How to Recognize the Symptoms of Stomach Ulcers

A stomach ulcer or a peptic ulcer can be defined as a breakage or erosion or wearing away in the lining of the gullet, stomach, or small intestine and named differently when occurring at different location. When diagnosed in the stomach, it is known as gastric ulcer and an ulcer in the duodenum is called the duodenal ulcer. It is caused by a bacterium known as Helicobacter pylori, usage of NSAIDs such as aspirins and ibuprofen, acids and pepsins. Although smoking, alcoholism and consuming caffeine products is understood to aggravate the condition, they cannot be considered as the sole cause. Stomach ulcers may have certain symptoms.

Instructions

• 1

  Check if the person experiences heartburn or a feeling of burning pain behind the sternum between the duration of two meals, just after meals and/or in the morning hours. The duration of this situation could be minutes or even hours. Such pain may be lessened by the intake of milk, antacids, light food or simply by relaxing.

• 2

  Ask if the person feels any chest pain or pain right below the chest.

• 3

  Look for symptoms such as indigestion, nausea, frequent vomiting, acidic retches and loud and deep burping combined with disinterest in food. However, in rare cases, specifically for duodenal ulcer, patients exhibit increased appetite.

• 4

  See if the person wakes up in the night and complains of stomach pains, emptiness or a bloating feeling in the stomach.

• 5

  Check if the person feels excessive fatigue. Check if there is an abnormal and sudden loss of weight and anemic symptoms.

• 6

  Check for blood in the feces and see if the stool is dark in color due to the presence of blood.

• 7

  See also if the person is experiencing an overall irritation and discomfort.