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PEPTIC ULCER

Men's Health, Women's Health / By

PEPTIC ULCER

Peptic ulcers are sores that develop in the lining of the stomach, the lower esophagus, or small intestine. There are 3 different types of peptic ulcer, they include:

  • Gastric ulcers that occur on the inside of the stomach
  • Esophageal ulcers that develop inside the esophagus
  • Duodenal ulcers that occur in the upper and first part of the small intestine, known as the duodenum.
  • Peptic ulcers are present in around 4% of the population.
  • Peptic ulcers may result in complications such as internal bleeding, perforation, and blockage of the stomach.
  • Bleeding occurs in as many as 15% of people with the condition

CAUSES

A peptic ulcer occurs when the inner surface of the digestive tract is eroded by the acidic juices that the cell of the stomach lining secretes.

The digestive tract is coated with a mucous layer that normally protects against acid. An increase in the amount of the acid or decrease in the amount of mucous can create a painful open sore. The major causes are:

  • Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), a bacteria that lives in the mucous layer that covers and protects the tissues lining the stomach and small intestine. This bacteria often causes no problem. But in others, it can raise the amount of acid, break down the protective mucous layer, and irritate the digestive tract, producing an ulcer. The bacteria is transmitted from one person to another by close contacts, such as kissing, and also through unclean food and water.
  • Frequent use of certain pain relievers such as aspirin, and other NSAIDs such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others), naproxen sodium (Aleve, Anaprox, others), ketoprofen. Another type of pain meds like acetaminophen will not lead to peptic ulcers.

Risk factors associated with the conditions are:

  • Smoking
  • Drinking too much alcohol
  • Upper abdominal radiotherapy
  • Liver cirrhosis
  • Crohn disease

Eating a lot of spicy food and stress does not cause peptic ulcer but they can aggravate symptoms

 

SYMPTOMS

  • Burning abdominal pain
  • Heartburn
  • Nausea
  • Fatty food intolerance
  • Bloating or abdominal fullness
  • Bloody or dark poop
  • Changes in appetite
  • Unintended weight loss
  • Vomiting of blood 4

DIAGNOSIS 

To make a diagnosis, the doctor may first take a medical history and perform a physical examination. The doctor will check for bloating in the belly and pain.

To know for sure if there is an ulcer, the doctor may carry out an upper endoscopy. In this procedure, the doctor inserts a long tube with a camera down your throat and into the stomach and small intestine to examine your digestive system and look for an ulcer. If an ulcer is detected, the small tissue is removed for examination in the laboratory.

An upper gastrointestinal series also called a barium swallow may also be carried out. For this procedure, you will be required to drink a thick liquid called barium. This liquid will coat your digestive tracts and make it possible for the doctor to view and treat your ulcer.

The doctor may recommend breath, stool or blood test to determine if the H. pylori bacteria are present in your stomach. This is done because the bacteria is a cause of peptic ulcer

TREATMENT

Treatment depends on the cause of the ulcer. Treatment will involve killing the bacteria, reducing the use of NSAIDs and helping the ulcer heal.

If the bacteria are present, the doctor will prescribe a combination of antibiotic medications to kill them. These may include tinidazole (Tindamax), amoxicillin (Amoxil), clarithromycin (Biaxin) and others.

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) medications to block stomach acid

Acid blockers such as ranitidine (Zantac), famotidine (Pepcid) to reduce the amount of stomach acid released into the digestive tract.

Medications such as sucralfate (Carafate) to coat and protect the lining of the stomach and small intestine