Peptic Ulcer: Symptoms, Complications, Types and Prevention

Peptic Ulcer Types

• Gastric ulcer: Develop on the inside of the stomach, on the lining
• Esophageal ulcer: Develop inside the esophagus
• Duodenal ulcer: Develop in the upper section of the small intestines, called the duodenum

Peptic Ulcer Causes

When digestive fluids harm the lining of the stomach or small intestine, ulcers develop. Your gut will feel it if the mucus layer becomes too thin or your stomach produces too much acid. The following are the main reasons:

1. Bacteria

Bacteria. H. pylori, often known as Helicobacter pylori, is a bacterium that up to half of us carry. Most H. pylori patients do not develop ulcers. In others, however, it may increase the acid level and degrade the mucus layer that protects the gut and irritate the digestive system. How the H. pylori virus spreads is a mystery to experts. They speculate that it may spread through intimate contact between individuals, such as a kiss. It can also be acquired by contaminated food and water.

2. Pain Reliefs

Taking certain analgesics may increase the risk. You are more prone to developing a peptic ulcer if you have been using aspirin often and for a long time. Other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications work similarly (NSAIDs). Ibuprofen and naproxen are some of them. NSAIDs prevent your body from producing a substance that aids in preventing stomach acid from penetrating the inner walls of your stomach and small intestine. Peptic ulcers cannot be caused by acetaminophen or other painkillers.

3. Alcohol and Tobacco Consumption

Alcohol use and cigarette smoking can increase your risk of developing ulcers. Physicians have long believed that consuming lots of spicy food and stress does not cause ulcers. However, they could make ulcers worse and more challenging to cure.

The primary cause for peptic ulcers is Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), a type of bacteria that can cause a stomach infection and inflammation. Peptic Ulcers can also result from:

1. The long term use of aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen and naproxen, especially for individuals over the age of 60
2. Smoking and drinking too much alcohol renders the esophagus and stomach lining causing frequent peptic ulcers.
3. Radiation Therapy
4. Stress and spicy foods can worsen the condition, but they don’t cause peptic ulcers

Peptic Ulcer Early Symptoms

• A sharp stomach ache
• Feeling bloated, overstuffed, or belching
• A dislike of fatty meals
• Heartburn
• Nausea

The most common symptom of peptic ulcer illness is a burning stomach ache. Empty stomach and stomach acid both make the pain worse. To ease the agony, consume certain foods that buffer stomach acid or take an acid-reducing medication; the pain may return. The discomfort could be worse at night and between meals. 

Many sufferers with peptic ulcers never exhibit symptoms.

Less frequently, severe indications or symptoms like these may be caused by ulcers.

• Vomiting blood that may seem red or black, or vomiting blood
• Having blood in the faeces or having tarry or black stools
• Difficulty breathing
• Feeling weak
• Nausea or diarrhoea
• Sudden weight loss
• Appetite shifts

Peptic Ulcer Symptoms

Burning abdominal pain that radiates from the navel to the chest, which can be minor to severe, is the most typical sign of a peptic ulcer. On occasion, the pain will keep you up at night. However, early or small peptic ulcers may not show any symptoms.

A searing sensation or discomfort will be felt between your breastbone and belly button. You can sense it more when you are not eating, like in the evening or between meals. If you eat or use an antacid, the discomfort could subside momentarily before returning. The discomfort may come and go for several days or even weeks, lasting only a few minutes or hours.

Early Signs Of Peptic Ulcer:

• Bloated sensation
• Burping
• Having no appetite or losing weight
• Nausea
• Dark or bloody faeces
• Vomiting

The most common symptom of peptic ulcer is burning stomach pain.

Other Peptic Ulcer Symptoms Can Include:

1. Indigestion
2. Nausea
3. Feeling of fullness or bloating
4. Heartburn
5. Fatty food intolerance
6. Dark stools, especially with blood
7. Pain shortly after eating
8. Unexplained weight loss.

Small ulcers could go unnoticed for a while. However, see your doctor if you have any of these symptoms.

Peptic Ulcer Diagnosis

Two different tests may be used to identify peptic ulcers. Upper endoscopy and upper gastrointestinal (GI) series are their names.

Upright Endoscopy

Your doctor will do this operation to check for ulcers by inserting a long tube with a camera down your neck into your stomach and small intestine. Your doctor can also take tissue samples using this tool for analysis.

Not every situation calls for an upper endoscopy. However, those with a higher risk of stomach cancer are advised to have this treatment. People above the age of 45 and those who suffer the following are included in this:

• Anemia
• People who have slimmed down suddenly
• Swallowing challenges
• Stomach bleeding

Upper GI

Your doctor could advise an upper GI test in place of a swallowing test if you don't have any trouble swallowing and have a low risk of stomach cancer. You will consume a thick barium liquid for this operation (barium swallow). Then a technician will X-ray your small intestine, esophagus, and stomach. Your doctor can see the ulcer and cure it thanks to the fluids.

Your doctor will also test to look for H. pylori in your stomach since this infection can lead to peptic ulcers.

Lab Tests:

To check the presence of H.Pylori, samples of blood, urine or breath can be taken.

Endoscopy:

In this, your doctor inserts a long hollow tube with a camera (endoscope) down from your throat into your stomach and small intestine to examine the area for ulcers.

Barium Swallow:

Series of X-rays are taken on swallowing a milky white liquid containing barium that coats the digestive tract to make the ulcers visible.

Peptic Ulcer Treatment

The treatment depends on the underlying cause of the peptic ulcers. Usually, it involves the antibiotics medications to kill the H. Pylori bacterium. It can also include medications that block acid production and promote healing; PPIs that are proton pump inhibitors along with medications that protect the lining of your stomach and small intestine.

The treatment also involves lifestyle modifications like:

1. To quit smoking
2. To drink less alcohol and caffeine.
3. To avoid foods which are spicy and other stimulating items.
4. To control stress
5. To include a healthy diet and inclusion of probiotics
6. To get enough sleep

Peptic Ulcer Prevention

Using the same methods suggested as home remedies for treating ulcers may lower your chance of developing peptic ulcers. 

1. Defend Yourself Against Infections

Although the precise method by which H. pylori spreads is uncertain, there is some evidence that it can occur through contact with tainted food or water.

By routinely washing your hands with soap and water and eating thoroughly cooked foods, you may take steps to protect yourself from infections like H. pylori.

2. Be Cautious when Using Painkillers

• If you often use painkillers that increase your risk of peptic ulcers, take steps to reduce your risk of stomach problems. Take your medicine, for example, with a meal.
• Find the lowest dose that will still help you get pain relief by working with your doctor. Avoid consuming alcohol while taking your prescription since the two together might make you more likely to have stomach distress.
• If an NSAID is necessary, you may also need other medications such as antacids, proton pump inhibitors, acid blockers, or cytoprotective medicines. A subclass of NSAIDs known as COX-2 inhibitors may be less likely to induce peptic ulcers but more likely to result in heart attacks.

Peptic Ulcer Risk factors

In addition to the risks associated with using NSAIDs, you may be more likely to develop peptic ulcers if you:

1. Smoke: Smoking increases the risk of developing peptic ulcers in people with H. pylori infection
2. Drink alcohol: Alcohol increases the amount of stomach acid generated and can irritate and erode the mucus lining of your stomach.
3. Possess unresolved tension
4. Eat hot food
5. These elements do not create ulcers but can exacerbate existing ulcers and make them harder to treat

Peptic Ulcer Complications

If left untreated, peptic ulcers can result in the following:

1. Internal Bleeding

Internal bleeding Anemia can develop gradually from blood loss, or it might happen suddenly and need hospitalization or blood transfusions. Vomit or dark or crimson feces may result from severe blood loss.

2. Perforation

A hole in the stomach's wall. You risk a severe abdominal cavity infection if you have peptic ulcers that perforate your stomach or small intestine (peritonitis).

3. Obstruction

Peptic ulcers can block the passage of food through the digestive tract, causing bloating, nausea, and weight loss due to swelling from inflammation or scarring.

4. Cancers Including Stomach Cancer

Studies have shown a connection between H. pylori infection and a higher risk of stomach cancer.

If left untreated, the peptic ulcer can cause:

1. Internal bleeding makes one feel light-headed and dizzy. Black or bloody stools are also a common sign of internal peptic ulcer bleeding
2. Infection caused by perforation of the stomach or small intestine results in sudden and extreme abdominal pain.
3. Scar tissue that results in blockage of food in the digestive tract ultimately leading to vomiting and sudden weight loss.

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