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What are Stomach Ulcers?
A stomach ulcer occurs when a small area of the stomach's inner surface is damaged by stomach acid. This damage results in a shallow hole in the stomach lining.
Stomach ulcers are like little sores on the inside of your tummy or the tubes connected to it. They develop when the stomach's protective mucus becomes ineffective.
This can lead to damage from stomach acid, causing discomfort and other symptoms like pain and indigestion.
Symptoms of Stomach Ulcers
Several symptoms are associated with stomach ulcers, the severity of which is dependent on the ulcer's severity.
The most common symptom is a burning or aching sensation in the middle of the abdomen between the chest and the belly button.
The pain is usually most severe when the stomach is empty and can last from a few minutes to several hours.
- Dull pain in the stomach
- Weight Loss
- Not wanting to eat out of pain
- Nausea or vomiting
- Swelling
- Feeling full easily
- Belching or acid reflux
- Heartburn, which is a burning sensation in the chest
- Pain that may improve when you eat, drink, or take antacids
- Anaemia, the symptoms of which may include tiredness, shortness of breath, or paler skin.
- Dark, tarry stools
- Vomit that is bloody or looks like coffee grounds.
Ulcers in the stomach tend to show slightly different symptoms and signs than in the small intestine:
- Stomach ulcers tend to show fewer clear symptoms, and the pain is less constant. Sometimes, the pain worsens after eating food.
- Small bowel ulcers are more likely to be in constant pain. The pain can wake many up in the middle of the night, but it doesn't appear first thing in the morning. When the pain appears later in the day, eating food tends to reduce it.
Causes of Stomach Ulcers
Stomach ulcers can be caused by several things, including the following:
- Helicobacter pylori Bacterium : This germ is responsible for about 60% of stomach ulcers and at least 90% of duodenal ulcers.
- Certain Medications : Drugs like aspirin, clopidogrel (used for heart health), and arthritis medications can increase the risk of ulcers. Anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) cause about two-fifths of stomach ulcers.
- Stomach Cancer : Sometimes, especially in older people, stomach cancer can look like an ulcer.
Diagnosis of Stomach Ulcers
Doctors follow the symptoms of a stomach ulcer by asking questions about what the pain feels like, where and when it occurs, and how frequent and long it has been.
This process helps examine whether or not a stomach ulcer developed. Your doctor may also order a stool or breath test to determine whether the stomach ulcer is caused by H. pylori bacteria.
If there are more serious symptoms, such as bleeding, your doctor may require more tests, which may include:
- Endoscopy : A camera is inserted into the end of a long, thin, flexible tube to view the lining of the intestine. A biopsy can also be taken.
- Barium Enema : This is a thick liquid that allows X-rays of the intestine to be taken. If there are more serious symptoms, such as bleeding, doctors may order more tests.
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Book an AppointmentTreatments for Stomach Ulcers
It is now known that special diets have very little impact on preventing or treating stomach ulcers.
Treatment options may include:
- Medications, including antibiotics, are used to destroy the H. pylori colony and to help speed up the healing process. Different drugs must be used in combination; some of the side effects can include diarrhoea and skin rashes. Resistance to some of these antibiotics is becoming more common.
- Subsequent breath tests are used to make sure the H. pylori infection has been successfully treated.
- Changes to existing medications the doses of arthritis medications, aspirin, or other anti-inflammatory medications may be slightly modified to reduce the effects that contribute.
- Reduce acid tablets are available to reduce the acid content in gastric juices.
- Lifestyle modifications include quitting smoking, as smoking lowers the stomach's natural defences and impairs the healing process.
Conclusion
- Anyone who thinks they may have an ulcer in their stomach should consult their doctor. Any stomach symptoms that last for more than a few days or keep happening need evaluation and treatment.
- It is not common, but it is especially important to get medical attention if there is an ulcer complication. A slow-bleeding ulcer can be signaled by feeling anaemic, such as being tired and breathless. More serious bleeding is an urgent medical problem and can be signaled if blood is vomited or stools are black and sticky.
- Perforation, a hole in the stomach, is also an emergency. Without quick treatment, the stomach wall can become infected. Sudden belly pain that gets worse can signal perforation, and any signs of being very unwell with infection need treatment as soon as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
A searing or shooting pain in the middle of the stomach is the most typical sign of a stomach ulcer (abdomen). But they aren't always painful, and some people may experience other symptoms, such as indigestion, heartburn, and discomfort.
Abdominal discomfort is the most common symptom of peptic ulcers. The pain is usually found in the upper middle abdomen, above the navel, and below the breastbone. The pain from the ulcer can feel like burning or gnawing, and it can reach the back.
Bilberry and bilberry extract can also help fight H. pylori. You can drink cranberry juice, eat cranberries, or take cranberry supplements. There is no specific amount of consumption associated with relief.
Stomach ulcers can cause bleeding from the ulcer, which can lead to anaemia if left untreated. The bleeding may appear as black stools.
An ulcer that bleeds profusely can cause black, sticky stools. Blood in the stool was dark crimson or maroon in colour vomit that was red and had the consistency of coffee grounds.
Stress ulcers develop out of nowhere, generally as a result of physical exertion. Some acidic meals, as well as physical stress, such as the stress of a major accident or infection, can aggravate ulcers. This might be because stress raises stomach acid levels.
The only way your doctor can tell for sure if you have an ulcer is by looking. They may utilise a series of X-rays or an endoscopic exam. This test allows them to pass a thin, flexible tube down the throat into the stomach and small intestine.
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