Stomach ulcers happen when digestive acids damage the stomach lining. These are painful sores in the stomach lining and are a type of peptic ulcer that can affect both the stomach and the small intestine.
Ulcers start when the thick mucus layer protecting the stomach from digestive juices gets thinner. This lets digestive acids eat the stomach tissue causing ulcers. Treatment can be simple but they can get serious if not treated properly.
In this article, we'll look at the causes of stomach ulcers, their symptoms, how they are diagnosed, and the treatment options available.
Causes of stomach ulcers
Stomach ulcers can happen due to the following reasons:-
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Infection Helicobacter pylori bacteria (Helicobacter pylori).
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Long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin and naproxen.
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In rare cases, stomach ulcers can be caused by Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.
Experts estimate that Zollinger-Ellison syndrome causes less than 1% of all digestive ulcers, including stomach, esophagus, and duodenal ulcers.
Stomach Ulcer Symptoms
Stomach ulcers come with many symptoms depending on how bad the ulcer is. The common symptom is a burning or pain between the chest and belly button. The pain might get worse when the stomach is empty and can last minutes or hours.
Other common stomach ulcer symptoms include:-
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Stomach pain (even mild pain).
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Weight loss.
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No appetite due to pain.
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Nausea and vomiting.
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Bloating.
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Feeling full quickly.
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Burping and acid reflux.
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Heartburn.
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Pain gets better when eating or taking antacids.
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Vomiting blood or material that looks like coffee grounds.
You should talk to a healthcare provider if you have one or more of these symptoms. The discomfort might be mild at first, but ulcers can get worse if not treated and may become life-threatening bleeding ulcers.
Diagnosing a stomach ulcer
Diagnosing stomach ulcers depends on symptom severity. The healthcare provider will review medical history and discuss symptoms and any prescription or over-the-counter meds being taken.
To rule out causes like H. pylori infection, the provider will request blood, stool, or breath tests.
Other tests and exams used to diagnose stomach ulcers may include:
- Barium swallow
The person drinks a white liquid called barium. This liquid coats the upper digestive system and helps the doctor see the stomach and small intestine on X-rays.
- Endoscopy
In this test, a thin lit tube is inserted through the mouth to the stomach and first part of the small intestine to look for ulcers, bleeding, or any abnormal tissues.
- Endoscopic Biopsy
A piece of stomach tissue (biopsy) is taken to be analyzed in the lab.
Stomach Ulcer Treatment
The treatment depends on what caused the ulcer. Most ulcers can be treated with prescriptions from a healthcare provider, but rarely surgery may be needed.
Ulcers must be treated as soon as symptoms appear, so talk to your doctor about treatment options. If the ulcer is actively bleeding, the person may need hospital care for intensive treatment with endoscopy and IV ulcer meds, and might also need a blood transfusion.
Stomach ulcer options may include the following:-
1- Nonsurgical Treatment
If someone has a stomach ulcer because of an H. pylori bacterial infection, they may need antibiotics and drugs called proton pump inhibitors PPIs, which stop stomach cells from making acid.
Other treatment options can also include:-
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H2 receptor blockers that stop acid production.
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Stopping all nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
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Probiotics, good bacteria that might help kill H. pylori.
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Bismuth supplements.
Stomach ulcer symptoms may calm quickly with treatment, but even if symptoms go away, you should keep taking the medicine prescribed by your healthcare provider, especially if you have an H. pylori infection.
Side effects of meds used to treat stomach ulcers can include:-
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Nausea.
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Dizziness.
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Headache.
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Diarrhea.
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Stomach pain.
2- Surgical Treatment
In very rare cases of stomach ulcers, treatment may require surgery, especially for stomach ulcers that have these features:-
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Keep coming back again.
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Don't heal with medicine.
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Bleed continuously.
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The stomach tears.
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Food stops flowing from the stomach to the small intestine.
Surgery options can include:
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Removing the entire ulcer.
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Taking tissue from another part of the intestine and grafting it onto the ulcer site.
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Tying off the bleeding artery.
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Cutting nerve supply to the stomach to reduce acid production.
Stomach ulcer diet
A healthy diet high in fruits, veggies, and fiber can improve digestion and overall health, helping treat stomach ulcers.
Also, some foods may especially help kill stomach bacteria and boost healthy bacteria in the body, These foods include:-
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Broccoli andCauliflower andCabbage and Radish.
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Leafy vegetables, like spinach and kale.
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Foods rich inprobiotics, like sauerkraut.
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Milk and dairy products.
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Berries andStrawberries.
Also, since people with stomach ulcers might have acid reflux, it's good to avoid spicy and acidic foods while healing from the ulcer.
Also, some other supplements might help reduce the effects of H. pylori bacteria that cause many stomach ulcers. Still, these supplements aren’t meant to replace prescribed meds but can support them. They can include:
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Probiotics.
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Honey.
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Glutamine (can come from chicken, fish, eggs, and cabbage).
Also, the healthcare provider might have some other tips the patient can try to ease the discomfort from a stomach ulcer.
Complications of Stomach Ulcers
It's important to talk about stomach ulcer symptoms with a healthcare provider right away and treat the ulcer. Without treatment, the ulcer or stomach bacteria can cause serious complications that can be life-threatening.
Stomach ulcer complications can include the following:-
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Perforation, which happens when the ulcer goes through the digestive tract into another organ, like the pancreas.
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Perforation, which happens when an ulcer creates a hole in the digestive tract wall.
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Obstruction, caused by swelling of inflamed tissues in the digestive system.
Also, these complications can cause many other annoying symptoms, andThese symptoms can include the following:-
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Weakness.
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Trouble breathing.
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Vomiting.
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Red or black stool.
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Sudden sharp stomach pain.
Preventing stomach ulcers
You can work on stopping the spread of bacteria that can cause stomach ulcers by washing your hands regularly with soap and water, and making sure all food is cleaned and cooked properly as needed.
Also, prevent ulcers caused by NSAIDs by stopping their use as much as possible. If you must take them, always follow the recommended dose and take them with enough food and liquids.
