What Is A Stomach Ulcer?
Stomach ulcers are also known as gastric ulcers which are painful sores in the stomach lining. Stomach ulcer is a kind of peptic ulcer disease. Peptic ulcers are any ulcers that affect both the stomach and small intestines.

Stomach ulcers happen when the thick layer of mucus that safeguards your stomach from digestive juices is decreased. This permits the digestive acids to eat away at the tissues that line the stomach, resulting in an ulcer.


What leads to Stomach Ulcers?
Stomach ulcers are always caused with the aid of one of the following:

When you are infected with the bacterium Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori).

A condition also called Zollinger-Ellison syndrome can lead to stomach and intestinal ulcers by increasing the body’s production of acid. This syndrome is suspected to be the reason for less than 1 percent of all peptic ulcers.

Using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for a long time, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen

Symptoms of Stomach Ulcers
A number of signs and symptoms are related to stomach ulcers. The sternness of the signs and symptoms depends on the sternness of the ulcer.

The most frequent symptom is a burning sensation or pain in the middle of your stomach between your chest and belly button. Normally, the pain gets more severe when your stomach is empty, and it can last for a few minutes to some hours.

Other frequent signs and symptoms of Ulcers include:
Nausea or vomiting

Dull pain in the stomach

Weight loss

Not wanting to eat because of pain

Bloating

Feeling easily full

Burping or acid reflux

Dark, tarry stools

Vomit that’s bloody or looks like coffee grounds

Heartburn

Increased pain when you eat, drink, or take antacids

Symptoms of anaemia which can include tiredness, shortness of breath, or paler skin

Discuss with your doctor if you have any signs or symptoms of a stomach ulcer. Although discomfort may also be mild, ulcers can get worse if they are not treated. Bleeding ulcers can become life-threatening.

How are stomach Ulcers Diagnosed?
Diagnosis and treatment will be based on your symptoms and the seriousness of your ulcer. To diagnose a stomach ulcer, your doctor will assess your medical history along with your symptoms and any prescription or over-the-counter medications you’re taking.

To identify H. pylori infection, a blood, stool, or breath test may be requested. With a breath test, you will be told to drink a clear liquid and breathe into a bag, which is then sealed. If H. pylori is present, the breath sample will have higher-than-normal levels of carbon dioxide.

Can stomach ulcers lead to complications?
Yes, untreated or severe stomach ulcers can lead to complications such as bleeding, perforation (a hole in the stomach lining), and gastric outlet obstruction (blockage in the stomach). These complications require immediate medical attention.

Treating Stomach Ulcers

Treatment will differ based on what caused your ulcer. A lot of ulcers can be cured with a prescription from your doctor, but in very few cases, surgery may also be required.

It is necessary to urgently treat an ulcer. Discuss with your doctor about a treatment plan. If you have an ulcer that bleeds actively, you will probably stay in the hospital for an intensive treatment with endoscopy and IV ulcer medications. You may as well require a blood transfusion.

Surgical Treatment
In very uncommon cases, a complicated stomach ulcer will need surgery. This may be the situation for ulcers that:

Do not heal

Bleed

Tear through the stomach

Comes back after treatment

Maintains food from passing out of the stomach into the small intestine

Surgery may include:
Tying off a bleeding artery

Extraction of the whole ulcer

Removing the nerve supply to the stomach to lessen the production of stomach acid

Picking tissue from a different part of the intestines and patching it over the ulcer spot


Healthy diet
It was thought in the past that diet could cause ulcers. We know now this is not true. We also know that while the foods you consume will not lead to or treat stomach ulcers, eating a healthy diet can benefit your intestinal tract and overall health.

On the whole, it’s a good idea to consume a diet with lots of fruits fiber and vegetables


When should you see a doctor?
If you suspect you have a stomach ulcer, see your doctor right away. The both of you can discuss your signs and symptoms and treatment options. It’s imperative to get a stomach ulcer treated on time because without treatment, ulcers and H. pylori can cause:

Perforation: This happens when the ulcer creates a hole in the wall of the digestive tract.

Obstruction (blockage) in the digestive tract: This is because of swelling of inflamed tissues

Stomach cancer: Particularly non-cardia gastric cancer

Bleeding: At the ulcer area that may become life-threatening

Penetration: This occurs when the ulcer goes through the wall of the digestive tract and into some other organ, such as the pancreas

Symptoms of these issues can include those listed below. If you have any of these symptoms, be sure to call your health practitioner right away:

Sudden, sharp pain in your abdomen that doesn’t go away

Trouble breathing

Red or black vomit or stools

Weakness

Prevention of Stomach Ulcers
To stop the spread of bacteria that might lead to a stomach ulcer, wash your hands with soap and water regularly. Also, ensure to clean all of your food and cook it thoroughly as required.