Peptic ulcer disease is when painful sores form in the lining of the stomach, duodenum (start of the small intestine) or bowels.
Causes:
The most common causes of ulcers are:
- An infection of the stomach lining with
- Overuse of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin or ibuprofen.
- The most common symptom of an ulcer is a burning pain in your stomach between your breastbone and your belly button.
- You may often feel this pain when your stomach is empty (often between meals), but it can happen at any time — even during the night.
- The pain could last from a few minutes to many hours and may sometimes wake you in the middle of the night.
- Stomach pain is often reduced by food, fluids or taking antacids.
- Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), a type of bacteria.
Interesting Facts:
Ulcers often get better with antibiotics, acidblocking medicines and not using NSAIDs.
Not treating an ulcer can lead to other health issues.
About four million Americans have peptic ulcer disease.
Symptoms of Peptic Ulcer Disease
While not as common as stomach pain, other symptoms could be:
- The most common symptom of an ulcer is a burning pain in your stomach between your breastbone and your belly button.
- You may often feel this pain when your stomach is empty (often between meals), but it can happen at any time — even during the night.
- The pain could last from a few minutes to many hours and may sometimes wake you in the middle of the night.
- Stomach pain is often reduced by food, fluids or taking antacids.
While not as common as stomach pain, other symptoms could be:
- Upset stomach.
- Throwing up.
- Throwing up blood.
- Blood in the stool (black stool).
- Loss of appetite.
- Weight loss.
- Anemia (low iron in your blood, which can make you feel weak and tired), when an ulcer bleeds without being treated.
Causes of Ulcers
- Experts have found that many ulcers are caused by infection with the Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacteria — not spicy food or stress.
- Another common cause of peptic ulcer disease is the routine use of pain medications called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). People often take NSAIDs to help with aches, pains and swelling. Examples of the drugs that can cause peptic ulcer disease are:
- Aspirin.
- Ibuprofen.
- Naproxen.
- Ketoprofen.
- Meloxicam.
- Celecoxib.
Risk Factors for Ulcers
You're at risk for peptic ulcer disease if you:
- Are 50 years old or older.
- Drink alcohol in large amounts and/or often.
- Smoke cigarettes or use tobacco.
- Have a family member who has ulcer disease.
You're at risk for NSAID-caused ulcers if you:
- Are age 60 or older (your stomach lining becomes frailer with age).
- Have had past issues with ulcers and internal bleeding.
- Take steroid medications, such as prednisone.
- Take blood thinners, such as warfarin.
- Drink alcohol or use tobacco on a routine basis.
- Have certain side effects after taking NSAIDs, such as upset stomach and heartburn.
- Take NSAIDs in amounts higher than instructed on the drug facts label or by your doctor or pharmacist.
- Take many different medications that have aspirin and other NSAIDs.
- Take NSAIDs for long periods of time.
- Have had weight-reduction surgery (bariatric surgery).
Testing for Peptic Ulcers
There are a few tests your doctor can do if you suspect you may have peptic ulcer disease.
Tests for H. pylori Bacteria
- Your doctor may give you one of many tests to find out if you have H. pylori, such as a breath, blood or stool test.
- In this case, your doctor may send your breath, blood or stool sample to a lab be tested for the bacteria.
Endoscopy
- This is the most accurate test to find active ulcers and treat complications.
- An endoscopy is done to look at the lining of your esophagus (tube that links your mouth and stomach), stomach and duodenum (first part of the small intestine).
- During the endoscopy a biopsy (taking a small piece of tissue to look at under a microscope) may be taken from your stomach, which can be tested for H. pylori.
- You will be given medicine to block pain and make you feel relaxed and sleepy during the test.
- During the endoscopy, your gastroenterologist will use a long, thin (about the width of your little finger), flexible tube with a tiny camera on the end to look inside your stomach and duodenum.
- The tube is passed through the mouth into the small bowel as your gastroenterologist does a careful exam. Your doctor will be able to see if there is an ulcer in the stomach or duodenum and treat it if it is bleeding.
An Upper-Gi (Gastrointestinal) Series
- With this X-ray test, you will be given a contrast liquid to drink called barium.
- Barium coats the inside lining of the esophagus, stomach and small bowel, and makes them easier to see clearly on X-rays.
- The doctor can also see ulcers, scar tissue or areas where something is blocking the normal path of food through the GI tract.
- Barium tests should not be used if there is a suspicion of an infection causing your GI issues, until the needed tests have been done.
Peptic Ulcer Disease – What to Know:
- Peptic ulcer disease is when sores form in the lining of the stomach or intestine.
- Ulcers can cause pain or sometimes bleeding.
- Ulcers often come from an infection from H. pylori bacteria.
- Sometimes, ulcers come from the overuse of certain medications, like NSAIDs.
- Ulcers can often be treated and cured with medication.
IMPORTANT REMINDER:
The preceding information is intended only to provide general information and not as a definitive basis for diagnosis or treatment in any particular case. It is very important that you consult your doctor about your specific condition.