What You Should Know About Gastric Ulcers

            Causes of gastric ulcers

    1) Stomach ulcer is usually caused by an infection with a germ bacterium called H. Pylori.A 4- to 8-week course of acid-suppressing medication will allow the ulcer to heal.

    

      2) Gastric ulcers can also be caused by drugs like NSAIDs e.g Diclofenac

                                   Signs and symptoms 

1.     Pain in the upper tummy (abdomen) just below the breastbone (sternum) is the common symptom. It usually comes and goes. It may be eased if you take antacid tablets. Sometimes food makes the pain worse. The pain may wake you from sleep.

 2.   Other symptoms which may occur include bloating, retching, and feeling sick. You may feel particularly 'full' after a meal Signs and symptoms

 3. Complications develop in some cases, and can be serious. These include:

1.     Bleeding ulcer. This can range from a 'trickle' to a life-threatening bleed.

2.     Perforation. This is where the ulcer goes right through (perforates) the wall of the stomach. Food and acid in the stomach then leak into the abdominal cavity. This usually causes severe pain and is a medical emergency

                                      Lab tests

    Your doctor will always have to do tests based on his examination findings

Although not all gastric ulcers are caused by bacteria, it's getting more common to do a test for Helicobacter Pylori whenever someone has ulcer symptoms. This includes testing your blood, breath, stool, or a sample of tissue from your digestive tract (biopsy)

   Also endoscopy can be done so that the doctor can look at your stomach lining or to pick a sample from your stomach.

                                            Prevention

·      1)   Choose a healthy diet.Choose a healthy diet full of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Not eating vitamin-rich foods may make it difficult for your body to heal your ulcer.

·       

     2) Consider switching pain relievers. If you use pain relievers regularly, ask your doctor whether acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) may be an option for you.

·         

    3) Control stress. Stress may worsen the signs and symptoms of a peptic ulcer. Examine your life to determine the sources of your stress and do what you can to address those causes. Some stress is unavoidable, but you can learn to cope with stress with exercise, spending time with friends or writing in a journal.

·         

  4) Don't smoke. Smoking may interfere with the protective lining of the stomach, making your stomach more susceptible to the development of an ulcer. Smoking also increases stomach acid.

·        

   5) Limit or avoid alcohol. Excessive use of alcohol can irritate and erode the mucous lining in your stomach and intestines, causing inflammation and bleeding.

                    

                 Treatment. 

       I highly advice you to see your doctor for treatment

Remember That You Know Your Body Better Than Your Doctor.