Peptic Ulcer

Overview

Peptic ulcers are sores that develop in the lining of the stomach, lower esophagus, or small intestine. They’re usually formed as a result of inflammation caused by the bacteria H. pylori, as well as from erosion from stomach acids. Peptic ulcers are a fairly common health problem.

Digestive Disorders

A peptic ulcer is a round or oval sore where the lining of the stomach or duodenum has been eaten away by stomach acid and digestive juices.

Causes of peptic ulcers

Different factors can cause the lining of the stomach, the esophagus, and the small intestine to break down. These include: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), a type of bacteria that can cause a stomach infection and inflammation frequent use of aspirin (Bayer), ibuprofen (Advil), and other anti-inflammatory drugs (risk associated with this behavior increases in women and people over the age of 60) smoking drinking too much alcohol radiation therapy stomach cancer

Symptoms of peptic ulcers

The most common symptom of a peptic ulcer is burning abdominal pain that extends from the navel to the chest, which can range from mild to severe. In some cases, the pain may wake you up at night. Small peptic ulcers may not produce any symptoms in the early phases. Other common signs of a peptic ulcer include: changes in appetite nausea bloody or dark stools unexplained weight loss indigestion vomiting chest pain

How to treat a peptic ulcer

Treatment will depend on the underlying cause of your ulcer. If tests show that you have an H. pylori infection, your doctor will prescribe a combination of medication. You’ll have to take the medications for up to two weeks. The medications include antibiotics to help kill infections and proton pump inhibitors(PPIs) to help reduce stomach acid.   You may experience minor side effects like diarrhea or an upset stomach from antibiotic regimens. If these side effects cause significant discomfort or don’t get better over time, talk to your doctor.   If your doctor determines that you don’t have an H. pylori infection, they may recommend a prescription or over-the-counter PPI (such as Prilosec or Prevacid) for up to eight weeks to reduce stomach acid and help your ulcer heal.   Acid blockers like famotidine (Pepcid) can also reduce stomach acid and ulcer pain. These medications are available as a prescription and also over the counter in lower doses.   Your doctor may also prescribe sucralfate (Carafate) which will coat your stomach and reduce symptoms of peptic ulcers.

Complications of a peptic ulcer

Untreated ulcers can become worse over time. They can lead to other more serious health complications such as: Perforation: A hole develops in the lining of the stomach or small intestine and causes an infection. A sign of a perforated ulcer is sudden, severe abdominal pain. Internal bleeding: Bleeding ulcers can result in significant blood loss and thus require hospitalization. Signs of a bleeding ulcer include lightheadedness, dizziness, and black stools. Scar tissue: This is thick tissue that develops after an injury. This tissue makes it difficult for food to pass through your digestive tract. Signs of scar tissue include vomiting and weight loss. All three complications are serious and may require surgery. Seek urgent medical attention if you experience the following symptoms: sudden, sharp abdominal pain fainting, excessive sweating, or confusion, as these may be signs of shock blood in vomit or stool abdomen that’s hard to the touch abdominal pain that worsens with movement but improves with lying completely still

Outlook for peptic ulcers

With proper treatment, most peptic ulcers heal. However, you may not heal if you stop taking your medication early or continue to use tobacco, alcohol, and nonsteroidal pain relievers during treatment. Your doctor will schedule a follow-up appointment after your initial treatment to evaluate your recovery. Some ulcers, called refractory ulcers, don’t heal with treatment. If your ulcer doesn’t heal with the initial treatment, this can indicate: an excessive production of stomach acid presence of bacteria other than H. pylori in the stomach another disease, such as stomach cancer or Crohn’s disease Your doctor may offer a different method of treatment or run additional tests to rule out stomach cancer and other gastrointestinal diseases.

How to prevent peptic ulcers

Certain lifestyle choices and habits can reduce your risk of developing peptic ulcers. These include: not drinking more than two alcoholic beverages a day not mixing alcohol with medication washing your hands frequently to avoid infections limiting your use of ibuprofen, aspirin, and naproxen (Aleve) Maintaining a healthy lifestyle by quitting smoking cigarettes and other tobacco use and eating a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains will help you prevent developing a peptic ulcer.

Are peptic ulcers painful?

The pain of ulcer disease correlates poorly with the presence or severity of active ulceration. Some individuals have persistent pain even after an ulcer is almost completely healed by medication. Others experience no pain at all. Ulcers often come and go spontaneously without the individual ever knowing that they are present unless a serious complication (like bleeding or perforation) occurs.

Is there a diet for peptic ulcers? Can you drink alcohol?

There is no conclusive evidence that dietary restrictions and bland diets play a role in ulcer healing. No proven relationship exists between peptic ulcer disease and the intake of coffee and alcohol. However, since coffee stimulates gastric acid secretion, and alcohol can cause gastritis, moderation in alcohol and coffee consumption is recommended.

constipation

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