Ulcers

A peptic ulcer is a sore in the lining of the stomach (gastric ulcer) or duodenum, the first part of the intestines, (duodenal ulcer). Ten percent of the population develops ulcers. They can occur at any age and affect both men and women.

It is now believed that most duodenal ulcers are caused by Helicobacter pyloribacteria and can be treated with antibiotics. Duodenal ulcers are almost never cancerous.

Gastric ulcers develop later in life, can be caused by certain drugs such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and can cause cancer.

The warning signs of duodenal ulcers are stomach pain, burning sensation, usually when the stomach is empty. Pain is located just below the breastbone. Drinking milk, eating or using antacids relieve the pain but it returns 2-3 hours later. Pain in the middle of the night is common. Symptoms may disappear without treatment but will recur.

The symptoms of gastric ulcers are different. Eating will cause the pain rather than relieving it. Typically there is bloating, nausea, and sometimes vomiting after eating.

Treatment usually begins with attempts to reduce stomach acid. Antacids blended from aluminum, calcium or magnesium salts, have long been the non-prescription drugs most people quickly reach for to get relief from their stomach pains. But, because antacids interfere with absorption of some medications, be sure to go over this with your doctor and get his approval.

Also, discontinuing irritating medications, alcohol, nicotine may provide some relief. There is no evidence that a bland diet will speed healing. Most people learn which foods cause pain and eliminate them from the diet. Your doctor may prescribe drugs to reduce stomach acid and treatment usually takes six weeks or longer. Surgery is seldom needed unless complications have occurred.

Herbal remedies sometimes help. Chamomile tea can help quiet an upset stomach; cinnamon soothes, ginger fights nausea. Meadowsweet, slippery elm, and turmeric have also been found to ease stomach upset. Licorice may heal peptic ulcers but can have harmful side effects, especially for people with blood pressure problems or kidney disease. Be sure to check with your doctor prior to self-treatment with herbs.

You should never ignore any warning signs of ulcers. Ulcer complications are serious and can be life-threatening. If pain from ulcers persists after more than 10 to 14 days of self- treatment or comes back when treatment ends, you should see your doctor. The passing of blood through the bowels may be caused by some other problem, but it can also be an urgent warning of a bleeding ulcer.

Bleeding ulcers can cause anemia. If the ulcer gets larger, it may expand into a major blood vessel; a leak can turn into a hemorrhage, which means you have only minutes available for life saving emergency treatment. Ulcers can also perforate and may erode completely through the wall of the stomach or duodenum. If this happens and the stomach's contents flow into the abdominal cavity, severe infection can result. A perforated ulcer is an emergency that requires immediate surgery.

It has been determined that smoking doubles a person's risk for ulcer disease. Physicians and researches have found that ulcers heal a lot slower for smokers, and smokers also have a higher relapse rate.

As research continues, there is now mounting evidence that something other than smoking, drinking, spicy meals, or a possible battle with the boss may be associated with ulcers. It is now believed that ulcers are the result of a combination of conditions, the dynamics of which researchers don't yet fully understand.

The above is presented as information only. Diagnosis and treatment of any medical condition requires the direction of your physician.