NAMAT blog

Peptic ulcers are sores on the inner lining of stomach,upper part of intestine or lower part of oesophagus.

Peptic ulcers most commonly occur in people who are always in hurry,worry and eat spicy cury.

There are three types of peptic ulcers:

• gastric ulcers: ulcers that develop inside the stomach

• Esophageal ulcers: ulcers that develop inside the esophagus
• Duodenal ulcers: ulcers that develop in the upper section of the small intestines, called the duodenum

Causes of peptic ulcers:

Different factors can cause the lining of the stomach, the esophagus, and the small intestine to break down. These include:

• Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), a type of bacteria that can cause a stomach infection and inflammation
• Frequent use of aspirin (Bayer), ibuprofen (Advil), and other anti-inflammatory drugs (risk associated with this behavior increases in women and people over the age of 60)
• Smoking
• drinking too much alcohol
• Radiation therapy
• Stomach cancer

Symptoms:

The symptoms are as follows;

• Burning stomach pain
• Feeling of fullness, bloating or belching
• Fatty food intolerance
• Heartburn
• Nausea

The most common peptic ulcer symptom is burning stomach pain. Stomach acid makes the pain worse, as does having an empty stomach. The pain can often be relieved by eating certain foods that buffer stomach acid or by taking an acid-reducing medication, but then it may come back. The pain may be worse between meals and at night.

Nearly three-quarters of people with peptic ulcers don’t have symptoms.

Less often, ulcers may cause severe signs or symptoms such as:

• Vomiting or vomiting blood — which may appear red or black
• Dark blood in stools, or stools that are black or tarry
• Trouble breathing
• Feeling faint
• Nausea or vomiting
• Unexplained weight loss
• Appetite changes

Risk factors;

In addition to taking NSAIDs, you may have an increased risk of peptic ulcers if you:

• Smoke. Smoking may increase the risk of peptic ulcers in people who are infected with H. pylori.
• Drink alcohol. Alcohol can irritate and erode the mucous lining of your stomach, and it increases the amount of stomach acid that’s produced.
• Stress.
• spicy foods.

Prevention:

Certain lifestyle choices and habits can reduce your risk of developing peptic ulcers. These include:

• Not drinking more than two alcoholic beverages a day
• not mixing alcohol with medication
• Washing your hands frequently to avoid infections
• limiting your use of ibuprofen, aspirin, and naproxen (Aleve)