An peptic ulcer is a sore that forms in the walls of the stomach or duodenum. Ulcers affect people of any age, however, stomach ulcers are more common in women over the age of 60 and duodenal ulcers are more common in men between the ages of 30 and 50. Ulcers produce a wide range of symptoms and can cause a great deal
of discomfort. Have a question? Get an answer from a doctor now!
of discomfort. Have a question? Get an answer from a doctor now!Other People Are Reading
Ulcer
- In 1982, two scientists from Australia identified the Helicobacter pylori bacteria as the main cause of stomach ulcers. This discovery was so important to the medical field that they were awarded the Nobel Prize in 2005 for the discovery. Conventional thinking has always associated ulcer formation with lifestyle choices such as smoking, drinking and stress; and, although lifestyle choices do contribute to the formation of ulcers, over 80 percent are caused by the H. pylori bacteria.Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a bacteria that embeds itself into the cells on the stomach wall. H. pylori produce urease, an enzyme that generates the formation of ammonia. Urease produces substances that neutralize the natural acid in the stomach allowing H. pylori to grow and reproduce. H. pylori weakens the mucousal layer of the stomach causing the lining of the stomach to become irritated and inflamed.Another common cause of ulcers is the use overuse of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications such as aspirin. Overuse of NSAIDs can cause an increase in the production of stomach acids.
Symptoms
- Symptoms of peptic ulcers include a burning feeling in the stomach that may shoot to the shoulder area and around to the back, much like a heart attack. Symptoms may also include bloating, mild nausea, belching and acid reflux. One of the most common signs is a gnawing pain that feels like "hunger pains." These pains are often soothed by eating and most commonly occur within an hour or two after a meal, or at night. It is believed that the acid in the stomach is diluted by the foodand explains why eating lessens the pain.
Treatment
- There are some simple things you can do at home to lessen the "hunger pains" associated with peptic ulcers. Eating several small meals a day will keep the acid in your stomach diluted. Bananas are considered one of the best home remedies; they reduce the amount of gastric juices and coat the lining of the stomach. The juice of raw vegetables is also beneficial for the treatment of peptic ulcers.Medical treatment is often necessary and includes acid blockers, mucosal protective agents and antibiotics.H2-blockers reduce the amount of acid in the stomach and include Tagamet and Pepcid. H2-blockers can begin to heal a gastric ulcer in six to eight weeks and a duodenal ulcer in four weeks.Proton-pump inhibitors actually stop the stomach acid-pump from producing acid. The common name for this medication is Prilosec. Prilosec is 10 times more powerful than H2-blockers, and is able to stop 95 percent of the acid production in the stomach. Prilosec can begin curing a duodenal ulcer in two to four weeks.Mucosal protective agents can be prescribed (Sulcrate and Cytotec) or over the counter (Tums and Pepto Bismol). Protective agents provide a coating on the stomach walls to prevent irritation from the stomach acid.A two-week course of high-dose antibiotics is required to fight the H. pyloris bacteria. In instances where antibiotics were used, there is only a 1 percent chance of the ulcer recurring; however, when antibiotics were not used, the ulcer returned in 75 percent of cases.
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