How To Treat Stomach Ulcers At Home

What Are The Symptoms Of A Peptic Ulcer Does It Cause Pain

Ulcers do not always cause symptoms. Sometimes, a serious complication such as bleeding or a sudden, bad upper abdominal pain is the first sign of an ulcer.

The most common symptom of peptic ulcers is abdominal pain.

• The pain is usually in the upper middle part of the abdomen, above the belly button and below the breastbone.
• The ulcer pain can feel like burning, or gnawing, and it may go through to the back.
• Pain often comes several hours after a meal when the stomach is empty.
• The pain is often worse at night and early morning.
• It can last anywhere from a few minutes to several hours.
• The ulcer pain may be relieved by food, antacids, or vomiting.

Other symptoms of peptic ulcers include the following:

• Nausea
• Loss of appetite
• Loss of weight

Severe ulcers may cause bleeding in the stomach or duodenum. Bleeding is sometimes the only symptom of an ulcer. This bleeding can be fast or slow. Fast bleeding reveals itself in one of the following ways:

• Vomiting of blood or dark material that looks something like coffee grounds: This is an emergency and warrants an immediate visit to an emergency department.
• Blood in the stool or black, tarry, sticky-looking stools

Slow bleeding is often more difficult to detect, because it has no dramatic symptoms.

• The usual result is low blood cell count .
• The symptoms of anemia are tiredness , lack of energy , weakness, rapid heartbeat , and pale skin .

What Is A Stomach Ulcer

Stomach ulcer, also known as peptic ulcer, gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer, is an open ulcerated erosion on the gastrointestinal tract or on the upper part of the small intestines. Ulcer develops when the acidic content from the digested food damages the gastrointestinal tract or the intestinal walls. The hydrochloric acid present in the digestive fluids and the enzyme pepsin in the stomach damage the gastrointestinal tract, thereby causing stomach ulcers.

While ulcer developed in the stomach is known as gastric ulcer, the one developed in the duodenum is known as duodenal ulcer. And both these ulcers are together referred as peptic ulcers.

• Long term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin, ibuprofen
• Infection caused by bacterium Helicobacter pylori

How to cure stomach ulcers at home?

Stomach Ulcers Can Be Handled At Home But Be Careful

As you can see, there are many home remedies that can be used to care for the pain and damage that a stomach ulcer can cause. Although there are more remedies out there, we believe that the ones weve mentioned here are the best ones to help treat your ulcer.

But with that in mind, stomach ulcers can become a serious medical issue. If your ulcer isnt getting any better or if it gets worse while youre taking one of these home remedies, consult your doctor to make sure that everything is okay. He or she may recommend a more effective treatment depending on your condition.

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Symptoms Of Stomach Ulcers In Women

Symptoms of heartburn that will usually be experienced by people, among others:

• Nausea
• Bloating of the upper abdomen
• Heat in the upper abdomen
• Pain in the liver and in the middle of the chest that appears when or after eating
• Instantly feel complete when ingesting and protracted satiety after eating.

Frequent stomach ulcers are usually characterized by symptoms of heat in the chest due to the rise of stomach acid to the esophagus. Stress also brings the impact to be more negative for people with stomach ulcers.

Effective Home Remedies For Stomach Ulcer During Pregnancy

Stomach or peptic ulcers during pregnancy can be quite painful. Ulcers are small open sores in the stomach lining. They cause further irritation reacting with the acidity in the stomach. Instead of medications, natural remedies are the best to treat stomach ulcers during pregnancy. These are safe and easily available at home.

There are several effective home remedies for peptic ulcer. Vegetables like cabbage, carrot and coconut are excellent remedies. Also banana is known to work like magic in peptic ulcers. Honey, garlic and almonds are also extremely effective. Even cayenne pepper is a wonderful home remedy that can cure stomach ulcer. Keep reading to know more about effective home remedies for stomach ulcer during pregnancy.

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Guarding Against Infection Of H Pylori

How Are Peptic Ulcers Diagnosed

To look for peptic ulcers, doctors may:

• Order an upper gastrointestinal series. These X-rays of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum let the doctor get a close look at the gastrointestinal tract. A person drinks a liquid called barium while getting the X-ray. If theres an ulcer, it should be outlined on the X-ray.
• Do an upper endoscopy . The patient is sedated for this procedure. Then, the doctor puts an a small, flexible tube with a tiny camera on the end down the throat and into the stomach and duodenum. The doctors can see the lining of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum to check for possible ulcers, inflammation, or food allergies. The doctor also can do tissue tests to check for H. pyloriIf there’s any sign of inflammation, the doctor will test for H. pylori. This test is important because treatment for ulcers caused by H. pylori differs from treatment for those caused by NSAIDs.

To look for H. pylori, doctors can do:

• tissue tests during an endoscopy
• stool tests to look for H. pylori antigens. Testing stool is becoming more common, as some doctors think they’re more accurate than blood tests.
• breath tests, which can find carbon broken down by H. pylori after the patient drinks a solution. Breath tests are mostly done in adults.

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How To Treat A Bleeding Ulcer

This article was co-authored by Dale Prokupek, MD. Dale Prokupek, MD is a board-certified Internist and Gastroenterologist who runs a private practice based in Los Angeles, California. Dr. Prokupek is also a staff physician at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and an associate clinical professor of medicine at the Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles . Dr. Prokupek has over 30 years of medical experience and specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the liver, stomach, and colon, including chronic hepatitis C, colon cancer, hemorrhoids, anal condyloma, and digestive diseases related to chronic immune deficiency. He holds a BS in Zoology from the University of Wisconsin Madison and an MD from the Medical College of Wisconsin. He completed an internal medicine residency at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and a gastroenterology fellowship at the UCLA Geffen School of Medicine.There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, 100% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 407,516 times.

Prevention Of Stomach Ulcers

The best way to prevent stomach ulcers is to avoid the triggering factors. Here are some ways to prevent stomach ulcers:

• Eat-in small portions and slowly
• Avoid foods that have a good deal of acids
• Do not exercise with a full stomach
• Reduce alcohol consumption
• Do not lie down right after eating
• When heartburn is triggered by stress, look for new methods to manage stress such as meditating.

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What Is The Cause Of Peptic Ulcers

When you eat, your stomach produces hydrochloric acid and an enzyme called pepsin to digest the food.

• The food is partially digested in the stomach and then moves on to the duodenum to continue the process.
• Peptic ulcers occur when the acid and enzyme overcome the defense mechanisms of the gastrointestinal tract and erode the mucosal wall.

In the past it was thought that ulcers were caused by lifestyle factors such as eating habits, cigarettesmoking, and stress.

• Now it is understood that people with ulcers have an imbalance between acid and pepsin coupled with the digestive tract’s inability to protect itself from these harsh substances.
• Research done in the 1980s showed that some ulcers are caused by infection with a bacterium named Helicobacter pylori, usually called H pylori.
• Not everyone who gets an ulcer is infected with H pylori. Aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can cause ulcers if taken regularly.

Some types of medical therapy can contribute to ulcer formation. The following factors can weaken the protective mucosal barrier of the stomach increasing the chances of getting an ulcer and slow the healing of existing ulcers.

• Aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs , and newer anti-inflammatory medications
• Alcohol
• Cigarettesmoking
• Radiation therapy:-used for diseases such as cancer

People who take aspirin or other anti-inflammatory medications are at an increased risk even if they do not have H pylori infection.

Stomach Ulcer Remedies: 10 Ways To Heal And Reduce Inflammation

An ulcer is a kind of erosion or open sore on the surface of an organ or tissue. Ulcers generally occur in the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum and are known as peptic ulcers.

Types of Peptic Ulcers

• Gastric ulcer: A peptic ulcer in the stomach is called a gastric ulcer.
• Duodenal ulcer: A duodenal ulcer is a type of peptic ulcer that develops in the first part of the small intestine .
• Esophageal ulcer: An esophageal ulcer develops in the lower part of the esophagus.

A peptic ulcer is among the most common forms of stomach disease. About 4 million Americans suffer from this condition every year.

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Home Remedies To Get Rid Of Stomach Ulcers

If and when you experience any of the symptoms described above, consult a physician immediately for proper diagnosis.Depending on the severity of your condition, you can choose the treatment you wish to follow in order to rectify the situation.If left undiagnosed and untreated, gastric ulcers can lead to the following complications:

• Internal bleeding
• Perforation or splitting open of the stomach lining, i.e., a hole or tear in the stomach wall
• Stomach cancer
• Swelling or scarring that leads to intestinal blockage

You can get any of the following tests done for proper diagnosis of stomach ulcers: urea breath test, stool test, blood test, and gastroscopy or endoscopy.In case the damage to your stomach is not severe and does not require immediate surgical intervention or antibiotic treatment, given below are 10 home remedies that can help you get rid of stomach ulcers and repair your stomach lining.

Signs You Have A Stomach Ulcer And Natural Remedies

As many as 1 out of every 10 people in the US and other western countries will experience a stomach ulcer at some point in their lives.

These irritating and often painful sores in the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine can be easy to treat, but if not addressed, can cause serious health problems.

The stomach and small intestine have protective mucus that lines them and keeps them safe from erosion from the very acid we need for healthy digestion. Ulcers happen when something weakens or alters this mucus coating, and the tissues become damaged from exposure to acid.

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Treatment For A Stomach Ulcer

Special diets are now known to have very little impact on the prevention or treatment of stomach ulcers. Treatment options can include:

• medication including antibiotics, to destroy the H. pylori colony, and drugs to help speed the healing process. Different drugs need to be used in combination some of the side effects can include diarrhoea and rashes. Resistance to some of these antibiotics is becoming more common
• subsequent breath tests used to make sure the H. pylori infection has been treated successfully
• changes to existing medication the doses of arthritis medication, aspirin or other anti-inflammatory medication can be altered slightly to reduce their contributing effects on the stomach ulcer.
• reducing acid tablets are available to reduce the acid content in the gastric juices
• lifestyle modifications including quitting cigarettes, since smoking reduces the natural defences in the stomach and impairs the healing process.

What Is The Treatment For Peptic Ulcers

The choice of treatment depends on whether or not the ulcer is caused by infection with H pylori. Correct diagnosis is key to whether a treatment works or not. If the bacteria are the cause, treatment focuses on killing the infection. Regardless of whether the bacteria are the cause, reducing acid in the stomach is another important focus of treatment.

The following treatments are recommended for ulcers:

• Lifestyle changes: Quit smoking, avoid alcohol, aspirin, and NSAIDs
• Acid-blocking medications
• Medications that protect the lining of the stomach and duodenum
• “Triple-therapy” or “dual-therapy” regimens for ulcers caused by H pylori

No single medication works to get rid of H pylori infection. Two combinations have been found that work well in most people.

These treatments are generally given for two weeks.

Once H pylori bacteria are eradicated from a person’s digestive tract, usually it will not come back. The ulcers usually heal completely and do not return.

Treatment for bleeding ulcers depends on the severity of blood loss and includes:

It is important to remember that treatment may not work if the diagnosis is not correct. If the doctor diagnoses an ulcer, it is important to determine whether the ulcer is caused by infection with H pylori.

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What Are The Signs & Symptoms Of Peptic Ulcers

Signs of a peptic ulcer include:

• most commonly, burning pain in the belly between the breastbone and the belly button
• nausea
• feeding problems
• blood in vomit or bowel movements, which may look dark red or black

If your child has any of these signs and symptoms, call your doctor. Many can be caused by other childhood illnesses, but should be reported to your doctor. Based on your child’s medical history and symptoms, the doctor may want your child to see a pediatric gastroenterologist. This is a doctor who treats problems of the stomach, intestines, and associated organs.

The Pros And Cons Of Pain Relief Drugs

Here’s a rundown of the benefits and risks of some popular pain medications. It should help simplify your choices when you’re in the drugstore.

Keep in mind that you shouldn’t use any over-the-counter painkiller on a regular basis. If you’re in that much pain, you need to talk with your doctor.

ACETAMINOPHENTylenol, Panadol, Tempra

• How it works. Acetaminophen is not an NSAID. Experts aren’t actually sure how it works, but it seems to affect chemicals that increase the feeling of pain.
• Benefits. Acetaminophen reduces pain and lowers fevers. Unlike aspirin and other NSAIDS, acetaminophen is believed to be safe for people with ulcers. It doesn’t affect the natural lining of the stomach. Since it doesn’t thin the blood, it doesn’t increase the risk of bleeding either. It is safe for women who are pregnant and nursing.
• Side effects and risks. Experts say that acetaminophen is safe for people with ulcers. But like any drug, it can cause other side effects. Very high doses of acetaminophen — well over the recommended maximum of 4,000 mg/day — can cause serious liver damage. Long-term use of acetaminophen in high doses — especially when combined with caffeine or codeine can cause kidney disease.

  Acetaminophen doesn’t reduce swelling, like aspirin and other NSAIDs do. It may be less helpful for treating pain that’s caused by inflammation, such as some types of arthritis.

ASPIRINBayer, Bufferin, Ecotrin

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How About H Pylori

This dangerous spiralshaped bacterium is a common cause of the infection worldwide. H. pylori infection is usually contracted in childhood it may happen through food, water, or close contact with an infected individual. Most people with H. pylori dont display any symptoms until theyre older. In fact, they may go through life unaware that theyre infected. Half of the worlds population has H pylori. Although H. pylori infection usually doesnt cause problems in childhood, if left untreated it can cause chronic infection, gastritis , peptic ulcer disease in 10% of cases, and even stomach cancer in 1%. It may be certain strains of these bacteria are more dangerous than others.1

H. pylori lives and multiplies within the mucous layer that covers and protects tissues that line the stomach and small intestine. Often, H. pylori causes no problems, but sometimes it can disrupt the mucous layer and inflame the lining of your stomach or duodenum, producing an ulcer. To cure H. pylori infection, physicians generally prescribe antibiotics and other drugs that block acid production and increase the bioavailability of antibodies in the gastric mucosa. Proton pump inhibitors also help to stabilize some antibiotics. However, concerns are rising with such conventional therapies in the light of emerging evidence that frequent use of antibiotics for H. pylori infections increases its resistance to antibiotics and damage to the kidneys.