Does stress make stomach ulcers worse?

Stress can make a stomach ulcer worse, according to Summit Medical Group. While stress, along with spicy foods, alcohol, coffee, cigarettes and food with a high acid content such as tomatoes and oranges, does not create ulcers, it can make ulcers worse, as well as slow healing.

Stomach ulcers, also known as gastric ulcers or peptic ulcers, are more likely to form in individuals with a family history of ulcers. Ulcers form when the lining of the stomach weakens, allowing the stomach acid to damage the tissue, leading to an ulcer. Once ulcers form, they are often exacerbated by stress and the other lifestyle factors, states Summit Medical Group.