Swelling under left ribs

The most typical cause of a dull swelling below the left rib cage is gastric ulcer. Nowadays, people live at a fast pace, and many people have bad eating habits, which can easily lead to various gastrointestinal diseases. The occurrence of gastric ulcer is closely related to diet, medication, etc. In addition to pain in the ribs, other symptoms of gastric ulcer are also needed to make a judgment, so that you can figure out what is going on.

Clinical manifestations : Upper abdominal pain is the main symptom of this disease. It is mostly located in the upper abdomen, but may also appear in the left upper abdomen or behind the sternum or xiphoid process. It often presents as dull pain, bloating, or burning pain. The pain of gastric ulcer usually occurs within 1 hour after a meal, gradually eases after 1 to 2 hours, and the above rhythm returns after the next meal. Some patients may be asymptomatic, or may have complications such as bleeding and perforation as the first symptoms.

Treatment 1. Generally, medication is used according to the treatment principles of peptic ulcer. First, drugs that reduce damaging factors are used: such as antacids, anticholine drugs, H2 receptor antagonists, proglumide, synthetic agents of prostaglandin E2 and omeprazole, etc. At the same time, drugs that protect the gastric mucosa are given: such as sucralfate, bismuth, carbenoxolone (carbenoxolone), etc. Completely eradicate Hp. Because it is currently believed that Hp infection has a certain relationship with this disease, active treatment is required. 2. Upper gastrointestinal bleeding caused by gastric ulcer may manifest as vomiting blood or bloody stool. Go to the hospital immediately. The main hemostatic measures include: ① H2-receptor antagonists or proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) to increase and maintain gastric pH; ② endoscopic hemostasis; ③ surgical treatment; ④ interventional treatment.

3. Food selection When you have a stomach problem, you should pay attention to the following 13 dietary principles: (1) Eat less fried food because this type of food is not easy to digest and will increase the burden on the digestive tract. Eating too much can cause indigestion and increase blood lipids, which is not good for your health. (2) Eat less pickled foods. These foods contain a lot of salt and certain carcinogens, so it is not advisable to eat too much. (3) Eat less raw, cold, and irritating foods. Raw, cold, and irritating foods have a strong irritating effect on the gastrointestinal mucosa and can easily cause diarrhea or gastrointestinal inflammation. (4) Regular diet: Studies have shown that eating regularly, at regular times and in regular amounts, can form a conditioned reflex, help the secretion of digestive glands, and facilitate digestion. (5) Eat at regular times and in regular amounts. Eat moderate amounts at each meal and have three meals a day at regular times. (6) The appropriate temperature for food should be neither too hot nor too cold. (7) Chew food slowly to reduce the burden on the gastrointestinal tract. The more you chew your food, the more saliva you will secrete, which has a protective effect on the gastric mucosa. (8) The best time to drink water is in the morning on an empty stomach and one hour before each meal. Drinking water immediately after a meal will dilute the gastric juice, and soaking rice in soup will also affect the digestion of food. (9) Keep warm. If the stomach gets cold, it will damage its function, so be careful to keep the stomach warm and avoid getting cold. (10) Avoid stimulation and do not smoke, because smoking causes the blood vessels in the stomach to constrict, affecting the blood supply to the stomach wall cells, reducing the resistance of the gastric mucosa and inducing stomach diseases. You should drink less alcohol and eat less spicy foods such as chili peppers and pepper. (11) Vitamin C supplementation Vitamin C has a protective effect on the stomach. Maintaining a normal level of vitamin C in gastric juice can effectively exert the function of the stomach, protect the stomach and enhance the stomach's disease resistance. Therefore, eat more vegetables and fruits rich in vitamin C. (12) Avoid acidic foods. Fruits with high acidity, such as pineapples, oranges, and so on, will not cause much irritation to patients with ulcers if eaten after meals, so they do not necessarily have to be prohibited from consumption. (13) Avoid foods that produce gas. Some foods easily produce gas, which can make patients feel bloated and therefore should be avoided. However, whether a food will produce gas and cause discomfort varies from person to person, and you can decide whether to eat it based on your personal experience.

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