[Relationship between disaster stress and peptic ulcers].

There had been several reports about the increasing of peptic ulcers under a large-scale disaster or a war. But in human, it was still unclear that a severe psychological stress itself cause peptic ulcer independently of two major causes (Helicobacter pylori infection and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). After Great East Japan earthquake in March 11th, 2011, one of the five most powerful earthquakes in the world since modern record keeping began in 1900, we also noticed remarkable increasing of patients with peptic ulcer in wide stricken area. Reports after this gigantic earthquake gave us two new important viewpoints. Disaster (psychological) stress possibly induce peptic ulcer independently of two major causes. And, people living in refugee shelter immediately after a disaster are strong risk group of peptic ulcer bleeding as well as an intake of anti-thrombotic agents.