You may not know that due to geographical environment, dietary habits, and population base, China has always been a "stomach cancer country" in the world. However, many people, even if they have stomach discomfort, will not go to the hospital and often live with it. By doing so, you may miss the last signal for help from your body!
【Signals for Help from the Stomach】
The stomach is part of the digestive system, connected to the esophagus at the top and the duodenum at the bottom. It is located in the upper left abdomen, below the rib cage in the chest. The stomach has functions such as storage, mixing, digestion, and emptying. It grinds the large food particles into smaller pieces and breaks down large molecules into small molecules. The intestines have functions such as absorption, excretion, secretion, and immunity, all of which are important digestive organs in the human body.
From the perspective of the structure of the stomach, traditional Chinese medicine points out that the most common stomach diseases among Chinese people include gastroesophageal reflux, indigestion, and peptic ulcers (gastric ulcers and duodenal ulcers). When it comes to the treatment of stomach diseases, Dr. Chen Bangji observed that Chinese people usually prefer to buy medicine from pharmacies to improve their condition and only go to the hospital when they can no longer bear the discomfort. Based on the proportion of outpatient visits, we can understand the current prevalence of stomach diseases:
1. Gastroesophageal reflux: Approximately 20 out of 100 patients.
2. Indigestion: Approximately 10 out of 100 patients.
3. Peptic ulcers: Including gastric ulcers and duodenal ulcers, approximately 5 out of 100 patients.
4. Other stomach diseases: Including chronic gastritis, stomach cancer, etc.
【Who is Prone to Stomach Discomfort】
Traditional Chinese medicine points out that there are some chronic stomach diseases, such as chronic gastritis, chronic atrophic gastritis, gastric ulcers, and gastric polyps. In addition, people who have a history of gastric resection are more likely to develop gastric cancer compared to the general population.
In fact, stomach cancer is closely related to a healthy lifestyle. It has a certain "family clustering" phenomenon, but it does not mean it is genetic. The factors that lead to "family clustering" are lifestyle habits. People who live together often have similar lifestyle habits. Combined with the same living environment, it is not just a coincidence that they are affected. If someone in the family has a disease, one should reevaluate their own lifestyle and see if they have "inherited" related bad habits.
Long-term smoking and drinking, a preference for fried, smoked, and pickled foods, high oil and high salt intake, consuming hot foods, irregular eating habits, and overeating can all harm the stomach and easily lead to diseases.
Because the cause of gastric cancer is still unknown, there is a lack of effective primary prevention measures to remove the cause. In order to protect your stomach, it is recommended to learn how to maintain good health: eat more fresh fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin C, eat meat, fish, soy products, and dairy products, avoid high-salt diet, eat less pickled and smoked foods, and avoid eating moldy food.
【What to Do When You Have Stomach Discomfort】
1. Avoid eating raw, cold, and stimulating foods that can burden the stomach. If consumed without control, it can make the stomach even more uncomfortable.
2. Eat moderate amounts of foods that are not irritating to the stomach or have a stomach-nourishing effect. Examples include grapes, tea, wine, kelp, citrus fruits, persimmons, cucumbers, carrots, etc. Eating these alkaline foods in moderation is important for neutralizing stomach acid.
3. Do not eat too much during meals, as it can burden the stomach. Eat small amounts multiple times. Avoid eating before going to bed.
4. Pay attention to keeping the stomach warm. Excessive exposure to cold can also cause stomach discomfort. Especially in summer, some people like to sleep without covering themselves with a blanket, which is actually very harmful to the body, especially the stomach. Even on hot days, it is important to protect the abdomen with something.
5. If there is hot water available, soak your hands in it for about 5 minutes to warm them up, or rub your hands together until the palms become hot.
6. Place your hands on the stomach and massage it in a clockwise direction from top to bottom for 60-80 times, applying moderate pressure to the stomach. You can adjust the pressure according to your own feelings. After a pause of about 10 seconds, massage the stomach in a counterclockwise direction for another 60-80 times.
