Stomach Ulcers

What are Stomach Ulcers?

A stomach ulcer is a small erosion, which is basically a hole, in the gastrointestinal tract lining. They are neither cancerous nor contagious. The most common type of stomach ulcer, also known as a peptic ulcer, lies in the first foot of small intestine beyond the stomach. This type of ulcer is duodenal. Ulcers in the stomach lining are called gastric ulcers. Duodenal ulcers tend to be benign, but gastric ulcers have potential to become deadly.

Causes of Stomach Ulcers

The direct cause of an ulcer is simply the destruction of either the gastric lining or the intestinal mucosal lining of the stomach. It is believed that an infection with the bacteria Helicobacter pylori is another cause for peptic ulcers due to contamination of food and water. Injuring the gastric lining can also cause an erosion. One major offender people may not be aware of is aspirin; for all the aspirin taken to relieve headaches, it travels to the stomach and begins to erode the lining. This is also a problem with any anti-inflammatory medications in excess usage.

Stomach Ulcer Symptoms

Other common symptoms include appetite and weight loss, recurrent vomiting, black stool, bloody stool and anemia. It is very important to seek medical attention should any symptoms occur. Untreated ulcers can lead to far more serious problems such as anemia and the need for surgery due to bleeding ulcers.

Treatments

Treatment options mostly aim to kill the Helicobacter pylori bacteria that is eating away at the stomach lining. As such, a doctor will likely describe certain medications to help kill it and to help reduce the acid in the stomach near the erosion. Some of the different kinds of medications that may be prescribed include H2-Receptor antagonists and proton pump inhibitors. These, as previously stated, aim to reduce acid, kill the bacteria and generally protect the stomach lining from a recurrence of the ulcers. In rare cases, the medication may not work and will require surgery in its stead.

In Closing...

As previously mentioned, it is highly recommended to seek medical help immediately if any symptoms of an ulcer rise, as not treating it can lead to further complications such as anemia and completely eating away at the stomach wall.