By Marc Courtiol
Ulcers form because the protective lining of your stomach has become eroded. Often times, smaller ulcers can go undetected for many weeks or even months, but larger ulcers generally cause a lot of bleeding, which can be very dangerous to your health.
If you have a peptic ulcer, the good news is that the majority of these conditions are completely treatable. This type of ulcer is typically caused by a bacterial infection known as Helicobacter pylori, or H. pylori. Doctors usually prescribe a combination of treatments including proton pump inhibitors and antibiotics.
The most accepted course of treatment for this combination of drugs is approximately two weeks, and for many people, this eliminates the problem completely and their ulcer never returns. Others are not so lucky, however. If you have a peptic ulcer that does not respond to treatment, or that simply refuses to go away and stay away, there are some positive steps you can take in an effort to rid yourself of this recurring condition.
Lifestyle Modifications
If you are a smoker, you need to quit. Smoking has been shown in studies to aggravate the healing process of ulcers and it has also been linked to the recurrence of ulcers. In fact, some studies have shown a direct connection between smoking and the development of ulcers, so this is definitely one habit that you will want to break.
Though previous studies indicated that people with peptic ulcers needed to avoid eating spicy foods, more recent research has shown that spicy foods really have no impact on the development of ulcers. If the ulcer that you already have is severe enough, however, the consumption of spicy foods could cause you a bit of discomfort.
Symptoms of Peptic Ulcers
There are a range of symptoms that can occur with peptic ulcers. Some of them are basic warnings to you that something is amiss and needs medical attention. Other symptoms, however, are indicators of situations that could be life threatening, so it is important to know the difference.
If you notice a nagging, burning pain between your breastbone and navel, you probably have a peptic ulcer. You should make an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible so that you can receive an examination and thorough evaluation.
The following symptoms require immediate medical attention:
- Black stool (or tar-like)
- Difficulty swallowing
- Nausea
- Pain radiating to your back, or that doesn’t go away after you take medication
- Severe abdominal pain
- Unexpected (particularly sudden) weight loss
- Unusual sense of weakness
- Vomiting food that was eaten hours or days before
Causes of Peptic Ulcers
While H. pylori is now considered to be the primary cause of most peptic ulcers, there are some other causes that you should be aware of:
- Alcohol – though an official link between alcohol and ulcers does not exist, ulcers are far more common in people who have cirrhosis of the liver
- Caffeine – this stimulates acid secretion in the stomach and may contribute to the development of ulcers, but only in conjunction with other risk factors
- NSAIDs – non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs include aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen sodium. When taken in excess, these drugs can cause the stomach’s defense mechanisms to weaken, making the stomach more susceptible to the development of ulcers
- Smoking – as mentioned previously, studies have clearly indicated that smoking increases a person’s chance of developing an ulcer, and it also contributes to a person’s ability to get rid of an existing ulcer