More Symptoms and Conditions of Ulcers

More 25 million Americans will experience an ulcer during their lifetime, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. An ulcer is an internal, open sore on your digestive tract. Fortunately, most ulcers are easily treated. If you think you have an ulcer, see your doctor as soon as possible. The sooner you treat your condition, the sooner you'll feel better.

Types

• According to FamilyDoctor.org, ulcers are most commonly located in the duodenum, which is a part of your intestines. Ulcers located there are called duodenal ulcers. If you have an ulcer in your stomach, it is called a gastric ulcer. Esophageal ulcers are located in your esophagus. If you have a peptic ulcer, it is in the lining of your duodenum or your stomach. A peptic ulcer is an umbrella term for a gastric ulcer (also called stomach ulcer) and a duodenal ulcer.

Causes

• It is a common belief that stress and spicy foods cause ulcers. This is a misconception, however these two factors may aggravate an existing ulcer. Ulcers are most often caused by a type of bacteria called H. pylori (Helicobacter pylori). H. pylori can cause infection and inflammation, resulting in an ulcer. Acid from your stomach can worsen an ulcer by damaging your digestive tract lining. Another possible cause of an ulcer is long-term use of anti-inflammatory medications, such as aspirin or ibuprofen. Over time, these may damage the lining of your stomach. If you smoke, you also raise your risk of developing an ulcer, as this increases your stomach acid. Alcohol can also increase your acid, as well as irritate your stomach lining.

Identification

• Symptoms of a possible ulcer often include vomiting, unexpected weight loss, bloating, a burning or dull stomach pain, pain in your stomach that wakes you up, feeling worse when you eat or drink or feeling better when you eat or drink, but then feeling worse one or two hours later. While eating, you may also feel full faster than usual. Your doctor may begin treatment before administering tests. However, if you don't feel better after about a week, your doctor may conduct some tests. These may include an X-ray of your digestive tract, a blood or breath test (to check for H. pylori) or an endoscopy, possibly with a biopsy. During an endoscopy, your doctor can examine your digestive tract through a thin tube. A biopsy is a sample of tissue that is tested.

Treatment

• The typical treatment for an H. pylori infection is antibiotics. Be sure to finish the full course of medication, even if you are feeling better. Your doctor may also prescribe certain medications to help you reduce the amount of acid in your stomach to help your ulcer heal. If you smoke or drink alcohol, you'll need to refrain from doing these activities in order to heal. Most ulcers heal within two to three weeks. However, you may need to take medication to lower your stomach acid for up to eight weeks. Your doctor may also advise you regarding diet considerations. If certain foods give you heartburn, such as coffee or chili powder, you should refrain from eating them while healing.

Considerations

• An ulcer may lead to more serious complications. If your ulcer is not healing or you feel worse, see your doctor immediately. If your ulcer burns through your digestive tract wall, this is called a perforated ulcer. You may also develop a bleeding ulcer or an obstruction of the digestive tract in which food is trapped in the stomach. Symptoms of complications from ulcers may include vomiting blood, vomiting food eaten days earlier, weakness, dizziness, feeling cold and clammy, constant nausea, blood in your stools, severe pain or if pain affects your back.