Ulcer

What is a stomach ulcer?

Stomach ulcer also know as peptic ulcer is an open sore in the upper digestive tract. There are two types of peptic ulcers, a gastric ulcer, which forms in the lining of the stomach, and a duodenal ulcer, which forms in the upper part of the small intestine. which are also known as gastric ulcers.

Stomach ulcers occur when the thick layer of mucus that protects your stomach from digestive juices is reduced. This allows the digestive acids to eat away at the tissues that line the stomach, causing an ulcer.

Stomach ulcers may be easily cured, but they can become severe without proper treatment.

What causes stomach ulcers?

Stomach ulcers are almost always caused by one of the following:

• an infection with the bacterium Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)
• long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin, ibuprofen, diclofenac or naproxen

Rarely, a condition known as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome can cause stomach and intestinal ulcers by increasing the body’s production of acid. This syndrome is suspected to cause less than 1 percent of all peptic ulcers.

Symptoms of stomach ulcers, and does it cause pain?

Yes it does. The most common symptom is a burning sensation or pain in the middle of your abdomen between your chest and belly button. Typically, the pain will be more intense when your stomach is empty, and it can last for a few minutes to several hours.

Other common signs and symptoms of ulcers include:

• The pain is usually in the upper middle part of the abdomen, above the belly button (navel) and below the breastbone.
• Chest burning sensation
  • Tachycardia ( heart biting fast)
  • Pain often comes several hours after a meal when the stomach is empty.
• The pain is often worse at night and early morning.
• It can last anywhere from a few minutes to several hours.
• The ulcer pain may be relieved by food, antacids, or vomiting.

Other symptoms of peptic ulcers include the following:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Loss of weight

Severe ulcers may cause bleeding in the stomach or duodenum. Bleeding is sometimes the only symptom of an ulcer. This bleeding can be fast or slow.

Fast bleeding reveals itself in one of the following ways:

• Vomiting of blood or dark material that looks something like coffee grounds: This is an emergency and warrants an immediate visit to an emergency department.
• Blood in the stool or black, tarry, sticky-looking stools

Slow bleeding is often more difficult to detect, because it has no dramatic symptoms.

• The usual result is low blood cell count (anaemia).
• The symptoms of anaemia are tiredness (fatigue), lack of energy (lethargy), weakness, rapid heartbeat (tachycardia), and pale skin (pallor).

How are stomach ulcers diagnosed?

Diagnosis and treatment will depend on your symptoms and the severity of your ulcer. To diagnose a stomach ulcer, our doctor's will review your medical history along with your symptoms and any prescription or over-the-counter medications you’re taking.

You then may need to undergo diagnostic tests, such as:

• Laboratory tests for H. pylori: Our doctor's may recommend tests to determine whether the bacterium H. pylori is present in your body. He or she may look for H. pylori using a blood, stool or breath test. The breath test is the most accurate. Blood tests are generally inaccurate and should not be routinely used. For the breath test, you drink or eat something that contains radioactive carbon. H. pylori breaks down the substance in your stomach. Later, you blow into a bag, which is then sealed. If you're infected with H. pylori, your breath sample will contain the radioactive carbon in the form of carbon dioxide. If you are taking an antacid prior to the testing for H pylori, make sure to let our doctor's know. Depending on which test is used, you may need to discontinue the medication for a period of time because antacids can lead to false-negative results.
• Endoscopy: Our doctor's may use a scope to examine your upper digestive system (endoscopy). During endoscopy, doctor's passes a hollow tube equipped with a lens (endoscope) down your throat and into your oesophagus, stomach and small intestine. If our doctor's detects an ulcer, small tissue samples (biopsy) may be removed for examination in a lab. A biopsy can also identify whether H. pylori is in your stomach lining. our doctor's is more likely to recommend endoscopy if you are older, have signs of bleeding, or have experienced recent weight loss or difficulty eating and swallowing. If the endoscopy shows an ulcer in your stomach, a follow-up endoscopy should be performed after treatment to show that it has healed, even if your symptoms improve.
• Upper gastrointestinal series: Sometimes called a barium swallow, this series of X-rays of your upper digestive system creates images of your esophagus, stomach and small intestine. During the X-ray, you swallow a white liquid (containing barium) that coats your digestive tract and makes an ulcer more visible.

Treating stomach ulcers

The choice of treatment depends on whether or not the ulcer is caused by infection with H pylori. Correct diagnosis is key to whether a treatment works or not.

The following treatments are recommended for ulcers:

• Lifestyle changes: Quit smoking, avoid alcohol, aspirin, and NSAIDs
• Acid-blocking medications
• Our unique herbal medicine combination ( Moringa Plus, Hepatocare syrop and Milobet) that protect the lining of the stomach and duodenum and to get rid of H pylori infection.

It is important to remember that treatment may not work if the diagnosis is not correct. If the doctor diagnoses an ulcer, it is important to determine whether the ulcer is caused by infection with H pylori.

When should you call or see a doctor?

When you see some of the symptoms do not wait, call our doctor's. Together we can discuss your symptoms and treatment options.

The following are some of the symptoms:

• If you have burning pain in your upper stomach that is relieved by eating or taking antacids, call a health-care professional for an appointment. Don't assume you have an ulcer. Certain other conditions can cause similar symptoms.
• If you vomit blood or have other signs of gastrointestinal bleeding, visit our centre right away. Peptic ulcers can cause massive bleeding.
• Severe abdominal pain suggests perforation or tearing of an ulcer. This is an emergency that may require surgery to fix a hole in your stomach.
• Vomiting and abdominal pain also can be a sign of an obstruction, another complication of peptic ulcers. This also may require emergency surgery.

How Long Does it Take for a Peptic Ulcer to Heal?
Can They Be Cured?

The prognosis for appropriately treated peptic ulcers is good with most people getting a full recovery and very few cases re-occur. Treatment for H pylori bacteria usually is successful if you take the medications as prescribed.

With appropriate treatment, symptoms are relieved within a few days to weeks but the actual healing of the lining of the intestine or stomach may take a few weeks longer. Although ulcers can cause discomfort, they are rarely life threatening. However, an ulcer that does not heal may be a sighn that you are not follow instruction of our doctors or you are not follow recommended diet to you. Take attention to the food that you are eating.

Healthful diet

Eating a healthful diet can benefit your intestinal tract and overall health.

In general, it’s a good idea to eat a diet with lots of fruits, vegetables, and fiber.

That said, it’s possible that some foods play a role in eliminating H. pylori.

Foods that may help fight off H. pylori or boost the body’s own healthy bacteria include:

• broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, leafy greens
• probiotic-rich foods, such as yogurt (especially with lactobacillus and Sacharomyces)
• apples, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, and blackberries
• olive oil

Additionally, since people with stomach ulcers may have accompanying acid reflux disease, it is a good idea to stay away from spicy and sour foods while an ulcer is healing.

Prevention of stomach ulcers

To prevent the spread of bacteria that might cause a stomach ulcer, wash your hands with soap and water on a regular basis. Also, be sure to properly clean all of your food and to cook it thoroughly as needed.

Limit oily and fried food, fried tin tomato, different types of hot pepper, ginger, raw garlic and onion, fresh bread ( because it contain bakery east and elevate acidity), soft drink with gas.

To prevent ulcers caused by NSAIDs, stop using these medications (if possible) or limit their use. If you need to take NSAIDs, be sure to follow the recommended dosage and avoid alcohol while taking these medications. And always take these medications with food and adequate liquids.