Helicobacter pylori: From Ulcer Villain to Possible Protector?
Dr. Kumar’s Take:
Helicobacter pylori may be the most infamous bacteria in medicine. Barry Marshall and Robin Warren discovered that this spiral-shaped bug was behind most stomach ulcers, a finding so radical it won them the Nobel Prize. What makes it fascinating is that while H. pylori can cause ulcers and cancer, new evidence suggests it might also protect against conditions like reflux disease and esophageal cancer. The real story is not about “good” or “bad,” but how this microbe interacts with our diet, environment, and genetics.