Peptic Ulcer: a Painful Ulceration in the Stomach

Gastric ulcer or Duodenal ulcer: Signs and Symptoms, Risk Factors

Peptic Ulcer is a condition caused due to a sore or a breach in the continuity of the mucous membrane or the inner lining of the stomach, duodenum, and rarely in the lower part of the esophagus.

Peptic ulcers are mainly of two types:

• Gastric ulcer
• Duodenal ulcer

And rarely oesophageal ulcers.

Peptic Ulcer Signs and Symptoms:

The symptoms associated with peptic ulcers are:

• Pain, worse when the stomach is empty. Pain relieved only when the complainant has food. Pain reappears after a meal. The pain is sharp, dull, or burning.
• Vomiting -brown because of blood in it.
• Stools are dark tarry and black.
• Acid reflux or heartburn
• Bloating
• Burping
• Loss of appetite
• Loss of weight
• Indigestion
• In people who are suffering from bleeding ulcers symptoms like fatigue, anemia, lightheadedness, and shortness of breath are also found.

Peptic ulcer Causes and Risk Factors

• Usage of Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and aspirin for a long time.
• Infection with the bacteria Helicobacter pylori
• In people suffering from Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.

Risk factors:

• People who are at higher risk to develop peptic ulcers due to overuse of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are:
• People who are 70 or more years old are at higher risk.
• Females are at higher risk than men.
• People who are consuming NSAIDs for a long time or having more than one kind of NSAID every day.
• People with a history of peptic ulcers.
• Excessive consumption of alcohol.
• People who smoke are at higher risk.
• Taking medicines that increase bone mass.
• People who are likely to develop an infection from the bacteria Helicobacter pylori are:

Many people are infected with the bacteria Helicobacter pylori but stay asymptomatic. The people get infected through:

• Consuming unclean food
• Consuming unclean water
• Eating food prepared in unclean vessels.
• The bacteria Helicobacter pylori is also transmitted through body fluids, even saliva of the infected.

Peptic ulcer Complications

In case the patient does not receive timely treatment, it can cause

• Bleeding from the blood vessels at the site of ulceration.
• Perforation of the stomach or small intestine
• Peritonitis or inflammation of the abdominal cavity
• Gastric obstruction preventing food passage.
• Internal bleeding
• Vomiting a large amount of undigested food.
• Unexplained weight loss
• Severe pain in the abdomen
• Peritonitis, leading to sepsis, thereby increasing the chances of multiple organ failure.
• Anemia
• Breathlessness
• Heart palpitations.

Lifestyle changes to prevent aggravation of symptoms:

• Reduce alcohol intake.
• Eat healthy food, including apples, nuts, cherries, blueberry, lemon, and oranges in the diet.
• Include probiotic food in your diet
• Reduce stress
• Avoid milk as milk increases acid reflux
• Include raw bananas in the diet
• Avoid smoking
• Get enough sleep
• Ask your doctor to change your painkiller

When to see the doctor:

• If you feel weak and faint
• If you have difficulty in breathing
• Sharp, persistent pain in the stomach
• Black stool
• Coffee ground brown vomiting