| Ulcers are sores on the lining of your digestive tract | | | | There are lifestyle changes that you can make to help |
| (see picture below). Most ulcers are located in the | | | | your ulcers heal and prevent them coming back. |
| duodenum. The duodenum is the first part of the | | | | These self-help measures include: |
| intestine and starts just after your stomach. These | | | | · not having food and drink that seems to |
| ulcers are called duodenal ulcers. Ulcers located in the | | | | cause more severe symptoms - these foods can |
| stomach are called gastric ulcers. Ulcers in the | | | | include spicy foods, coffee and alcohol |
| esophagus are called esophageal ulcers. Two other | | | | · stopping smoking |
| disorders are much like ulcers. These are an inflamed | | | | · not taking painkillers that are likely to cause |
| lower esophagus (esophagitis) and an inflamed | | | | ulcers in the future - your GP or pharmacist can give |
| stomach lining (gastritis). | | | | you advice on other medicines you could take instead |
| What Causes Ulcers? | | | | Symptoms of Stomach Ulcers |
| For almost 100 years, doctors believed that ulcers | | | | Stomach (or peptic) ulcers may produce few or no |
| were caused by stress and spicy foods. Then, in 1982, | | | | symptoms, or they may cause burning, gnawing pain in |
| two doctors (Barry Marshall and Robin Warren) made | | | | the upper middle part of the abdomen that is relieved |
| a great discovery. They discovered that a certain kind | | | | by eating or taking an antacid. Stomach ulcers often |
| of bacteria lives and grows in the stomach. | | | | are not consistent. For example, eating sometimes will |
| And these bacteria were causing most ulcers. | | | | make the pain worse rather than better with certain |
| Peptic Ulcers Symptoms | | | | types of ulcers, such as pyloric channel ulcers, which |
| Ulcers do not always cause symptoms. Sometimes, a | | | | are often associated with bloating, nausea and |
| serious complication such as bleeding is the first sign of | | | | vomiting, symptoms of a blockage caused by swelling |
| an ulcer. The most common symptom of peptic ulcers | | | | (edema) and scarring. |
| by far is abdominal pain. | | | | Diagnosis/Symptoms |
| · The pain is usually in the upper middle part of | | | | · Breath Test for H. pylori |
| the abdomen, above the belly button (navel) and below | | | | · Fecal Occult Blood Test |
| the breastbone. | | | | · Helicobacter pylori Test |
| The stomach ulcer and the ulcer of the duodenum (at | | | | · Upper Endoscopy |
| the very bottom of the stomach structure - the first | | | | · Upper GI Endoscopy |
| few inches of the beginning of the small intestine) are | | | | · Upper GI Series |
| erosions of the tissue (mucosa) which lines (forms the | | | | Things to remember |
| inner surface of) the gastrointestinal tract. All parts of | | | | · A stomach or gastric ulcer is a break in the |
| the body exposed to the environment - except the | | | | tissue lining of the stomach. |
| skin - have this protective lining. The mucosal tissue is | | | | · Most stomach ulcers are caused by infection |
| primarily comprised of what are called epithelial cells, | | | | with the Helicobacter pylori bacterium or |
| attached to what is called the basement membrane. | | | | anti-inflammatory medication, not stress or poor diet as |
| The epithelial mucosal cells secrete mucous - so now | | | | once thought. |
| you know why this tissue is called mucosal tissue | | | | · Treatment options include antibiotics and |
| Treatment | | | | acid-suppressing medications. |
| Self-help | | | | |