What is a Stomach Ulcer
A stomach ulcer is an erosion of the wall of the gastrointestinal tract. Ulcers primarily are caused due to a bacterium known as H pylori.
The term “stomach ulcer” is a bit of a misnomer. Medically, the proper term for an ulcer is peptic ulcer. This is because ulcers occur in both the stomach (gastric ulcers) and duodenum (duodenal ulcers; the duodenum is the first part of the small intestine).
In both cases, an ulcer is an erosion not unlike a canker sore in the stomach or intestine.
Why are Ulcers Harmful?
Ulcers present humans with a variety of challenges. The primary reason that ulcers are a problem is that the open sore that is an ulcer becomes irritated by the acid and digestive enzymes in the gastrointestinal tract that normally are meant to digest food.
When these liquids come into contact with an ulcer, stomach ulcer symptoms result. This leads to mild to severe burning stomach pain as well as loss of appetite, nausea, and in the worst cases, bleeding and perforation.
Perforation occurs when an ulcer goes from an erosion to a complete piercing of the stomach lining. This requires surgery to correct.
Chronic H pylori infection of the stomach is also associated with higher risks of stomach cancer.
What is an Ulcer Caused By?
As mentioned above, H pylori is the primary cause of ulcers. Little is known about how this bacteria is transmitted. However, we do know that developing nations have higher risks of H pylori infection. This means that it is likely that H pylori is somehow transmitted by poor hygienic practices.
H pylori itself does not directly cause the stomach ulcer to form. H pylori burrows into the lining of the intestine and stomach, which weakens the protective lining. The stomach and intestines then actually begin to digest their own tissue, causing the ulcer to form.
Duodenal ulcers are actually the most prevalent types of ulcers because the duodenum contains a powerful digestive enzymes such as trypsin and chymotrypsin which may aid in the ulceration process.
In a similar mechanism, an NSAID ulcer can be caused by taking too much non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin. These drugs slow down the cells responsible for excreting the protective lining of the digestive tract. If this advances far enough, the lack of protective mucus can cause stomach acid to cause an ulcer.
What is a Stomach Ulcer Treated With?
Ulcers are generally treated with antibiotics to help combat the H pylori infection. A proton pump inhibitor is also usually prescribed as well. However, before beginning treatment, an H pylori test is needed to determine the cause of the infection.
If you have an ulcer or H pylori, read this article on the best H pylori diet to discover power foods researches have found can combat H pylori.
Getting a follow-up test is necessary to determine whether or not an ulcer and the associated h pylori infection has been successfully treated. A simple urea breath test can be used at regular intervals during the treatment process to test for infection.
Testing should also be done several months after cessation of antibiotics to check for a recurrent infection, a surprisingly common phenomenon.
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