Approximately 3.7 million people in the United states develop stomach ulcers every year. Most of these people attribute their stomach ulcers to either stress, having poor eating habits, or indulging in too much spicy food. A lot of people are unaware of this disease, this article will help shed more light on stomach ulcers.

Stomach ulcers

Also known as peptic ulcers or peptic ulcer disease (PUD), these are crater-like sores that form in the lining of the stomach. The sores are generally 1/4 inch to 3/4 inch in diameter, but are sometimes one to two inches in diameter. It can only form in the area just below the stomach, at the beginning of the small intestine or the duodenum, and very seldom in the esophagus.

What causes peptic ulcers?

lStress

Stress causes an increase in stomach muscle activity and also an increase in stomach acid production, causing aggravation of the stomach lining that can start stomach lining ulceration.

lHelicobacter pylori (H. pylori)

H. pylori is a corkscrew-shaped bacterium that lives and replicates within the mucus layer that protects the tissues that line the stomach and the small intestine. Although H. pylori is usually harmless, there are cases where it can disrupt the mucus layer and cause an inflammation in the stomach lining or the duodenum.

What are the different signs and symptoms of having stomach ulcers?

Here are the most commonly complained symptoms that people with peptic ulcers reported:

lEpigastric abdominal pain.

lBloating and abdominal fullness.

lNausea and vomiting.

lRush of saliva after vomiting to dilute the acid on the esophagus (waterbrash).

lLoss of appetite followed by weight loss.

lVomiting of blood (hematemesis).

lTarry, foul-smelling feces (melena)

lGastric and duodenal perforation.

How is stomach ulcer treated?

lMedications. Antacids can help during early onset of ulcer-like symptoms. It can help normalize the balance of stomach acids so as not to further irritate the stomach lining. A combination of two antibiotics can also be used to treat H. pylori infections. Acid blockers can also be used to stop further acid production until the ulceration has healed. Depending on the severity of the epigastric pain, over-the-counter and prescription pain relief medicines can be used for ulcer pain relief.

lSurgical procedure. In severe cases where the gastric lining is perforated, surgery is required to repair the perforated lining. Some surgical procedures are done to stop bleeding from the ulcers, and some are aimed to remove ulcer scars that are blocking the passageway of food.

Coping with stomach ulcers

Here are some tips to avoid having a stomach ulcer and avoid recurrence if you've previously had peptic ulcer disease:

lAvoid smoking. Cigarette smoke may irritate the stomach lining and contribute to developing peptic ulcers.

lLimit alcohol intake. Excessive alcohol consumption may erode the mucus lining of the stomach, making it more prone to damage from H. pylori.

lAs much as possible, do not use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). As much as possible, steer clear from pain relievers that are of the NSAID kind.