The term peptic ulcer refers to an open sore that develops on the lining of the stomach and the upper part of the small intestine. Most commonly, peptic ulcers cause abdominal pain.
There are two types of peptic ulcers: gastric and duodenal. The most common symptoms of a peptic ulcer are burning stomach pain, feeling full, bloating, or belching, intolerance to fatty foods, heartburn, and nausea. Burning stomach pain is caused by stomach acid, and an empty stomach can make the pain worse. You may be able to relieve the pain by eating certain foods which buffer stomach acid, or by taking certain acid-reducing medications, but then the pain may return. The pain may get worse between meals and during the night.
Most peptic ulcers do not cause any symptoms. However, they may cause severe symptoms such as vomiting or vomiting blood, which may be red or black, dark blood in stools or tarry stools, difficulty breathing, feeling faint, nausea or vomiting, unexplained weight loss, appetite changes, and when to see your doctor.
If you are experiencing burning stomach pain, you should see your doctor. You may also need to see your doctor if you are taking over the counter antacids or acid blockers, but the pain returns.
Causes
Peptic ulcers do when acid in the digestive tract eats down at the inner face of the stomach or small intestine. The acid can produce a painful open sore that may bleed. Your digestive tract is carpeted with a mucous subcaste that typically protects against acid. But if the quantum of acid is increased or the quantum of mucus is dropped, you could develop an ulcer. Common causes include A bacterium. Helicobacter pylori bacteria generally live in the mucous subcaste that covers and protects that line the stomach and small intestine. Frequently, the H. pylori bacterium causes no problems, but it can beget inflammation of the stomach's inner subcaste, producing an ulcer. It's not clear how H. pylori infection spreads. It may be transmitted from person to person by close contact, similar to kissing. People may also contract H. pylori through food and water. Regular use of certain pain relievers. Taking aspirin, as well as certain untoward and tradition pain specifics called non steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines NSAIDs can irritate or inflame the filling of your stomach and small intestine. These specifics include ibuprofen Advil, Motrin IB, others, naproxen sodium and others. They don't include acetaminophen Tylenol, others. Other specifics. Taking certain other specifics along with NSAIDs, similar as steroids, anticoagulants, aspirin, picky serotonin reuptake impediments, alendronate and greatly increase the chance of developing ulcers. Risk factors
NSAIDs (non -steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)
Smoking
H. pylori infection
Alcohol consumption
Uncontrolled stress
Spicy foods
On its own, these risk factors do not cause peptic ulcers, but together they can make them worse and harder to heal.
Complications
Peptic ulcers can lead to internal bleeding, which can result in slow blood loss that can lead to anemia, or severe blood loss that can require hospitalization or blood transfusions. Severe bleeding can result in black or blood-colored vomit or black or blood-stained stools.
Perforation of the stomach wall
A hole in the wall of the stomach or small intestine can become a perforated ulcer, which can lead to serious infection of the abdominal cavity.
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