A peptic ulcer is an open sore that develops on the stomach’s inner lining and the upper part of the small intestine. Peptic ulcer may be a gastric ulcer that develops inside the stomach. A duodenal ulcer is one that develops inside the top portion of the small intestine or duodenum.

Symptoms of peptic ulcer
The most common symptoms of peptic ulcer are feeling of fullness, belching and bloating, burning pain in the stomach, heartburn, and nausea. The conditions are worsened because of stomach acid, which escalates the pain. You can eat some specific foods to relieve the pain or take acid-reducing medicines. However, the pain is likely to relapse after a while and generally worsens at night and in between meals. Incidentally, almost 75% of patients with peptic ulcer may not show any of these symptoms. For some people, however, there may be severe symptoms like blood in the vomit, breathing troubles, feeling faint, dark blood in the stool, nausea and unexplained weight loss, and even appetite changes.

Causes of peptic ulcer

When acid in your digestive tract starts to eat away at your stomach’s inner lining or at the lining of your small intestine, you can experience a painful sore which is open and may start to bleed. In normal circumstances, the digestive tract will be covered with a layer of mucous which guards it against the acid. However, when the acid amount becomes elevated or the mucous amount decreases, an ulcer can develop.

The most common cause for peptic ulcer is an infection with Helicobacter pylori, or H.pylori, and because of the long-term use of aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). So, peptic ulcers tend to occur mostly in older adults as they take such pain medicines more often and in patients who use NSAIDs for treating osteoarthritis. Contrary to what people may think, spicy foods will not cause such ulcers but they can definitely aggravate the symptoms. Besides, there are some risk factors for peptic ulcers. Smoking can heighten the risks of peptic ulcers in those who are infected with H. pylori. Alcohol can also irritate the mucous lining increasing the acid amount.

Treatment of peptic ulcer

Interestingly, there are cases of peptic ulcers getting healed on their own. However, if you do not treat these properly, they may recur. In such cases, they can even erode blood vessels lining of the small intestine or stomach.

When the ulcer is due to the bacterium, your doctor is likely to prescribe antibiotics for killing it. When NSAIDs and pain-relievers are the cause, you need to consciously stop taking them, cut down their intake or opt for other painkillers. The doctor will prescribe antacids that are capable of fighting stomach acid, like Zantac or Pepcid, which are acid-blockers. Prescription medicines called cytoprotective agents that protect the stomach lining can help the ulcer heal. So, treatments for a peptic ulcer largely depend on what caused it.

If the ulcer is left untreated, the conditions deteriorate with time and result in more complex and serious health problems. For instance, a hole can also occur in the stomach or intestine lining, which causes an infection. When the ulcer gets perforated, there will be sharp abdominal pain. When ulcers start to bleed, there is substantial blood loss and you may have to be hospitalized. Sometimes, scar tissue develops post-injury. This makes it hard for the food to go through the digestive tract smoothly. Signs of this are weight loss and vomiting. All these health complications cannot be disregarded and may even require surgery.