulcers [3].
#2 – Stop Smoking and Don’t Abuse Alcohol
Both smoking and alcohol can aggravate peptic ulcers and lead to a number of other diseases. In other words, if you smoke there is good reason to stop and don’t abuse alcohol either.
#3 – Reduce Stress
Stress can make you more susceptible to factors which cause peptic ulcers – such as the damage from NSAIDS and the H Pylori bacteria. In order to minimize your risk of these causes, work on reducing your stress levels with regular relaxation.