What Do You Do For A Peptic Ulcer

What Are The Symptoms Of Cold Sores

How Long Does It Take For A Stomach Ulcer To Heal?

For many people, symptoms are more severe the first time they develop a cold sore. When you have a cold sore outbreak:

The first sign of a cold sore is usually a tingling, burning, or itching sensation on or around the lips, beginning about 12-24 hours before the cold sore develops.
The area becomes red, swollen and painful as the blisters form.
Over 2-3 days, the blisters rupture and ooze fluid that is clear or slightly yellow. This is sometimes called the weeping phase.
About 4-5 days after the cold sore appears, it crusts and scabs over. It might crack or bleed as it heals.
The scab then falls off, revealing skin that may be a little more pink or reddish than usual for a few days. It usually takes 1-2 weeks for the cold sore to heal completely.

Common Causes Of Mouth Ulcers And Their Treatment

Do you often complain your Dentist or Physician regarding your mouth ulcers? If yes, then this article is for you. Mouth ulcers are very irritating.They cause difficulty in drinking tea, coffee, eating your meals and at times speaking. Today, let us discuss about the most common mouth ulcers called Aphthous ulcers or canker sores.

Causes of Aphthous ulcers

Although the actual cause of these ulcers is still unknown, the following are associated with them.

Stress We have seen that many students suffer from mouth ulcers during exam time. Also many adults suffer from ulcers when they are tensed for many days.

Insufficient Sleep People who do not take a good sound sleep do suffer from mouth ulcers.

Stomach and Intestine diseases People suffering from constipation or some gastrointestinal diseases also suffer from mouth ulcers.

Vitamin B and Folic acid deficiency Improper diet which is mainly due to overeating of fast foods and not having a good diet rich in green leafy vegetables often lead to deficiency of essential vitamins and minerals indirectly causing mouth ulcers.

Trauma and food allergy Injury due to tooth brushing or any hot foods and beverages can cause these ulcers. Also, some people have allergies to certain foods which often cause mouth ulcers.

How to manage these ulcers ?

Apply honey, catechu or glycerin over the ulcers 5 to 6 times a day.

Take a good night sleep.

Take healthy nutritious diet.

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Symptoms Of Mouth Ulcers

The symptoms of a mouth ulcer depend on the cause, but may include:

One or more painful sores on part of the skin lining the mouth.
Swollen skin around the sores.
Problems with chewing or tooth brushing because of the tenderness.
Irritation of the sores by salty, spicy or sour foods.
Loss of appetite.

Aphthous ulcers generally occur on the softer mouth lining of the lips, cheeks, sides of the tongue, floor of the mouth, back of the roof of the mouth and around the tonsil area. These ulcers are usually no larger than 5mm. You may develop more than one aphthous ulcer at a time, and sometimes these ulcers are joined together.

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Q: Can An Ulcer Be Completely Cured

A: If you have peptic ulcer disease, which can involve stomach ulcers and/or duodenal ulcers of the small intestine, the answer is yes! These ulcers can be completely healed.

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The development of H2 blockers and then Proton Pump Inhibitors allow for most ulcers to be completely healed with medication. With these treatment developments, surgery for peptic ulcer disease is seldom needed.

These types of ulcers are caused primarily by three things: Stomach acids, H. pylori infections and medications, such as aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen and naproxen .

Contrary to popular belief, the normal stress of day-to-day life does not cause or contribute to ulcers. Also, theres no genetic link involved with the risk for developing ulcers, and diet has no effect on the healing of an ulcer either.

How Common Are Stomach Ulcers

How you can spot stomach ulcers and what to do about them

Stomach ulcers are very common in Western countries. In the United States, there are about 4 million cases per year. Some estimates say that 1 in 10 people will have one at some point in their lives. Thats because many of the causes that contribute to stomach ulcers are common in Western life. Fortunately, these causes are usually easy to trace and to reverse, giving ulcers a chance to heal and your stomach lining a chance to repair.

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Is It Mouth Cancer

In a few cases, a long-lasting mouth ulcer can be a sign of mouth cancer. Ulcers caused by mouth cancer usually appear on or under the tongue, although you can get them in other areas of the mouth.

Risk factors for mouth cancer include:

smoking or using products that contain tobacco
drinking alcohol smokers who are also heavy drinkers have a much higher risk compared to the population at large
infection with the human papilloma virus the virus that causes genital warts

Its important to detect mouth cancer as early as possible. If mouth cancer is detected early, the chances of a complete recovery are good. Regular dental check-ups are the best way to detect the early signs.

When Should I See A Doctor If I Think I Have A Peptic Ulcer

If you have burning pain in your upper stomach that is relieved by eating or taking antacids, call a health-care professional for an appointment. Don’t assume you have an ulcer. Certain other conditions can cause similar symptoms.
If you vomit blood or have other signs of gastrointestinal bleeding, go to an emergency department right away. Peptic ulcers can cause massive bleeding, which requires blood transfusion or surgery.
Severe abdominal pain suggests perforation or tearing of an ulcer. This is an emergency that may require surgery to fix a hole in your stomach.
Vomiting and abdominal pain also can be a sign of an obstruction, another complication of peptic ulcers. This also may require emergency surgery.

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How Is A Peptic Ulcer Treated

Some peptic ulcers heal on their own. But if you donât treat them, the ulcers tend to come back.

They can erode the blood vessel wall in your stomach or small intestine. The ulcers also can eat a hole through the lining and get infected. Or they can cause swelling, which may block food from moving from your stomach into your small intestine.

If H. pylori is the culprit, your doctor may prescribe a mix of antibiotics to kill it. If aspirin and other NSAIDs are behind the ulcer, you may need to cut down on them, stop taking them altogether, or switch to another pain reliever.

Your doctor may also give you antacids to fight stomach acid, or prescribe medicine to lessen the acid your body makes. Prescription drugs called cytoprotective agents can help protect the lining of the stomach or small intestine so the ulcer can heal.

Antacids And H2 Blockers

Peptic ulcer disease – causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, pathology

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.

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What Are The Symptoms Of Any Complications

Stomach ulcers can cause various complications but these are much less common now because of more effective treatments. However, complications can be very serious and include:

Bleeding from the ulcer

This can range from a trickle to a life-threatening bleed.
If there is sudden heavy bleeding then this will cause you to vomit blood and make you feel very faint.
Less sudden bleeding may cause you to vomit and the vomit looks coffee-coloured because the stomach acid has partly broken down the blood.
A more gradual trickle of blood will pass through your gut and cause your stools to look very dark in colour or even black .

PerforationThis is the term used to describe the ulcer having gone all the way through the wall of the stomach. Food and acid in the stomach then leak out of the stomach. This usually causes severe pain and makes you very unwell. Stomach perforation is a medical emergency and needs hospital treatment as soon as possible.

Stomach blockageThis is now rare. An ulcer at the end of the stomach can cause the outlet of the stomach to narrow and cause an obstruction. This can cause frequent severe vomiting.

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Bleeding Ulcers Symptoms And Causes

Bleeding ulcers are a big deal. Often having endoscopy is diagnostic and therapeutic. A gastroenterologist can use a fiberoptic camera to view the inside of the stomach and duodenum, searching for a source of bleeding.

Symptoms of a bleeding ulcer include:

Indigestion
Abdominal discomfort after eating
Upper abdominal burning or hunger pain 1 to 3 hours after eating or in the middle of the night

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Accompanying Symptoms Of Mouth Ulcers

Symptoms of mouth ulcers vary. However, the primary sign that indicates a mouth ulcer is a red or white sore in the mouth. The sore might become painful, especially when eating or drinking.

Canker sores may also lead to swelling of the skin around them, especially when they are on the lining of the cheeks.

In addition, since most foods and drinks can make mouth sores painful, loss of appetite is common.

Because mouth ulcers usually disappear within a short time, you might not experience the symptoms discussed above. However, the symptoms may worsen during times of stress, sickness, or severe exhaustion.

Sometimes, mouth ulcers will be accompanied by mild fever symptoms. If this happens, further medical assistance is necessary.

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.

What Caregivers Can Do

Use a flashlight to check the patients mouth for red areas or white patches, which often become sores. If the patient wears dentures, remove them before looking.
Offer liquids with a straw, which may help bypass the sores in the mouth.
Offer soft foods. Mash or puree foods in a blender to make them easier to eat.
Try coating mouth sores with Anbesol® or Orajel® before meals to numb them during eating, if OK with the cancer care team.
Offer pain medicines 30 minutes before mealtime.

Best Foods For Mouth Ulcer:

You have to choose your foods wisely when you have a mouth ulcer, as bad foods could increase the soreness of those lesions and make them worst! So, a precise diet chart is essential to treat the symptoms of mouth ulcer professionally. Here, we are referring you the top most food categories which act in an optimistic way in the reduction of those sores and never give any irritation to the already grown-mouth lesions. Check them out-

Foods with high folic acid are another expert food category to incorporate in the remedy process of mouth ulcer naturally. This acid works positively on grown lesions and cures them gradually by wiping out the bacterial effects from your mouth entirely. Green and leafy veggies, peas, collard vegetables, avocado, okra, Brussels sprouts, asparagus, lentils, etc. are some folic-acid-rich
Foods with anti-inflammatory compounds especially like coconut products such as coconut oil, coconut water, coconut pulp, etc. are efficient to flush out all the tiny sores from your mouth. The healing properties of such products, not only pull out the bacterial upshot from your skin but, also prevent them from coming back again!
Frozen vegetables are one good this to try in this attempt as they come with a low-acidic content. Remember that we are trying to indicate only normally frozen foods, not the processed or canned foods at all!

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Does Oil Pulling Cure Mouth Ulcers

Oil pulling or oil swishing has been known to help a lot of people who were suffering from mouth ulcers. All you need to do is swish two to three tablespoons of coconut oil in your mouth for a few minutes and then spit it out. This needs to be followed by thorough rinsing of the mouth with lukewarm water.

Can Peptic Ulcers Be Prevented

How a peptic ulcer develops

Doctors arent sure how H. pylori bacteria spread from person to person. The bacteria have been found in saliva , so kissing may be one way. They also may spread through food, water, or contact with vomit thats infected with the bacteria.

Regular use of NSAIDs can cause gastrointestinal problems and bleeding in some people. Acetaminophen does not cause stomach ulcers and is a good alternative to NSAIDs.

As with many infections, washing your hands well and often is an important part of ulcer prevention. This is extra important after you use the bathroom and before you eat. And take good care of your body by exercising regularly and not smoking or drinking.

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What Causes Bleeding Ulcers

When the ulcer is caused due to an infection and the infection has progressed, it can also cause bleeding from the ulcer and the gums.

On an average, mouth ulcers take seven to 10 days to heal. By using the home remedies enlisted in this article, you can hasten the healing process and also get relief from pain. It is best to use a combination of home remedies as this will ensure the best results. Boost your immune system by consuming lots of fresh fruits and veggies. This will help your body fight the infection. If the ulcer is painless, you should consult a doctor as it could be a sign of oral cancer.

Hope this article helped you. Do let us know if we missed out on anything in the comments section below.

Can Stomach Ulcers Just Go Away

Some ulcers follow a chronic pattern of healing temporarily on their own and then returning. This might happen if the factors contributing to your ulcer, such as NSAID use, smoking and alcohol, are temporarily reduced and then resumed. You wont completely heal your ulcer until you eliminate the cause, whether that is chronic NSAID use, H. pylori infection or an overactive stomach. Even after successful treatment, you can get another ulcer.

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How Are Stomach Ulcers Treated

Ulcers can heal if they are given a rest from the factors that created them. Healthcare providers treat uncomplicated ulcers with a combination of medicines to reduce stomach acid, coat and protect the ulcer during healing and kill any bacterial infection that may be involved. Medicines may include:

Antibiotics. If H. pylori was found in your digestive tract, your healthcare provider will prescribe some combination of antibiotics to kill the bacteria, based on your medical history and condition. Commonly prescribed antibiotics include tetracycline, metronidazole, clarithromycinand amoxicillin.
Proton pump inhibitors . These drugs help reduce stomach acid and protect your stomach lining. PPIs include esomeprazole,dexlansoprazole,lansoprazole, omeprazole,pantoprazole and rabeprazole.
Histamine receptor blockers . These reduce stomach acid by blocking the chemical that tells your body to produce it . H2 blockers include famotidine, cimetidine and nizatidine.
Antacids. These common over-the-counter medicines help to neutralize stomach acid. They may bring some symptom relief, but they arent enough to heal your ulcer. They also might interfere with some antibiotics.
Cytoprotective agents. These medicines help to coat and protect your stomach lining. They include sucralfate and misoprostol.
Bismuth Subsalicylate. This over-the-counter medicine, commonly found as Pepto-Bismol, can help coat and protect your ulcer from stomach acid.

How Is A Peptic Ulcer Diagnosed

Your doctor will ask about your symptoms, whether you take NSAIDs and other drugs, and medical history. Theyâll also check you for bloating in the belly and pain. That may be enough to make a diagnosis.

The only way your doctor can tell for sure if you have an ulcer is to look. They may use a series of X-rays or a test called an endoscopy. This test allows them to pass a thin, bendy tube down your throat and into your stomach and small intestine. The tube has a camera at the end so they can check the lining for ulcers. They may also take a small piece of the lining to test for H. pylori. Blood, breath, and stool sample tests also can screen for the bacteria.

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