Stomach ulcers: causes, symptoms, treatment

What is a stomach ulcer?

According to Larry, a stomach ulcer, also called ulcer, is a small erosion (hole) in the gastrointestinal tract. "The most common type of duodenum occurs in the first 12-inch small intestine beyond the stomach, ulcers that form in the stomach are called stomach ulcers, stomach ulcers are not contagious or cancerous, and duodenal ulcers are almost always benign, while stomach ulcers can become malignant. be, "he said. "Gastric ulcers can be a symptom of another disease or condition, stomach ulcers are common in mastocytosis, and bleeding from stomach ulcers can cause anemia due to iron deficiency," he said.

Causes

"What we have to take into account is that stomach ulcers can occur for more than one reason." It can be a symptom of another disease or condition. The direct cause of ulcers is the destruction of stomach or intestinal mucosa lining of the stomach by hydrochloric acid, an acid that is normally present in the digestive juices of the stomach. "Another is the infection with the bacterium Helicobacter pylori, which is thought to play an important role in causing stomach and intestinal ulcers Helicobacter pylori can be transferred from person to person via contaminated food and water Antibiotics are the most effective treatment for Helicobacter pylori stomach ulcers.

Injury of the mucosal wall in the stomach and weakening of the mucus membrane are also responsible for stomach ulcers. Excessive secretion of hydrochloric acid, genetic predisposition and psychological stress are important contributing factors in the formation and exacerbation of duodenal ulcers. Irregular food, overeating or diet with high fat foods can also contribute to ulceration of stomach and ulcers. "Last but not least, the main cause of ulcers is the chronic use of anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin, and cigarette smoking is also a major cause of gastric ulcer and ulcer treatment failure."

symptoms

Asked about some of the symptoms associated with gastric ulcers, Larry said, "The main symptom of a stomach ulcer is a burning or gnawing sensation in the stomach region that lasts between 30 minutes and three hours.This pain is often interpreted as heartburn, indigestion or hunger The pain usually occurs in the upper abdomen, but sometimes it can occur under the sternum. "For some people, the pain occurs immediately after eating. In other people, the pain can only occur hours after eating. The pain often wakes the person up at night. Weeks of pain can be followed by weeks without pain. Pain can be relieved by drinking milk, eating, resting or using antacids. "He added that loss of appetite and weight loss were other symptoms: people with ulcers in the duodenum may experience weight gain because people eat more to relieve the discomfort, recurrent vomiting, blood in the stool and anemia are other symptoms.

What is the influence of a stomach ulcer?

"The main thing that has a stomach ulcer is the nerves around it, the nerves become irritated and cause a great deal of pain, but stomach ulcers can cause bleeding due to the erosion of a large blood vessel, a rupture in the stomach wall or intestine, resulting in peritonitis; or obstruction of the gastrointestinal tract due to spasms or swelling in the area of ​​the ulcer

Gastric ulcer treatment

"One way to treat ulcers is to get rid of the Helicobacter pylori bacteria, which can also be aimed at reducing the amount of acid your stomach makes, neutralizing the acid, and protecting the wounded area for healing. doctor will prescribe what medication is best to treat and cure your sores, but pay attention to what you eat and drink, because it is important that you stay away from certain types of food and drinks, especially alcohol, to prevent aggravation and deterioration of the ulcer.