What is a Stomach Ulcer?
Today over 810 million people suffer with stomach ulcers. There are many more at risk of getting the disease. What is more disturbing is that many don't know that they have stomach ulcers or are at risk. It is a very common disease that can be maintained and cured.
Stomach ulcers can be described as many different things. Every year it seems as if the technical definition of the condition gets longer and longer. To be put simply, stomach ulcers are small holes or erosions in the stomach, esophagus or duodenum lining. They are usually the size of 1/8- to 3/4-inch in circumference.
Stomach ulcers generally form in individuals over the age of 40. This doesn't mean that anyone younger can't get one. Recently, the amount of children and young adults in western areas developing stomach ulcers has increased to around 30 percent.
Causes of Stomach Ulcers
Stomach ulcers form when the gastric or intestinal mucosal lining is destroyed by hydrochloric acid. This acid is commonly present in the stomach as part of the digestive juices. Other elements, such as improper diets and smoking, can cause the hydrochloric acid to burn holes in the stomach or intestinal lining.
The main cause of stomach acid is an infection formed from H. pylori (Helicobacter pylori) bacteria. It is the cause of over 80 percent of stomach ulcers. The H. pylori bacterium settles in the stomach and duodenum areas of the body and causes inflammation of the stomach lining.
Other causes of stomach ulcers include the excessive use of anti-inflammatory medications, alcohol consumption, Zollinger-Ellison syndrome and other chronic disorders like emphysema or rheumatoid arthritis. Stress can also contribute to the forming of stomach ulcers.
Symptoms
Some people are walking around with stomach ulcers and don't even know it. One of the major ways to diagnosis this disease is to recognize the symptoms. Some symptoms such as stomach pain or discomfort have often been misunderstood as hunger pains or simply just gas. A good indicator that the burning or gnawing stomach pain is actually an ulcer is if it lasts 30 minutes to 3 hours.
Other symptoms include the loss of appetite, weight loss, weight gain, blood in the stool, persistent vomiting and anemia. Some people experience all of these symptoms along with the stomach pain; some experience no symptoms other than a burning feeling.
Prevention
Stomach ulcers can be prevented. A good way to prevent stomach ulcers, especially if the condition runs in your family, is to be aware of the causes and be proactive to avoid them. The first thing is to regularly be checked for H. pylori infections by your doctor. Next, monitor the amount of anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen and aspirin; do not take an excess of them for a long, continued amount of time. Get a healthier lifestyle by partaking in a proper diet and exercise routine. Limit your use of alcohol and tobacco products. Follow these rules and you will greatly lower your risk of getting a stomach ulcer.
Tags: stomach ulcers, stomach pain, Stomach ulcers, with stomach, anti-inflammatory medications, hydrochloric acid, risk getting