A gastric ulcer is one kind of peptic ulcer which appears in the lining of the stomach; the other kinds of peptic ulcers can occur in the small intestine or in the esophagus. They occur everywhere around the world, and in the United States one in five people younger than 30 and one in two people older than 60 are infected with the bacteria that commonly cause gastric ulcers.
The most common symptom of a gastric ulcer is a burning pain in the stomach. The ulcer is the primary cause of the pain, but it is made worse by coming into contact with the acid from the stomach. The pain might be felt anywhere in your abdominal region, from your navel to your breastbone, and it can last anywhere from a few minutes to several hours at a time. In most cases, it is worst when your stomach is empty, and for many people, their ulcers flare up the worst at night. In some cases, there are worse symptoms, which can include the vomiting of red or black blood, dark blood in your stools, or stools that are black and tarry. You might also experience nausea, vomiting, unexplained weight loss, or pain in your chest.
Most gastric ulcers are caused by an infection of a common bacterium called Heliobacter pylori, or simply H. pylori. H. pylori is found in the mucous lining of the stomach, and in most cases causes no problems. But in other cases, it can disrupt the mucous layer and inflame the lining of the stomach. When that kind of inflammation occurs, a gastric ulcer is produced. Gastric ulcers are more likely to occur in people who have already had some damage to the lining of the stomach, because in those cases, the bacteria can more easily get into the lining of the stomach and inflame it.
There are causes of gastric ulcers besides H. pylori, however. One of the common causes of gastric ulcers is the regular use of pain relievers, especially nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, and ketoprofen. NSAIDs stop the production of an enzyme that protects the stomach lining against the eroding effects of acid. Another cause of gastric ulcers is smoking, because the nicotine in tobacco increases stomach acid, and more stomach acid means more risk of an ulcer. Even if you are getting treatment for your ulcer, smoking can slow any healing that may take place. Alcohol, as well, can increase the amount of stomach acid and irritate your stomach lining. A final contributor to gastric ulcers is connected to stress. It doesn’t cause the ulcers, but it can aggravate the symptoms that already exist and can delay healing. Stress can come from emotional causes or from some sort of physical stress that harms your body.
Many people self-treat their gastric ulcers with absorbent foods that help soothe the pain of the ulcer, or with over-the-counter antacids and acid blockers. These methods can result in a short-term relief of the pain, but it doesn’t last long, and it always returns. If you have the signs and symptoms that might indicate an ulcer, you should see your doctor. Many of the symptoms of an ulcer are common to other disorders, but a gastric ulcer can become very serious if it is left untreated. A doctor can prescribe medication that can relieve your pain and eventually clear up your infection and heal your ulcer.
If you have symptoms that might indicate an ulcer there are some tests that your doctor may give you to make sure of that diagnosis. These may include:
• An upper gastrointestinal X-ray. This test outlines your esophagus, stomach, and duodenum. You drink a barium solution, and any ulcers that you may have appear more clearly on an x-ray. However, not all ulcers can be detected this way.
• An endoscopy. In this procedure, your doctor will thread a long, narrow tube down your throat and into your stomach. At the end of this tube is a very small camera, and it allows your doctor to look inside your digestive tract for any ulcers that might be present.
• A blood test. A blood test can check for the antibodies caused by the presence of H. pylori. This test is imprecise because the antibodies may still be present from previous infections, but it does help your doctor to discern the problem.
• A breath test. This test requires you to drink a liquid with a clear, radioactive carbon liquid in it, which can help detect the presence of H. pylori. The advantage of this test is that it is non-invasive and can be administered repeatedly to help discern whether the treatment is effective and the H. pylori are being reduced.
• A stool antigen test. This test detects the presence of H. pylori in the stool and can also help discern how successful the treatment is.
It is very important that you get an accurate diagnosis for your stomach pain. If you don’t get a gastric ulcer treated, it could cause internal bleeding, and the excess acid could eat a hole through the wall of your stomach. This can lead to serious infections in your abdominal cavity, known as peritonitis. These ulcers can also produce scar tissue which can then obstruct the passage of food through the digestive tract. Obstructions like this can lead to you getting full too easily and not getting the nutrition you need.
Doctors use a two-pronged approach to treat gastric ulcers. They try to kill the bacteria and to reduce the acid in your stomach, which relieves pain. This is done through the use of a combination of two or more of the following medications:
• Antibiotics. These treat the H. pylori.
• Acid blockers. These reduce the amount of acid released into the stomach.
• Antacids. These neutralize acid and relieve pain.
• Cytoprotective agents. These are for protecting your stomach lining.
• Proton pump inhibitors. These help reduce acid in your stomach lining.
Find out more by viewing the Human Anatomy page:
Digestive system
Endocrine system
Medication commonly used for these disease:
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Cimetidine is a medication used to prevent ulcers in the stomach and small intestines, treating gastroesophageal reflux disease, prevents upper GI bleeding and prevents acid reflux. There are also unlabeled uses that include: the prevention of aspiration more...
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Prilosec, which is generically prescribed as omeprazole, is commonly used to treat the symptoms of gastroesophogeal reflux disease, gastric ulcers, and to promote the healing of the esophagus and stomach lining from the damage caused by erosive esophagiti more...
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Aciphex, which is generically prescribed as rabeprazole, is commonly used to treat stomach ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease, or other stomach acid conditions. Aciphex reduces the stomach acid production. Aciphex is not appropriate for everyone more...
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GERD or gastroesophageal reflux disease is mostly responsible for the damage in the esophagus and the stomach. Chronic symptoms of disturbance may occur if the disease is not treated. It may even be responsible for the development of other conditions. more...
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Pepcid, generically know as famotidine prescription strength tablets, is used for short-term treatment and prevention of ulcers, gastreosphageal reflux disease (GERD) and pathological hypersecretory conditions. Pepcid is a member of the family of medicine more...
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Lansoprazole is an efficient and useful drug mainly taken for stomach problems. This drug is known medically as a proton pump inhibitor. It prevents the stomach from producing acid in levels that might be detrimental to a person’s health. It is used more more...
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Protonix, generically known as pantoprazole, is used as a short term treatment in healing and symptomatic relief from gastroesphageal reflux disease (GERD) and as a long term treatment pathological hypersecretory conditions, including Zollinger-Ellison sy more...
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Cytotec is a brand name for the generic medication misoprostol. It is prescribed to reduce the risk of stomach ulcers in patients who take NSAIDs, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, since those drugs can inflame the stomach lining. It belongs to a more...
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Nexium, which is generically prescribed as esomeprazole, is commonly used to treat the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease, Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome, as well as the prevention of stomach ulcers, intestinal ulcers, or the erosion of the esophagus more...
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Ranitidine HCL, which is also prescribed as Zantac, is commonly used to decrease acid in the stomach which leads to indigestion, heartburn, and gastroesophageal reflux disease. Ranitidine is a member of the family of medications known as histamine 2 block more...
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Gastric ulcer
