One Man’s Breakthrough
As recently as the 1980s
leading medical experts still
believed that the
consumption of spicy foods
and stress caused gastric
ulcers. So they treated
patients with antacids,
tranquillisers, antidepressants, and
psychotherapy. With limited
efficacy.
Using himself as a guineapig
he downed a broth
containing the H. pylori
bacterium, expecting to
develop (perhaps years later)
a peptic ulcer. After 3 days he
was surprised to experience
mild nausea and bad breath
On day 8 he started vomiting.
Being able to spot H Pylori
symptoms and get treatment
is a quite recent
development. And our
success in doing so is largely
down to one pioneering
medic.
So also on day 8 he had an
endoscopy. It showed
massive inflammation of his
stomach lining (gastritis). H
pylori was isolated via a
biopsy. Marshall’s work
proved that bacteria could
cause acute gastritis.
It was gastroenterologist
Barry Marshall who showed
that H pylori plays a major
role in causing many peptic
ulcers.
This challenged the common
scientific consensus that no
bacteria could survive in the
acidic environment of the
stomach.
If want to understand how
this bacteria can succeed in
an environment that was
previously considered to be
too harsh READ ON:
What is H Pylori?
Discover more about this
intriguing little bug can
cause so much discomfort.
In fact it’s staggeringly
common..
H. pylori (full name:
Helicobacter Pylori) is a
common type of bacteria that
grows in the digestive tract.
You may be surprised to hear
this, but this stomach bug
infects the stomach of roughly
50% of the world’s adult
population–though,
admittedly, 80% of those
infected have symptoms. H.
pylori infection is associated
with low-grade inflammation
of the stomach and
duodenum (the first part of
the small intestine that
empties the stomach).
H. pylori is adapted to live in
the harsh, acidic environment
of the stomach. Its spiral
shape allows the bacteria to
burrow in and penetrate the
stomach lining, which then
causes low-grade
inflammation. H. pylori is the
most common cause of
gastric ulcers and gastritis.
More specifically, 10% of those
infected with the stomach bug
may develop an ulcer. More
worryingly, perhaps, is that
those infected also have an
increased risk of stomach
cancer and lymphoma.
Do you worry about having a
peptic ulcer and are uncertain
about diagnosis and treatment?
H pylori symptoms and
treatment – both natural and
pharmaceutical – are laid out in
this paper.
What causes H. pylori infection?
It’s still not known precisely
how H. pylori infections
spread. Regardless, it’s
thought that the infections
spread through saliva–and
also has the potential to be
spread by faecal
contamination. These
transmission methods may
explain why the rate of
infection is so high in poorer
countries and socioeconomic
groups characterised by
crowded living conditions,
poor sanitary conditions, and
lack of clean water.
Interestingly, research
indicates that most individuals
with H. pylori bacteria get
infected during childhood.
After being ingested, the
bacteria penetrate the
stomach’s mucous lining to
attach to deeper layers of the
stomach, where they can
reside for years without
causing symptoms.
HOW TO SPOT INFECTION:
What are the symptoms of H. pylori infection?
Most people with H. pylori
don’t have any symptoms. For
those who do, however, H.
pylori infection typically
manifests as gastritis and
ulcers. The following H pylori
symptoms characterise these
illnesses:
- Upper abdominal pain (i.e. burning sensation in the central upper abdomen)
- Loss of appetite
- Burping, bloating
- Nausea and vomiting
Bleeding into the
gastrointestinal tract,
which is characterised by:
- Hematemesis (i.e. vomiting blood)
- The passing of black, tarry stools
How are H. pylori infections diagnosed?
If your doctor suspects an H.
pylori infection, your doctor
may ask about your medical
history and family history of
disease. It’s crucial to inform
your doctor of any medications
you’re currently taking–
including vitamins and
supplements.
Because there are also other
lifestyle-related causes of
gastritis and ulcers, your
doctor may ask you specific
questions relating to smoking,
alcohol consumptions, and
non-steroidal antiinflammatory medication use
(e.g. aspirin, ibuprofen,
naproxen).
To confirm the diagnosis, your
doctor may also perform many
other tests and procedures,
including:
Physical examination – Your
doctor will examine your
stomach to check for signs of
bloating, tenderness, or pain. A
rectal examination may be
performed to test for blood in
the stool.
Blood test – Your blood
samples will be used to test for
the presence of the H. pylori
bacteria, anaemia (low red
blood cell count), and other
diseases.
Diagnosis continued
Do note that in the event a
gastric ulcer is found, an
endoscopy is usually
recommended since some
ulcers have the potential to
become cancerous. Ulcers in
the duodenum typically do not
have this potential.
HOW TO BEAT THE BACTERIA:
HOW TO BEAT THE BACTERIA:
Stool test – Your stool sample
will be used to check for signs
of H. pylori in your faeces.
Endoscopy – This is where a
gastroenterologist uses a thin
tube containing a camera to
examine the lining of the
oesophagus, stomach, and
duodenum to check for the
presence of a stomach ulcer.
Upper GI series – The
alternative to endoscopy in
looking for a stomach ulcer. In
this test, x-rays of the
abdomen are taken after the
patient swallows barium
What conventional treatment options are available for H. pylori infections?
If you do have an H. pylori
infection, there are several
treatment options available.
That said, the therapy involves
multiple steps–in addition to
antibiotics to eradicate the
bacteria. Another goal is to
decrease the amount of acid
secreted in your stomach and
remove risk factors for further
stomach irritation. As such,
your doctor will typically
prescribe a combination of the
following.
- Proton pump inhibitors, such as lansoprazole and omeprazole
- H2 blockers, such as ranitidine and famotidine
In some cases, bismuth therapy
with Pepto-Bismol is
recommended especially if the
first round of antibiotic
treatment is unsuccessful. Just a
note, though: this treatment is
known to cause the blackening
of stools.
Medication
A 2-week course of
combination antibiotic therapy:
- Clarithromycin
- Metronidazole
- Tetracycline
Lifestyle changes
Some lifestyle habits worsen a
peptic ulcer and prevent it from
healing (and so should be
avoided):
- Alcohol
- Smoking
- Aspirin, Ibuprofen, and
Naproxen (only to be taken
with your healthcare
provider’s approval)
I don’t fancy antibiotics, is there a more natural way to resolve H Pylori?
There are many natural remedies
for H. pylori that are being used
by nutritionists, in combination
with conventional antibiotics or
as an all-natural approach. Many
of these have excellent research
to support their use.
Eating probiotic-rich foods can
help heal and eradicate H. pylori
infections. Broccoli sprouts or
Brussels sprouts cooked (about 3
ounces daily), cabbage juice,
sauerkraut juice, cranberry juice
(about 2 cups daily), green tea as
you’d like, yogurt,
apples, moderate amounts of red
wine or red grape juice, onions,
and capers all have antibacterial
effects on H. pylori.
If you want to use a natural
treatment, here are some
suggestions:
- Deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL
- Mastic gum
- Zinc carnosine
- Aloe vera juice: Use as directed three times daily after meals
- Fermented soy (Sano-Gastril chewed or sucked between 2-3 meals
- Oil of oregano
References
Lipski, Elizabeth. Digestive Wellness:
Strengthen the Immune System and
Prevent Disease Through Healthy
Digestion.
Fourth Edition.
McGraw-Hill Education.
Should I go for H. pylori screening?
Here’s the truth. There’s no need to get
screened for H. pylori unless you are
experiencing discomfort or pain or suspect
that have a peptic ulcer.
H pylori is routinely tested for by IBS Clinics
as just one of the markers included in a
comprehensive stool test giving you
reassurance that these types of worrying
conditions are screened for.
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Posted by Tracey Randell | Lead Nutritional Therapist specialising in IBS and other gut-related issues.
