How To Treat A Peptic Ulcer
Treatment will depend on the underlying cause of your ulcer. If tests show that you have an H. pylori infection, your doctor will prescribe a combination of medication. Youll have to take the medications for up to two weeks. The medications include antibiotics to help kill infections and proton pump inhibitors to help reduce stomach acid.
You may experience minor side effects like diarrhea or an upset stomach from antibiotic regimens. If these side effects cause significant discomfort or dont get better over time, talk to your doctor.
If your doctor determines that you dont have an H. pylori infection, they may recommend a prescription or over-the-counter PPI for up to eight weeks to reduce stomach acid and help your ulcer heal.
Acid blockers like famotidine can also reduce stomach acid and ulcer pain. These medications are available as a prescription and also over the counter in lower doses.
Your doctor may also prescribe sucralfate which will coat your stomach and reduce symptoms of peptic ulcers.
Diagnosis Of Chest Pain
Before medical treatment can begin, the cause of the pain must be found. You may a have a lot of tests done including:
- Electrocardiogram electrical tracing of the heart activity.
- Blood tests to measure markers from the heart and other organs.
- Chest x-ray to look at the lungs, heart and major blood vessels of the chest.
If your healthcare professional thinks you may have angina, they may order further tests to check the state of the blood vessels that supply your heart. They may also arrange an exercise stress test or other tests such as an angiogram or CT scan of your chest.
It is not always easy to diagnose the cause of chest pain. Your doctor may need to see you more than once to be sure, and further tests may be needed, or you may be referred to a cardiologist .
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Can Ulcers Cause Dizziness
Most gastric ulcers go unnoticed until serious complications such as bleeding occur. This can lead to stomach pain and dizziness due to blood loss.
In addition, can ulcers cause nausea and dizziness? Contact your doctor about ulcers: If you are diagnosed with an ulcer and begin to develop symptoms of anemia such as dizziness, weakness, malaise, and pallor. The ulcer may be bleeding. There are symptoms of ulcers and severe back pain develops. Your ulcer may be perforating the stomach wall.
In addition, can stomach problems cause dizziness? Acid reflux and GERD Occasionally, acid reaches the ducts that connect to the inner ear. This irritates the inner ear and can cause dizziness in some people. Other symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease and acid reflux disease include postprandial and nocturnal heartburn.
In addition to the above, can ulcers make you feel sick? The most common symptom of gastric ulcer is burning or biting pain in the center of the abdomen . However, gastric ulcers are not always painful and some people experience other symptoms such as indigestion, heartburn, and feeling sick.
With this in mind, can ulcers cause nausea and dizziness? Contact your doctor about ulcers: If you are diagnosed with an ulcer and begin to develop symptoms of anemia such as dizziness, weakness, malaise, and pallor. The ulcer may be bleeding. There are symptoms of ulcers and severe back pain develops. Your ulcer may be perforating the stomach wall.
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Outlook For Peptic Ulcers
With proper treatment, most peptic ulcers heal. However, you may not heal if you stop taking your medication early or continue to use tobacco, alcohol, and nonsteroidal pain relievers during treatment. Your doctor will schedule a follow-up appointment after your initial treatment to evaluate your recovery.
Some ulcers, called refractory ulcers, dont heal with treatment. If your ulcer doesnt heal with the initial treatment, this can indicate:
- an excessive production of stomach acid
- presence of bacteria other than H. pylori in the stomach
- another disease, such as stomach cancer or Crohns disease
Your doctor may offer a different method of treatment or run additional tests to rule out stomach cancer and other gastrointestinal diseases.
Symptoms Of Stomach Ulcers
Although the most common symptom of a stomach ulcer is a burning or gnawing pain in the centre of the abdomen . Not all stomach ulcers are painful.
Some people experience:
Speak to your GP immediately if:
- your symptoms persist
- youre vomiting blood the blood can appear bright red or have a dark brown, grainy appearance like coffee grounds
- youre passing dark, sticky, tar-like stools
- you feel a sudden, sharp pain in your tummy that gets steadily worse
These could be a sign of a serious complication.
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What Heartburn Feels Like
You get this problem when stomach acid moves into a tube called the esophagus, which carries food from your mouth to the stomach. When that happens, you could have a burning pain in your chest. Your throat might burn, and you could have a sour taste in your mouth or a cough. You may also hear it called GERD , which is heartburn that happens often. But other conditions can have similar symptoms.
How Can I Be Sure Its An Ulcer
The only way to be sure an ulcer is causing your discomfort is with a medical diagnosis. We will evaluate your medical history and conduct a thorough physical examination.
To determine the root cause of your ulcer, we may run blood, stool, or breath tests. These tests are designed to look for signs of helicobacter pylori, the bacteria linked to ulcers.
Depending on your unique symptoms, we may also order an endoscopy. During an endoscopy, we insert a tube with a tiny camera down your throat and into your stomach to take pictures of any potential damage and collect tissue samples for analysis.
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Know Your Risk Factors
After your symptoms have gone away, write down a few details about the event. Write down:
- What time of day the event took place
- What you were doing at the time
- How long the pain lasted
- What the pain felt like
- What you did to relieve your pain
Ask yourself some questions:
- Did you take all of your regular heart medicines the right way before you had symptoms?
- Were you more active than normal?
- Did you just have a large meal?
Try not to do activities that strain your heart. Your provider may prescribe medicine for you to take before an activity. This can prevent symptoms.
What Are The Complications Of Duodenal Ulcers
If left untreated, your duodenal ulcers may get worse. This can cause other complications, such as:
- broken blood vessels
- obstructing food from leaving your stomach
- perforation in the duodenal wall
These complications require emergency treatment, and can cause sharp pain, bloody vomit, or bloody faeces .
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When To See A Doctor
Anyone who thinks they may have an ulcer in their stomach should consult their doctor. Any stomach symptoms that last for more than a few days or keep happening need evaluation and treatment.
A slow-bleeding ulcer can be signaled by symptoms of anemia, such as being tired and breathless. More serious bleeding is an urgent medical problem and can be signaled if blood is vomited up, or stools are black and sticky.
Perforation, or a hole in the stomach, is also an emergency. Without quick treatment, the wall of the stomach can become infected. Sudden stomach pain that gets worse can indicate perforation, and any signs of being very unwell with infection need treatment as soon as possible.
Anxiety And Panic Disorder
About 40% of people with panic disorder experience chest pain at some time.
Noncardiac chest pain associated with panic disorder is unique in some ways, but you always want to err on the side of caution.
People who have anxiety or even panic disorder can also experience life-threatening causes of chest pain.
There are less common causes of right-sided chest pain that are sometimes overlooked. These include shingles, mediastinal tumors , and panic or anxiety attacks.
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Heartburn And Heart Attack Pain Can Be Similar Learn The Difference
Youre relaxing at home after a delicious meal. You notice you dont feel quite right. You have an upset stomach. There is a burning sensation in your chest area.
Is it heartburn from indigestion? Could it be a heart attack?
Chest discomfort is the most common symptom of a heart attack, which can be life-threatening. But it can also be a sign of heartburn, which has nothing to do with the heart and is a common symptom of indigestion.
It can sometimes be difficult to tell one from the other. Learning the difference can help you protect your heart health and know when to seek medical attention.
If youre not sure if its heartburn or a heart attack, and your chest pain is persistent seek medical help right away, says Kiyon Chung, MD, a Scripps cardiologist. You will be checked immediately to rule out a heart attack. If your chest pain turns out to be a heart attack, doctors will work to lessen any heart damage.
If its indigestion, youll want to make sure it doesnt become a chronic problem. You may be able to find quick relief taking an over-the-counter antacid or other medication.
What is indigestion?
Heartburn is a symptom of indigestion or acid reflux. It happens when stomach acid flows back into the esophagus, the food pipe that connects the throat to the stomach. This backflow causes a burning feeling or pain in the chest. Another symptom is regurgitation, which is when food rises in the back of the throat.
What is a heart attack?
Symptoms of heart attack
What Foods Soothe A Peptic Ulcer
High-fiber foods and those high in vitamin A may help soothe a persons stomach. Some examples include oats, barley, apples, and sweet potatoes.
7 sourcescollapsed
- Levenstein, S., et al. . Psychological stress increases risk for peptic ulcer, regardless of Helicobacter pylori infection or use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs .
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What Should I Do If I Have Non
If youre experiencing chest pain and dont know the cause, its important to see a medical provider right away. If youre having chest pain accompanied by shortness of breath, tightness in your chest, pain in your arm, cold sweats, or nausea, call 911.
For non-cardiac chest pain, scheduling a consultation with Dr. Rivas helps you discover the cause of your discomfort and gets you on track for finding an effective treatment. Dr. Rivas uses your medical and family histories, an evaluation of your symptoms, a physical exam, and different tests and imaging studies.
Based on his findings, Dr. Rivas creates a customized treatment plan that may include lifestyle changes, medications, and surgery when required. Rest assured that Dr. Rivas always begins with the least invasive, most conservative treatment possible.
Worried that your chest pain may be related to a digestive condition? Get help by contacting the Rivas Digestive Center in Hollywood, Florida. You can call our friendly staff at 954-228-5882 to schedule an appointment, or book a consultation online now.
H Pylori Infection With Peptic Ulcer
A peptic ulcer is an open sore in the lining of the stomach. It may also form in the lining of the first part of the small intestine . Symptoms of a peptic ulcer include stomach pain and upset. Nausea, vomiting, bloating, or bleeding may sometimes occur. In many cases, bacteria called H. pylori are thought to be involved in the development of a peptic ulcer.
Many people have H. pylori in their bodies. Most of the time, it causes no problems. In some people, though, the H. pylori infection causes irritation of the stomach lining. This may make the lining more likely to be damaged by normal stomach acids. H. pylori may also increase the amount of acid in the stomach. It is not clear why this infection leads to problems in some people and not in others.
Tests may be done to check for H. pylori infection. These include a blood test, a breath test, and a stool test. In some cases, a test called endoscopy may be done. During this test, a thin, lighted tube is put into the mouth and down the throat. The healthcare provider can look at the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum through this tube. During this test, a tiny sample of stomach lining may be taken and tested for H. pylori.
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Antacids And H2 Blockers
Antacids
Antacids neutralize existing acid in the stomach. Antacids such as Maalox, Mylanta, and Amphojel are safe and effective treatments. However, the neutralizing action of these agents is short-lived, and frequent dosing is required. Magnesium containing antacids, such as Maalox and Mylanta, can cause diarrhea, while aluminum containing agents like Amphojel can cause constipation. Ulcers frequently return when antacids are discontinued.
H2 blockers
Studies have shown that a protein released in the stomach called histamine stimulates gastric acid secretion. Histamine antagonists are drugs designed to block the action of histamine on gastric cells and reduce the production of acid. Examples of H2 blockers are cimetidine , nizatidine , and famotidine . While H2 blockers are effective in ulcer healing, they have a limited role in eradicating H. pylori without antibiotics. Therefore, ulcers frequently return when H2 blockers are stopped.
What Should I Do If I Think I Have A Stomach Ulcer
Always seek medical care for a stomach ulcer. While you may be able to manage symptoms temporarily with over-the-counter medications, these wont heal the ulcer. You need to identify and treat the underlying cause. An untreated ulcer can lead to serious complications, even if your symptoms are mild. The major cause of stomach ulcers, H. pylori infection, can also lead to other complications.
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Other Digestive Causes Of Chest Pain
Though less common, some conditions that affect your esophagus can also cause chest pain as they can prevent food from moving normally, cause spasms or contractions, and even make your body more sensitive to normal stomach acid. These conditions include:
- Visceral or esophageal hypersensitivity
- Esophageal motility disorders
- Eosinophilic esophagitis
Swallowing very hot liquids or caustic materials, like acid, can also cause issues in your esophagus and lead to chest pain.
Your Appetite Went Mia
Another less common, but possible, ulcer symptom is weight loss. You may notice your appetite is off, and stomach discomfort makes it hard to eat. This drop in food intake, combined with occasional vomiting, may lead to unexpected weight loss. Dont miss these other serious health conditions that cause unexpected weight loss.
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Other Scans And Imaging
- Myocardial perfusion scan – often done to confirm the diagnosis of heart chest pain .
- Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging – also to confirm heart chest pain, this is a type of magnetic resonance imaging scan.
- CT coronary angiogram – a quicker alternative to an MRI scan, in which a CT scan is used to to look in detail at your coronary arteries.
- Coronary angiography – this test uses specialist X-ray equipment and dye injected into the coronary arteries to show the location and severity of any narrowing of the arteries.
- Isotope scan and CTPA scan look at the circulation in the lung. CTPA stands for ‘computerised tomography pulmonary angiogram’. They can show quite accurately whether or not a PE is present.
- Endoscopy – which uses a thin, flexible telescope passed down your gullet to examine your stomach lining. This may be recommended if your team thinks your chest pain could be caused by gastro-oesophageal reflux disease or a peptic ulcer.
How Is Peptic Ulcer Disease Diagnosed
Your doctor will do a physical exam. They will ask you questions about your medical history. Tell your doctor if you take aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen frequently. Your doctor will look for stomach bloating. They will listen to sounds in your stomach with a stethoscope. Your doctor will tap your stomach to check for pain.
Your doctor may schedule a special procedure to look at your stomach. This is called an endoscopy. For this procedure, youll be given medicine to relax. The medicine may make you fall asleep. The doctor will insert a thin, flexible tube down your throat. A tiny camera on the end of the tube displays the lining of your stomach and duodenum. The doctor may take a sample of your stomach lining . This is done to test for H. pylori. Blood, breath, and stool sample testing can also be used to check for H. pylori.
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What Does Noncardiac Chest Pain Feel Like
Noncardiac chest pain is often described as feeling like angina, the chest pain caused by heart disease. It feels like a painful squeezing or tightness in your chest, or like pressure or heaviness, particularly behind your sternum. You may feel it on the right side or the left side or in the middle. Sometimes the pain radiates to your neck, left arm or back. You may notice that it occurs after eating, or that it is accompanied by heartburn, a burning sensation in the chest. It can last for a few minutes or a few hours.