For decades, many Nigerians have believed that skipping meals or staying hungry for long periods causes stomach ulcers. The belief has been passed from one generation to another and has influenced the way many people respond to stomach pain. However, medical experts have continued to stress that this widely accepted belief is a misconception, explaining that hunger alone does not cause stomach ulcers.
According to healthcare professionals, the leading cause of most stomach ulcers is infection with a bacterium known as Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). Another major cause is the prolonged or excessive use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including aspirin, ibuprofen, diclofenac, and naproxen.These medications can weaken the stomach's protective lining, making it vulnerable to damage from stomach acid.
Many people confuse the pain caused by an ulcer with the discomfort that comes from hunger. Doctors explain that although staying hungry may temporarily worsen the pain of an existing ulcer because stomach acid continues to be produced, it does not create the ulcer itself. This misunderstanding has caused many individuals to rely on eating frequently instead of seeking proper medical attention.
A patient who recently experienced severe stomach pain, nausea, indigestion, and bloating said she was shocked after being diagnosed with a stomach ulcer.
"I always believed that people developed ulcers because they stayed hungry for too long. Since I eat regularly, I never imagined I could have one. My diagnosis made me realize that the belief I grew up with was not medically accurate," she said.
Fatima Yakubu, a 400-level Nursing student at Ahmadu Bello University, explained that misinformation has prevented many patients from seeking early diagnosis and treatment.
"Many patients strongly believe hunger causes ulcers, but medically this is incorrect," she said. "An ulcer is an open sore that develops when the protective lining of the stomach or another part of the body becomes damaged.Ulcers are not limited to the stomach. They can occur in the small intestine, mouth, skin, legs, and other parts of the body."
She explained that stomach ulcers develop when the protective mucus layer is weakened, allowing stomach acid to damage the tissue underneath. This leads to inflammation, pain, and, in severe cases, bleeding.
Medical experts also noted that H. pylori bacteria can spread through contaminated food, water, or close contact with infected individuals. Because many people carry the bacteria without symptoms, they may not know they are infected until complications develop.
Healthcare professionals say several factors can increase the risk of developing stomach ulcers. These include frequent use of pain-relieving drugs without medical supervision, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, untreated H. pylori infection, and severe physical stress resulting from major illness or injury. While emotional stress and spicy foods may worsen symptoms in some patients, they are generally not considered the primary causes of ulcers.
Doctors explained that common symptoms of stomach ulcers include a burning or gnawing pain in the upper abdomen, nausea, bloating, loss of appetite, frequent burping, and indigestion. Some patients may also experience weight loss or feel unusually full after eating small amounts of food.
In severe cases, ulcers can lead to life-threatening complications. Patients may vomit blood or pass black, tar-like stools due to internal bleeding. An untreated ulcer may also create a hole in the wall of the stomach or intestine, allowing food and digestive fluids to leak into the abdomen. This medical emergency requires immediate surgery and can be fatal if not treated promptly.
Experts stressed that anyone experiencing persistent stomach pain should visit a qualified healthcare facility rather than depending on self-medication or traditional remedies. Diagnosis may involve reviewing the patient's medical history, conducting laboratory tests to detect H. pylori, performing stool or breath tests, or using an endoscopy to examine the stomach lining directly.
Treatment depends on the underlying cause. If H. pylori infection is confirmed, doctors usually prescribe a combination of antibiotics and acid-reducing medications to eliminate the bacteria and allow the ulcer to heal. Patients whose ulcers are linked to NSAID use may be advised to stop taking the medication or switch to a safer alternative under medical supervision.
Health experts also recommend adopting healthy lifestyle habits to support recovery and reduce the risk of recurrence. These include eating balanced meals, avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, taking medications only as prescribed, maintaining good personal hygiene, and attending regular medical check-ups when symptoms persist.
Public health educators believe that correcting misconceptions about ulcers is essential to improving health outcomes. They argue that many people delay seeking professional treatment because they mistakenly assume eating more food will cure the condition. Such delays may allow the ulcer to worsen and increase the likelihood of serious complications.
Medical practitioners are therefore calling on government agencies, healthcare institutions, schools, and the media to intensify public health education on ulcer disease. They believe awareness campaigns can help dispel myths, encourage early diagnosis, and promote evidence-based treatment.
Experts concluded that while hunger may aggravate the pain of an existing ulcer, scientific evidence shows that it is not the primary cause of the disease. They urged Nigerians to rely on medical advice instead of long-held myths and to seek prompt medical attention whenever symptoms of ulcer disease persist. Early diagnosis, proper treatment, and accurate public health information remain the most effective ways to reduce the burden of ulcer disease and prevent avoidable complications