Gastric ulcers are open sores that develop on the lining of your stomach. They are more commonly known as stomach ulcers. The condition develops when the gastric acid begins to eat away the protective stomach lining. This results in open sores that can bleed and cause irritation and extreme stomach pain. Ulcers can also develop in the duodenum, which is the first part of your small intestine. Both duodenal ulcers and stomach ulcers are often referred to as peptic ulcers. It is important to get your ulcers treated by the Best Gastroenterologist in Lahore. Delayed treatment can lead to complications such as internal bleeding. Moreover, if left untreated for an extended period of time, the acid can even manage to wear a hole all the way through.
Symptoms
Gastric ulcers often cause stomach pain, which is a tell-tale sign of the condition. Ulcer pain is localized and can be a gnawing sensation inside your stomach, particularly between your breastbone and belly button. However, it is not necessary to feel stomach pain. Some peptic ulcers do not cause any symptoms, which is why they are often referred to as “silent ulcers”. Apart from stomach pain ulcers can cause these noticeable symptoms:
- Burning or gnawing pain in the center of the abdomen in some cases
- Bloated stomach
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Heartburn
- Acid reflux
- Indigestion
- Discomfort in eating and drinking
- Feeling full very quickly
In some cases, your ulcer can become perforated or torn. This is categorized as a bleeding ulcer, and can cause the following symptoms:
- Anemia; this is usually the first sign of a bleeding ulcer
- Light-headedness or dizziness
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Blood in vomiting
- Unexpected weight loss
- Back pain
- Dark stool
- Blood in stool
If you experience the symptoms listed above, visit a health professional as soon as you can since they can be signs of serious complications. Renowned Dentist in UAE have even found poor oral hygiene among patients suffering from gastric ulcers.
Causes
Gastric ulcers are pretty common, particularly in western countries. Researchers lay down two major causes of stomach ulcers. These are:
- Pylori Infection
This is a common bacterial infection that is known to affect half the people around the world. H. pylori infection lives in the stomach. For a lot of people, it does not cause problems and their immune system makes sure that it doesn’t harm them. However, when H. pylori overgrows, and increases in number, it begins to eat into the stomach lining. This causes chronic inflammation and eventually, peptic ulcer disease. Research shows that about 40% of gastric ulcers are caused by this infection.
- Overuse of NSAIDs
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are over-the-counter pain relief medications. An overuse of these drugs can irritate the stomach lining. These drugs also repress the chemicals responsible for defending and repairing stomach lining which leads to stomach ulcers. Research shows that up to 30% of people taking NSAIDs on a regular basis develop ulcers, and half the cases of ulcers are caused by the overuse of these drugs.
Other, less common causes of gastric ulcers include the following:
- Severe Physiological Stress
Physiological stress from severe illness, injuries or burns can change your body’s pH balance and lead to an increase in stomach acid. This can result in the quick development of stress ulcers.
- Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome
This condition is quite rare and is known to result in your stomach producing an unnecessary amount of gastric acid, which can lead to ulcers.
Treatment
Ulcers can heal if the factors that created them are put to a stop. Complicated ulcers usually removed by surgery. On the other hand, Gastroenterologist in karachi mostly use a combination of different medicines to treat uncomplicated ulcers. These can include the following:
- Antibiotics
If the cause of your ulcer is H. pylori, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to kill the bacteria.
- Antacids
These are over-the-counter medications that can help neutralize acidity in the stomach.
- Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs)
These drugs can help reduce stomach acid and protect the stomach lining from further damage.
- Histamine Receptor Blockers (H2 Blockers)
H2 blockers help by blocking histamines. These are chemicals that tell your body to produce stomach acid.
- Cytoprotective Agents
These drugs help in coating and protecting the stomach lining.
- Bismuth Subsalicylate
Commonly found as Pepto Bismol, this medication can coat and protect your ulcer from stomach acid.
