Peptic Ulcer

What is Peptic Ulcer?

Peptic ulcer is the breakage or discontinuation of the lining of your digestive tract or the surrounding tissue and is known as sores. Your digestive tract is made up of the esophagus (food pipe), stomach, duodenum (starting part of your intestine) and intestines.

Most ulcers you suffer are located in the duodenum. We call them duodenal ulcers. Gastric ulcers relate to your stomach. Esophageal ulcers are ulcers occurring in your esophagus.

Causes of Peptic Ulcer

Majority of peptic ulcers are caused due to an infection via Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) bacteria.

Excessive stomach acid secretions play a prominent role in development of peptic ulcers. Acids produced in excess amounts by your stomach cause erosion in the lining of your digestive tract.

This erosion can also happen if your digestive tract has suffered damage in some way. Stress can aggravate but cannot cause such ulcers.

You may carry ulcer causing bacteria in your body and still not suffer from any signs or symptoms.

Factors that may lead to development of peptic ulcer:

• Over use of over the counter pain killer drugs
• Advanced age
• People with certain blood groups (Type A or Type O)
• Excessive alcohol intake
• Smoking

Maintaining a healthy diet during peptic ulcer treatment can lead to a speedy recovery from the disease.

Before new research proved it wrong, medical professionals viewed poor eating habits related to overconsumption of rich fatty and spicy foods, stress, and genetically related excess acid secretions in your stomach as causes of peptic ulcer.

Symptoms of Peptic Ulcer

You may not experience any of the symptoms associated with ulcers even if you do have ulcer causing bacteria in your system. You can suffer from mild or severe symptoms depending on the cause.

Peptic ulcer symptoms can differ among individuals. Stomach ulcers can give you excruciating pain around your breastbone and naval which are parts of your upper abdomen.

Treatment for Peptic Ulcer

The main objective of treatment is to minimize the amount of acid in the stomach. Diagnosis is done through endoscopy (a tube passed down the throat into the stomach for viewing), tissue samples or by an X-ray examination.

Treatment for peptic ulcer involves medications such as antacids and antibiotics that work to protect and strengthen the protective lining of your digestive tract which interact with stomach acids.

Left untreated, peptic ulcers can cause various complications. Preventive measures include avoiding alcohol, cigarettes, spicy foods, tea, and coffee. Avoid these items as they can potentially aggravate symptoms.

Another step for peptic ulcer preventions includes planning a diet for ulcer consisting of small meals spread throughout the day instead of big meals at a single sitting. This leads to a reduction in stomach acids.

An ulcer diet consists of foods high in fiber content, low in carbohydrates and sugar along with vegetables such as broccoli and cabbage.