Question

You suspect that George has a peptic ulcer and tell him that it has been found to be strongly associated with?

1) Smoking
2) Stress
3) Spicy food
4) Alcohol consumption

Answer 1

The primary cause of peptic ulcers is the Helicobacter pylori bacterium. Smoking and stress contribute to ulcer development but do not independently cause ulcers, while spicy foods and alcohol lack strong evidence as direct causes.

Step-by-step explanation:

When discussing the strong associations with peptic ulcers, it's important to clarify the predominant causes. While lifestyles such as smoking and stress have been acknowledged as contributing factors to peptic ulcer development, these factors have not been conclusively demonstrated to cause them independently of H. pylori infection. The Helicobacter pylori bacterium is the principal cause of peptic ulcers. This discovery, which many found surprising given the previous assumptions about diet and lifestyle, earned researchers the Nobel Prize in Medicine.

Regarding the four options provided for George's peptic ulcer association:

• Smoking: While smoking has not been shown to independently cause peptic ulcers, it can contribute to their development and can impede the healing process.
• Stress: Stress is a factor that may exacerbate existing ulcers but is not an independent cause.
• Spicy food: Contrary to popular belief, spicy foods do not play a role in causing peptic ulcers.
• Alcohol consumption: Similar to spicy foods, there is no strong evidence suggesting alcohol consumption as a direct cause of peptic ulcers.