What is peptic ulcer?
Peptic ulcers are open sores that develop on the inside lining of your stomach and the upper portion of your small intestine. The most common symptom of a peptic ulcer is stomach pain.
Peptic ulcers include:
Gastric ulcers that occur on the inside of the stomach
Duodenal ulcers that occur on the inside of the upper portion of your small intestine (duodenum)
The most common causes of peptic ulcers are infection with the bacterium and long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Stress and spicy foods do not cause peptic ulcers. However, they can make your symptoms worse.
Symptoms
- Burning stomach pain
- Feeling of fullness, bloating or belching
- Intolerance to fatty foods
- Heartburn
- Nausea
Less often, ulcers may cause severe signs or symptoms such as:
- Vomiting or vomiting blood — which may appear red or black
- Dark blood in stools, or stools that are black or tarry
- Trouble breathing
- Feeling faint
- Nausea or vomiting
- Unexplained weight loss
- Appetite changes
Many people with peptic ulcers don't even have symptoms.
Causes
Usual causes of peptic ulcer:
- Bacteria;
- Taking painkillers for a long time;
- Other types of medications.
Risk factors
The symptoms of peptic ulcer disease are aggravated by a number of risk factors, for example, if a patient is infected with Helicobacter pylori and uses tobacco, he or she is at risk of developing a peptic ulcer.
Alcohol, stress, and spicy foods exacerbate symptoms and, as a result, slow down the healing process.
By themselves, these risk factors do not cause ulcers, but rather exacerbate the condition of an already established peptic ulcer.
წყარო:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/peptic-ulcer/symptoms-causes/syc-20354223
