Stomach Ulcer: This article explains what stomach ulcers are, why they develop, the symptoms they cause, and how they can be effectively treated.Stomach ulcers (peptic, gastric or duodenal ulcers) can be easily treated with medication but you may need some tests in hospital.
stomach ulcer treatment at home: Stomach ulcers, also known as gastric ulcers, are open sores that develop on the lining of the stomach. Bloating and heartburn are only the tip of the iceberg.Even though more than 25 million Americans will suffer from a stomach ulcer at some point during their lifetime, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, you don't need to put down the jalapeño poppers just yet. Contrary to popular belief, spicy foods don’t cause stomach ulcers. Neither does stress. (If you already have an ulcer, however, both can make your symptoms worse.)
“The two main causes of ulcers in the US are a bacterial infection called H. pylori, and long-term use of aspirin and NSAID painkillers (ibuprofen and naproxen),” says Shipla Ravella, MD, gastroenterologist at NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia University Medical Center.
Basically, there’s a thick layer of mucus that protects your stomach from digestive juices, which are super acidic. And anytime there’s a mucosal drought, the juices eat away at the tissues that line the stomach, causing an ulcer.
Think you might have one?. The primary symptoms to look out for are pretty non-specific (translation: they can be caused by a variety of conditions besides ulcers), says Ravella, so it’s important to check in with your doc if you ever experience any of the following five issues:
Stomach Ulcer: Causes, Symptoms, and Diagnosis
5 Signs You Might Have A Stomach Ulcer
1. Christine Frapech
The most common stomach ulcer symptom is, not surprisingly, stomach pain—typically, a dull, burning sensation in the mid-abdominal area. “Because ulcers are literally sores in the lining of the stomach or small bowel, pain classically presents in relation to acid secretion in the intestines,” says Rusha Modi, MD, gastroenterologist and assistant professor of clinical medicine at Keck Medical Center in California. The pain usually peaks between meals and at night, when acid has been secreted into the stomach but there’s no food to act as a buffer. Taking antacids can temporarily relieve the pain, but odds are it will keep coming back until the ulcer is treated by a professional.
2. Christine Frapech
Because the ulcer is being perpetually doused in acid, stomach pain can often be paired with chronic heartburn and regurgitation (that icky feeling of acid backing up into your throat). Other symptoms, such as bloating, burping, or feeling permanently full, may not be far behind, says Ravella. If taking an OTC antacid only relieves symptoms temporarily, or they seem to strike no matter what you eat, you may want to discuss this with your physician.
3. Christine Frapech
“Nausea and vomiting are also due to the inflammatory cascade that occurs as a result of the ulcer’s development,” says Modi. The inflammation of the stomach lining itself causes intermittent contractions (cue nausea)—and if the muscles of the abdominal wall contract with enough force, it can cause full-on vomiting, says Rudolph Bedford, MD, gastroenterologist at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California.
In some cases, these symptoms strike because the ulcer is causing a blockage in the stomach and food isn’t able to pass easily into the small intestine. Your doctor can determine the exact cause of the ulcer and, most likely, treat it with antacid medications—but, if there’s evidence of a blockage, you’ll be admitted to the hospital for further treatment, says Modi.
4. Christine Frapech
Ulcers can bleed and cause vomiting—particularly, vomiting of blood or material that looks like coffee grounds (which is digested blood that’s been sitting in the stomach), says Sophie Balzora, MD, gastroenterologist and assistant professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center. Your poop may also become black in color, which, again, can be indicative of digested blood. “Both are signs that require urgent and emergent medical attention,” she says.
5. Christine Frapech
Pain from a stomach ulcer can travel, radiating to the back or chest. “If the ulcer has penetrated through the bowel wall, the pain can become more intense, longer in duration, and harder to alleviate,” says Ravella. Ulcers can also cause perforation (where the lining of the stomach splits open), in which case you may experience sudden and severe stomach pain that continually gets worse—and should head to the ER, stat.
If you’re not experiencing symptoms that require urgent medical attention, set up a time to chat with your doctor about the best course of action is. “If there’s a high suspicion for an ulcer, you may be advised to undergo an upper endoscopy to formally diagnose and treat it accordingly,” says Balzora. Ulcers are primarily treated with acid-lowering medications—and, if H. pylori is detected, a round of antibiotics.
tag: Stomach Ulcer; stomach ulcer treatment at home; stomach ulcer diet; duodenal ulcer symptoms; bleeding ulcer symptoms; types of ulcer; peptic ulcer treatment; peptic ulcer diet; stress ulcer.
Here are 6 very evident signs that you may be suffering from an ulcer: Severe Abdominal Pain. New-onset abdominal pain that does not go away can be a sign of an ulcer forming. Poor Appetite. Unintentional Weight Loss. Change In Stool Color.
stomach ulcer diet: Start paying attention to your poop.
types of ulcer: Esophagus, stomach, colon, pancreas, liver—your digestive system involves them all, so perhaps it's no wonder that symptoms of GI problems can be all over the map. The problem is that when they show up in ways you don't expect, you might not even realize that a trip to the gastroenterologist is in order (check out these 6 things gastroenterologists want you to know). Here are a few clues that it's time to make an appointment.
1. You've got a lump in your throat.
When food stops gliding down your gullet like it used to, get it checked—especially if the feeling gets more intense over time. Sometimes, even H2O can become hard to swallow (here are 8 things you should know when your throat is killing you).
"Pain with drinking water can be a sign of a serious GI problem," says Jeffrey S. Crespin, M.D., a gastroenterologist and clinical assistant professor at NYU. Your doctor will also want to know if your swallowing problems come with a side of coughing, hoarseness, hiccupping, or feeling full after only a few bites of food. These could be signs of esophageal cancer.
2. Your gas clears a room.
Flatulence is normal—did you know the average person passes almost two liters of gas a day?—unless it's paired with unpleasant side effects. "The time to be concerned is if it's associated with abdominal discomfort, change in bowel habits, or unexplained weight loss," says John E. Burney, M.D., a gastroenterologist in Fayetteville, Georgia.
Also worrying: unusually foul-smelling toots. That odor could be a signal that a parasite called giardia is infecting your intestines (take a look at these 7 other things your gas it trying to tell you).
3. Your pants are suddenly too tight.
If you're having a harder time zipping your jeans than you did a few days ago, it may not be belly fat that's to blame. Bloating—what happens when your body holds in too much gas—is a common problem, and can just be a result of overeating or swallowing too much air. But sudden bloating that occurs for no obvious reason and is accompanied by symptoms like pain or blood in the stool is more concerning. It could be as simple as a dairy digestion problem, or it could mean something else that deserves different treatment, says Burney. "Things to consider are gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), gallstones, constipation, and celiac disease."
4. Your pants are suddenly too loose.
Weight loss you can't explain can be a symptom of many health problems, but your digestive system is a good place to start your search for a cause. "Gastroenterologists often see patients for unexplained weight loss," says Burney. "The first things to exclude are cancers of the colon, pancreas, and stomach."
Other reasons you might be dropping pounds include conditions like celiac disease or Crohn's disease, which interfere with your body's ability to absorb nutrients.
5. Your bowel movements are the new black.
You're likely to feel some alarm if you see red in the toilet after you go, but blood can also make your poop look black. And when it comes to your rectum, "Bleeding is never normal," says Crespin. Bright red bleeding you only see on toilet paper may be from hemorrhoids—swollen blood vessels on your bottom that can itch or hurt.
Your primary doctor may be able to help with hemorrhoids, but if bleeding is ongoing or not linked to those, see a GI doctor. "Anyone with rectal bleeding that is recurrent, associated with other symptoms, or is 40 years or over should be evaluated," says Burney.
6. You've stopped pumping iron.
Not in the gym—in your blood. Iron helps red blood cells deliver oxygen to your body's tissues. When you're running low on iron, your whole body feels it. It often makes you very tired, and can also cause headaches, yellowish skin, brittle nails, hair loss, and general overall weakness.
Your internist can check your iron levels with a simple blood test, but if you turn out to be anemic you may need to see a GI specialist. "Iron deficiency anemia can often be due to chronic, unseen blood loss in the GI tract from things like colon cancer, stomach cancer, ulcers, inflammatory bowel disease or superficial blood vessels called angiodysplasia," says Burney.
The most common peptic ulcer symptom is burning stomach pain. Stomach acid makes the pain worse, as does having an empty stomach. Peptic ulcers (stomach or duodenal) are holes hole in the lining of the stomach, duodenum. Stomach ulcers, which are also known as gastric ulcers, are painful sores in the stomach lining.
stress ulcer: If you do, they may include: A gnawing or burning pain in your stomach between meals or at night. Bloating. Heartburn. Nausea or vomiting. Loss of appetite. Bloating and heartburn are only the tip of the iceberg. Check with your doc if you have these symptoms.