Helicobacter pylori, more often referred to simply as H. Pylori, is a bacterium that lives in the stomach and causes mucosal ulcers, inflammation and irritation. It is believed to be related to stomach cancer in some way. However, many people have no symptoms and are unaware that they have this bacterium in their body; in these subjects the bacterium does not cause harmful effects. However, when symptoms present, the patient exhibits abdominal pain, nausea, loss of appetite, frequent belching, abdominal bloating, and involuntary weight loss. As of 2014, the incidence of the infection in the US population has been estimated between 30 and 67%, while in the world it stands at around 50%. In the non-industrialized regions of the world, where the body is weakened due to malnutrition and a lack of drinking water, the infection rate is as high as 90% of the population. If you avoid risk factors and take some preventative measures, you can reduce the chances of getting H. Pylori infection.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Reduce Risk Factors
Step 1. Don't eat undercooked food
No matter where you live or where you travel, you need to avoid foods that are cooked incorrectly so as not to increase the risk of food poisoning or other infections. Undercooked food is more likely to transmit the H. Pylori bacterium, because it has not reached the minimum temperature sufficient to kill the bacterium. It is true that it can be difficult to understand the right degree of cooking, in any case avoid cold or raw food, because it can contain this bacterium.
- Do not eat foods that have not been cleaned or handled properly, such as vegetables, meat or fish. Foods that have not followed a hygienically accurate process during preparation increase the risk of contracting any type of foodborne infection.
- Remember to also cook the meals you prepare yourself at a high temperature. Since you cannot know the origin of all the foods that reach your table, you need to be sure that they are cooked properly. By doing this, you can avoid developing any bacterial infections.
Step 2. Avoid unhealthy areas
The bacterium H. Pylori spreads mainly with poor hygienic conditions that could also be present where food and drinks are prepared, in the environments where you live or work. When food is cooked in an environment that does not guarantee all the ideal hygienic conditions, the bacterium can be transmitted from one individual to another. Avoid eating the products you find on the stalls or sold on the street, when it is evident that there are no adequate facilities for a correct washing of hands or utensils.
- You should also avoid living near sources of dirty water, places where there are sewers and other areas where there is mostly contaminated and polluted water.
- Do not go to places where people don't use gloves, even if they should, where there are inadequate bathrooms and cleaning facilities, or places where employees touch both money and other people and then handle food or goods.
Step 3. Recognize the mechanisms of accidental transmission
The most frequent way of transmitting the bacterium is by the fecal-oral route or by the oral-oral route. This means that food, water and objects can become contaminated due to inadequate purification practices and poor hygiene. Since many people are unaware that they are healthy carriers of the bacteria, the infection can easily spread from one individual to another. Accidental transmission often occurs when a person who is unknowingly harboring the bacteria does not wash their hands properly.
H. Pylori bacterium can be present in saliva, stool, vomit and other gastric or mouth secretions. If any of these secretions from a healthy carrier reach your mouth (for example from putting your hands to your mouth after touching a contaminated object), you run the risk of getting sick
Part 2 of 2: Preventing the Infection
Step 1. Wash your hands thoroughly
Since the most common way of spreading the bacterium is through contact, you should always practice proper personal hygiene and wash your hands. You need to clean them often and meticulously, especially after being in the bathroom or before handling food.
To wash them thoroughly, start with hot water, around 50 ° C, and use a fair amount of liquid soap. Put the soap on your hands and wet them quickly. Wash them for at least 15-30 seconds, rubbing them around your fingers, along the front and back of your palms, and around your nails. Finally, rinse them with warm water and dry them with a clean and sanitized towel or a clean paper towel
Step 2. Eat in hygienically suitable environments
When you are in a non-industrialized country, be sure to eat only in places that comply with sanitary standards similar to those of Western countries. Make sure kitchen tools are washed in hot water with antibacterial soap. Even if they have been spayed, they can still transmit infections when handled by a bacteria carrier who has touched their mouth or did not wash their hands properly after going to the bathroom. For this reason, it is important to eat only in environments where the cooks wear gloves.
When in hazardous environments, consider using a hand sanitizer
Step 3. Do not come into contact with infected people
If you are married or in a relationship with someone with H. Pylori, or if a member of your family is sick or a healthy carrier, you must be very cautious when interacting with this individual. If the person you are married to or dating is infected, do not kiss them or engage in any sexual activity until they are treated properly. Also make sure that his glasses, cups, cutlery and toothbrush do not come into contact with your objects, to avoid transmission through saliva.
Anyone in the family who is infected with H. Pylori should not be involved in preparing food, drinks or touching products that other members might consume, to avoid the accidental spread of the infection
Step 4. Get medical checks
If a family member is sick, you should take tests as well. In terms of prevention, completely eliminating the bacterium from your home is the best way to avoid future contamination. Since the H. Pylori is spread through poor hygiene habits and promiscuity, the best thing to avoid new outbreaks is to get the whole family tested.
If a member tests positive, they must undergo therapy for four weeks. Relapses are always possible, so new courses of therapy will be necessary, in case you are not sure that the bacterium has been eradicated from the whole family
Step 5. Eat right
A balanced diet is important to prevent H. Pylori infection. This way you stay healthy and you can fight the bacterium naturally, thanks to the immune system. You need to eat foods that adequately provide the right amounts of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals and water. The exact proportions vary based on your body weight, gender, and level of physical activity. However, as a general reference, you can consider a 2000 calorie a day diet healthy.
- Most of your calorie intake should come from fresh fruit, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, and lean proteins.
- Even if you try to follow a healthy diet, 67% of dieters recommend taking multivitamins every day to make up for any deficiencies that cannot be managed with food.
- Remember to get enough vitamin C, usually the suggested daily dosage is 1000 mg. Eat citrus fruits, such as oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruits, and green leafy vegetables.
