The discomfort in the Gastrointestine has become common in the present time which is mainly causing people to face situations like burning sensation, bloating and sometimes which is also leading to nausea. If you or any of your known persons are facing these health issues continuously, this is the time you need to take action and go for the checkup, as these signs are of an ulcer. Ulcers are very common and may render one’s quality of life very unfavourable when left untreated.

At Criticare Hospital, we believe that with the right knowledge, a person should be able to take control of their health. In simple terms, this blog gives all information on ulcers, including their causes, prevention, and treatment.

What Do We Mean By an Ulcer?

The term ulcer is a loose terminology which, in simple terms, is used to describe any sore in the mucosal lining of the stomach, small intestine, or oesophagus. The mucosal lining has a protective role, or is supposed to protect the tissues against corrosive stomach acidity. When somehow this defence becomes worn out or weakened, these acids go to corrode or dissolve the tissues beneath, a condition which is termed an ulcer. Three kinds of ulcers are usually found, and they include gastric ulcers, which appear on the gastric lining, duodenal ulcers, which appear on the upper part of the small intestine, and oesophageal ulcers, which appear on the oesophagus (the tube which joins the mouth to the stomach).

Causes of Ulcers

A common misconception is that an ulcer can just be caused by stress or eating spicy food. At most, they help induce the symptomatology, and they are not the real causes. Ulcers are usually biological or drug-induced. 

In addition to this, a major cause is an infection with a bacterium known as Helicobacter pylori. This bacterium minimises the mucus lining in your stomach, which serves as a protection, hence acid can then corrode deeply into the stomach lining. Second, medications are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines, including ibuprofen, aspirin, or naproxen, which annoy or harm the stomach lining.

Make lifestyle choices of smoking, excessive drinking, and a good dose of mental or physical stress, and you will stand a better chance of creating ulcers. In rare instances, tumors may contribute to other medical conditions that enhance acid formation in the stomach.

Signs and Symptoms of Ulcers

Sometimes symptoms come and go. Different people feel in different ways. One may feel a throbbing pain, whereas an individual remains asymptomatic until some complications set in.

Increased abdominal pain appears burning and gnawing, and is most common in ulcers. Sometimes the pain might lessen with eating or taking an antacid, but return after. Other symptoms are:

• Feeling bloated or full
• Nagging burping
• Occasional nausea or vomiting
• Loss of appetite or unintentional loss of weight

In acute cases, there may be an incidence of internal bleeding arising as a result of the ulcer. Advancing to bleeding will manifest by vomiting blood (may look like coffee grounds) or passing of melena with the scent of tar. These hemorrhagic symptoms are a medical emergency where immediate treatment must be sought.  

How Doctors Find Out If You Have an Ulcer

Doctors usually start by asking you about your symptoms and requesting your medical history. 

The doctor may gently try placing the palms on your belly to consider swelling, tenderness, or any kind of discomfort.

To help the doctor confirm that you have an ulcer, the following tests, among others, will be useful:

• The H. pylori test is performed to examine the occurrence of bacteria called H. pylori, which are the cause of numerous ulcers. It may be investigated by analyzing your breath, blood, or stool.
• Upper endoscopy is a procedure whereby a thin tube that has a camera is inserted into the stomach; the camera looks for ulcers. The doctor is also able to pinch a little piece of tissue, which will undergo testing.
• In a Barium swallow, you will be given the chance to swallow thick white substances that cover your digestive system, allowing the doctor to see ulcers using the X-rays.

You will feel so relieved when the early treatment is applied to an ulcer, and the ulcer will not reach serious complications such as bleeding and even a hole in the stomach lining.

All Therapy of Ulcers

The management of ulcers aims at pain relief, healing of the sore, and prevention of sore recurrence. Treatment is grounded on the aetiology. The antibiotic therapy, alongside acid-reducing medicine, is used to treat the ulcers that are caused by the H. pylori infection.

The other widely used modes of treatment include:

• Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs): They include omeprazole, pantoprazole, and esomeprazole; they block the secretion of gastric acid and hasten the healing of ulcers.
• H2 Blockers: These block the acid secretions.
• Antacids: They provide a quick, temporary (short-duration) pain relief, neutralizing the stomach acid.
• Protective Medicine: e.g., sucralfate coats the ulcer and protects it against acid so that it stands a better chance of healing.

Some Tips in Promoting Healing:

• Avoid painkillers like NSAIDs (e.g., ibuprofen) unless told otherwise by your doctor
• Avoid alcohol and cigarettes since they either slow down healing or aggravate the condition.

When To Seek Medical Help

Mild stomach discomfort is transient and is hardly ever viewed as an emergency. But if symptoms persist, worsen, or interfere with daily functioning, they need to be discussed with a physician. Emergency signs include vomiting blood, sudden, sharp stomach pains, and black stools.

The experienced gastroenterologists and internal medicine physicians of Criticare Hospital treat and diagnose ulcers with compassion and precision. The evaluation is made by the latest diagnostic methods, with a holistic view, because when your gut is not well, almost everything goes awry.

Conclusion

At first, a peptic ulcer appears to be a small issue. But if left untreated, these ulcers might contribute to serious complications. The crux here is awareness, diagnosis, and treatment. Whether it is infection-based, drug-based, or just a simple lifestyle issue, an ulcer is much more curable if caught in time and, in the greater part of instances, preventable.

Once these signs crop up in you or any of your relatives, never turn a blind eye to them. A single examination is a good way to assist in healing.