CONDITION
What is Gastric Ulcer
Gastric Ulcer
Gastric ulcers are a type of peptic ulcer disease. They develop in the lining of the stomach and can cause symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting.
What is Gastric Ulcer?
Gastric ulcers are sores in the lining of your stomach. Gastric ulcers can be caused by acid in your stomach and may cause pain in your upper abdomen. Gastric ulcers can also lead to nausea and vomiting, as well as bleeding and perforation of the stomach.
Causes of Gastric Ulcers
The most common causes of gastric ulcers include:
- Stress.
Stress can lead to excessive production of stomach acid and damage your stomach lining, which can trigger an ulcer. If you’re feeling stressed at work or in your personal life, find ways to calm down. - Helicobacter Pylori infection
Smoking and drinking alcohol excessively, especially on an empty stomach (for example, before breakfast). These activities irritate the mucosal lining in the stomach and may cause an ulcer. Use of aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen and naproxen sodium tablets (Aleve). NSAIDs are available over-the-counter at pharmacies without a prescription; however it’s important not exceed recommended dosages because they increase susceptibility to gastric ulcers by destroying protective mucus layers in the small intestine while simultaneously thinning blood vessels throughout your body.
- Get a test to check as soon as possible.
- Do not self medicate .
Risk Factors for Gastric Ulcer
If you have a family history of gastric ulcers or heartburn, you should be especially aware of the symptoms so that you can get treatment as soon as possible.
In general, risk factors for gastric ulcers include:
- Age – Gastric ulcers tend to affect middle-aged adults (30-50 years old) more than any other age group
- Gender – Men are slightly more likely than women to develop them
- Dietary habits – Eating spicy food or drinking alcohol excessively can increase your risk
- Smoking and alcohol consumption – Smoking causes damage to the stomach lining over time; heavy drinkers who eat non-acidic foods may also develop this condition
Symptoms of Gastric Ulcer
Watch for these Symptoms
Gastric ulcers cause pain in the upper abdomen that usually begins after eating, but may be constant. The pain can radiate to your back and other areas of your abdomen. You may also experience:
- Nausea and Vomitting
- Bloating
- Feeling fullness after small meals
- Heartburn
- Giddiness, palpitations, feeling weak in those with significant blood loss
- Loss of Appetite
- Passing out black stools
Complications of Gastric Ulcers
Complications of gastric ulcers can be life-threatening, if you experienced any of the emergency symptoms below, please do consult a doctor as soon as possible. Early detection and medical intervention is key to avoid serious complications in gut diseases.
- Bleeding from the stomach
- Perforation of the stomach or intestine
- Obstruction in what passes through the digestive system
Treatment of Gastric Ulcer
To reduce the severity and healing time of gastric ulcers, you should take antacids to reduce acidity in the stomach.
- Take anti-ulcer drugs to reduce acid secretion.
- Take antibiotics to treat infection.
- Take proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) or histamine 2 receptor antagonists (H2 blockers) that block acid production, but only if you don’t have asthma or another condition that makes these medications unsafe for you.
Gastric Ulcer Prevention
- Avoid spicy foods and alcohol.
- Avoid smoking and stress.
- Eat smaller meals slowly
- Avoid NSAIDS if there is no strong medical indication
Conclusion
Gastric ulcer is a painful condition that can be treated with medication. You should see your doctor right away if you have any of the symptoms mentioned above.
Related Articles
Helicobacter Pylori Infection
Helicobacter Pylori Infection is the most common cause of stomach...
Read More
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common cause of chest...
Read More
