An ulcer is a lesion that develops on the skin or mucous membranes of the body. Stomach or small intestine ulcers are known as peptic ulcers. A peptic stomach ulcer is also referred to as a gastric ulcer. They can be caused by a disordered lifestyle, stress, or an excess of gastric juices in the stomach. However, most of them are due to an infection caused by the bacterium Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). Ulcer symptoms are acute for some people and milder for others. In other cases, the ulcer is asymptomatic (this means that those who suffer from it do not feel any ailment or pain).
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Recognizing the Symptoms
Step 1. Pay attention to pain in the abdomen, concentrated in the area between the breastbone and the navel
The pain can vary in intensity and duration, lasting from a couple of minutes to several hours. It usually appears between meals, when the stomach is empty, and can be defined as a burning or stabbing pain.
- Sometimes ulcer pain can be relieved temporarily by taking food, which absorbs stomach acids, or by taking a special medicine to control its production.
- If stomach pain is caused by an ulcer, spikes usually appear at night or when you are hungry.
Step 2. Look for symptoms that other ulcer victims have reported
Symptoms are not usually the same for everyone, but you may find that you have a combination of them.
- An increase in body gas and a greater tendency to regurgitation;
- The feeling of being full and the inability to drink fluids
- Persistent hunger, even after a couple of hours from the end of meals;
- Nausea, especially in the morning upon getting up;
- A general feeling of tiredness and malaise;
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss.
Step 3. Recognize the symptoms of a severe ulcer
If not treated in time, ulcers can cause internal bleeding and other problems that need immediate medical attention.
- Vomiting, especially with traces of blood, can be a sign of an advanced ulcer;
- Dark and "tarry" stools may indicate an advanced ulcer;
- Presence of blood in the stool.
Step 4. If you notice any of these symptoms, see your doctor right away
Ulcers are a very serious medical condition that requires specific treatment. Generic medicines can relieve symptoms for a short time, but are not a permanent cure.
Step 5. Find out if you are at risk
Although ulcers can appear for various reasons, some people are more at risk for them. For instance:
- Subjects infected with H. pylori bacterium;
- Subjects who are used to taking anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen, aspirin and naxopren;
- Subjects prone to ulcer for hereditary reasons;
- People who drink alcohol regularly;
- People suffering from diseases associated with the kidneys, liver and lungs;
- Subjects over 50 years of age.
Part 2 of 2: Tips for Ulcer Sufferers
Step 1. Make an appointment with your doctor
Although most ulcers heal on their own, a severe ulcer must be diagnosed and often seen through endoscopy. Endoscopy is an examination that involves inserting a small tube into the body through the esophagus to look inside the stomach. Only a doctor can do it. In the meantime, try some of the following methods.
Step 2. Take an anti-acid
Anti-acids are often recommended by doctors for particularly severe symptoms.
Step 3. Change your lifestyle
Stop smoking, drinking, and taking too many anti-inflammatories. Tobacco and alcohol cause an imbalance in the production of gastric juices. Refrain from taking these substances until you have received a diagnosis from your doctor.
Step 4. Don't drink milk
Drinking milk can relieve symptoms temporarily, but it's like taking one step forward and taking two backwards. Milk covers the stomach walls for a short time, but stimulates the production of gastric acids, which further aggravate the problem.
Advice
Before discovering the connection between ulcer and H. pylori bacterium, doctors advised their patients to control ulcer through diet and a healthy lifestyle. Nowadays, we know that this bacterium causes most ulcers; however, the fact remains that an incorrect lifestyle can aggravate the symptoms. Practicing yoga, meditation and learning to manage stress, eating healthily and exercising, eating a balanced diet low in fat and spices, can go a long way in controlling ulcer symptoms (this applies to most people)
Warnings
- If not treated in time, ulcers can literally wear down the stomach walls, causing severe bleeding, perforation and obstruction of the digestive system.
- The following factors can increase the chances of being a victim of an ulcer: alcohol and tobacco, aspirin, ibuprofen and other anti-inflammatories, high level of stress, and radiation therapy.
