Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 2: Recognizing the symptoms
• Part 2 of 2: Tips for people who suffer from an ulcer
• Tips
• Warnings

An ulcer is damage to the skin or mucous membranes of the body. Ulcers that occur in the stomach or intestines are also called gastric ulcers. Stomach ulcers can be caused by certain factors such as diet, stress or excess stomach acid. However, the vast majority are caused by an infection with the bacteria Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). Ulcer symptoms can be very painful or cause a nagging pain. Sometimes peptic ulcers are asymptomatic, meaning that someone with an ulcer will not notice them.

To step

Part 1 of 2: Recognizing the symptoms

1. Don't ignore pain in the stomach or anywhere between the sternum and your belly button. The pain can vary in severity and duration and can last from a few minutes to several hours. It often occurs between meals, when your stomach is slowly emptying, and feels like a burning, stinging, or nagging pain.
   • Often times, these pains, caused by a stomach ulcer, can be temporarily numbed by eating food that acts as a buffer for the action of the stomach acid, or by swallowing stomach tablets.
   • If your stomach pain is caused by an ulcer, pain attacks may occur at night or when you are hungry.
2. Watch for other symptoms as well. Not all of the following symptoms will affect everyone, but you may experience some combination of them.
   • An increase in the amount of gases and belching.
   • Feeling full and inability to drink plenty of water.
   • Slightly nauseated feeling, usually immediately after getting up.
   • Overall fatigue.
   • No appetite.
   • Unintentional weight loss.
3. Recognize the symptoms of a severe stomach ulcer. If left untreated, they can cause internal bleeding along with other serious problems that require immediate medical attention.
   • Vomiting, especially if accompanied by blood, can be an indication of an advanced stomach ulcer.
   • Dark, tar, or doughy stools can also be a sign of a serious stomach ulcer.
   • Blood in the stool.
4. If you recognize the previous symptoms, see your doctor immediately. A stomach ulcer is a serious condition that requires immediate medical attention. Gastric tablets offer a temporary solution, but they do not cure the condition.
5. Find out if you are prone to developing a stomach ulcer. Although stomach ulcers can occur in everyone for a variety of causes, there are several risk groups:
   • People who suffer from an infection with the H. pylori bacteria.
   • People who regularly use anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, aspirin or naproxen.
   • People with a family history of stomach ulcers.
   • People who regularly drink (a lot of) alcohol.
   • People with a sick liver, kidneys or lungs.
   • People over 50 years old.

Part 2 of 2: Tips for people who suffer from an ulcer

1. If you suspect something is wrong, see your doctor. While most ulcers will clear on their own, some can progress to a more severe form and require endoscopy treatment. An endoscope is a small, lighted tube that is inserted into the esophagus. Only a doctor should do this. In the meantime, you can try some quick remedies before getting treatment.
2. Take an antacid. An antacid is sometimes recommended by doctors to see if the condition is improving. That's because stomach ulcers can be caused by an imbalance of the stomach acid in the duodenum.
3. Make lifestyle changes. Stop smoking, alcohol and taking NSAIDs. Smoking and drinking can both create an imbalance in the digestive juices, and NSAIDs do this when taken in high doses. Stop taking or using these drugs pending a diagnosis from your doctor.
4. Do not drink milk. Drinking milk may temporarily ease the pain, but it is like taking 1 step forward and 2 steps back. Milk leaves a thin film on the stomach wall, but this is short-lived and stimulates the formation of even more stomach acid, which ultimately makes the ulcers worse.

Tips

• Many cases of peptic ulcer disease are not caused by stress or diet, but by the Helicobacter pylori, a bacteria - not a virus. The Nobel Prize was awarded to Australian scientists Barry Marshall and Robin Warren for this discovery.
• Before discovering the link between an ulcer and the H. pylori bacteria, treatment consisted of dietary adjustments and lifestyle changes. Although we now know that most stomach ulcers are caused by this bacteria, it is still true that lifestyle and diet can worsen or improve the condition. Reduce stress by praying, doing yoga or meditation, getting plenty of exercise, and eating a healthy diet. Make sure you don't eat too fatty / spicy. This can help some people improve their condition.
• Another common cause of stomach ulcers is that the protective mucous membranes in the stomach are too thin, causing them to break through more quickly. This exposes the stomach wall to stomach acid. There are many prescription or over-the-counter medications that can cause the protective mucus layer to thin over time. Aspirin is one of them. NSAIDs and a number of synthetic blood thinners also have this side effect.

Warnings

• If an ulcer is left untreated, it can cause damage to the stomach wall, eventually resulting in perforation of the stomach wall, internal bleeding and digestive disruption.
• The following factors can increase the risk of a stomach ulcer: smoking and drinking alcohol, taking aspirin, ibuprofen or anti-inflammatory drugs, a lot of stress and radiation. All of these factors can thin the body's mucous membranes, including those in the stomach.