Peptic ulcers are due to sore spots in the lining of the esophagus. The main symptom is of burning pain due to stomach acid reacting with the sore spot. This pain may occur at any point between the mid-points of the abdomen (around the navel) to the upper chest. Ulcers may also occur elsewhere in the gastrointestinal system. Ulcers can result from infection by bacteria called helicobacter pylori, which may be transmitted in food, via saliva, or water. Smoking and alcohol use, contrary to some early notions, are not thought to be major contributors to the formation of ulcers, though they may aggravate them. Other causes include the use of certain medications like aspirin and the class of pain-killers called NSAIDs.
Symptoms
Symptoms apart from pain may include vomiting (sometimes bloody), bloody stool, and loss of appetite, but these symptoms typically only occur in the most extreme cases. There is also the danger that a ulcer can cause various serious complications like the ulcer spreading to organs near the gastrointestinal tract, like the liver. It is important, therefore, that treatment should be sought by people suffering from peptic ulcers. Peptic ulcer treatment begins with being diagnosed by a physician.
Diagnosis
The doctor will ask certain questions about the signs and symptoms and that will help to form a conclusion later on. Certain things like how long after a meal the pain occurs are important in judging where in the gastrointestinal tract the ulcers are. In severe cases an upper endoscopy may be needed to diagnose. This procedure involves inserting a camera into the esophagus so that the doctor can get a look at the damage caused by the ulcer.
Treatment
The majority of ulcers are caused by the helicobacter pylori bacteria; therefore treatment may involve prescribing antibiotic medication. Amoxicillin and tetracycline are popular peptic ulcer treatments. Acid-blockers may also be prescribed to ease symptoms. Acid blockers neutralize the acids in the stomach thus preventing them from aggravating the site of the ulcer. In many cases a change in diet is the best way to stop the progress of peptic ulcers. Highly acidic foods should be avoided, as should most solid foods until the ulcer has healed. If the ulcer is highly advanced, to the point where it eaten all the way though the wall in the gastrointestinal tract, will require surgery to repair the hole, which is also called a "perforation."
For more information on peptic ulcer treatments, please visit: http://www.stomachulcertreatment.org/
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