Dr. Nur Daleela Mohd Azlan, a resident doctor at Syifa' 24-Hour Clinic, said that chronic ulcers or erosion in the stomach lining can result in continuous bleeding, leading to significant loss of blood.
She said there are protective layers in the stomach, but bacterial infections such as Helicobacter pylori can counteract these protective factors, causing an excessive production of acid.
"When ulcers occur, perforation in the stomach can cause gastric acid and its juices to leak into the stomach lining or peritoneum, leading to bacterial infections in the body and posing a life-threatening risk.
"Eighty per cent of patients with chronic gastritis have Helicobacter pylori infection, causing inflammation," she said when appearing as a guest on Bernama TV's Apa Khabar Malaysia programme, titled 'Gastric and Gerd'.
Dr. Nur Daleela said besides receiving early treatment, patients also need to change their lifestyle and dietary habits to reduce the risk of severe inflammation.
"All health and diseases originate from the stomach, so our lifestyle and eating habits are crucial, including ensuring a balanced Body Mass Index," she said.
Her advice is to eat slowly, avoid consuming large amounts of food at once and follow a regular eating schedule.
She also emphasises the importance of quitting smoking, as it is a major cause of damage to the stomach lining, in addition to avoiding spicy, fatty, acidic, caffeinated and carbonated foods while adopting a healthy lifestyle.
-- BERNAMA
