Where Are Stomach Ulcers Located

What About Coconut Oil

An April 2019 lab study in Microbiology Research Journal International found that virgin coconut oil exhibited antifungal activity against Candida albicans, the primary fungus at play in a yeast infection.

But keep in mind that this was an in-vitro experiment, and theres no clinical data about how it might work in the human v-zone.

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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

Is There A Peptic Ulcer Diet Plan

No particular diet is helpful for people with peptic ulcers. At one time, a bland diet and avoidance of spicy or greasy foods was recommended. Milk and dairy food have been used in the past for ulcer symptoms, but have not been proven to be effective. We now know diet has little effect on ulcers. In some people, however, certain foods seem to aggravate stomach ulcer symptoms. Keep a food diary with your intake and the resulting symptoms and avoid eating any foods that aggravate symptoms.

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What Tests Will Be Done To Diagnose A Peptic Ulcer

Endoscopy. An upper endoscopy exam is expedient because allows healthcare providers to see inside your digestive tract and also take a tissue sample to analyze in the lab. The test is done by passing a thin tube with a tiny camera attached down your throat and into your stomach and duodenum. Youll have medication to numb your throat and help you relax during the test. Your healthcare provider may use the endoscope to take a tissue sample to test for signs of mucous damage, anemia, H. pylori infection or malignancy. If they take a sample, you wont feel it.

Imaging tests. Imaging tests to look inside the stomach and small intestine include:

• Upper GI series. An upper GI X-ray exam examines the stomach and duodenum through X-rays. Its less invasive than an endoscopy. For the X-ray, youll swallow a chalky fluid called barium, which will coat your esophagus, stomach and duodenum. The barium helps your digestive organs show up better in black and white images.
• CT scan. Your healthcare provider might recommend a CT scan if they need to see your organs in more detail. A CT scan can show complications such as a perforation in the stomach or intestinal wall. For the test, youll lie on a table inside a scanner machine while X-rays are taken. You may drink or have an injection with contrast fluid to make your organs show up better in images.

Tests for H. pylori. Your healthcare provider might want to test you separately for H. pylori infection. Tests may include:

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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Nsaid Drugs And Stomach Ulcers

A group of painkillers known as NSAIDs carries a risk of stomach ulcers. The two best-known NSAIDs are aspirin and ibuprofen.

The risk of ulcers increases if the drugs are taken in high doses, or regularly for a long time.

Stronger NSAIDs, such as those that need a prescription, are riskier for stomach ulcers than those that can be bought over-the-counter .

People should always check labels and talk to a pharmacist or a doctor about any concerns with using painkillers. They may recommend an alternative such as acetaminophen.

Treatment For A Duodenal Ulcer

If your ulcer is caused by H pylori, the usual treatment is ‘triple therapy’. This involves taking 2 antibiotics to kill the bacteria, and a medicine to reduce the amount of acid made by your stomach.

If you don’t have an H. pylori infection, and you have been using anti-inflammatory drugs, you will need to stop taking them and to start taking a drug to reduce acid production by your stomach.

Taking antacids, drinking less alcohol, and quitting smoking if you smoke may also help.

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When To Seek Medical Advice

You should visit your GP if you think you may have a stomach ulcer.

Seek urgent medical advice if you experience any of the following symptoms:

• vomiting blood the blood can appear bright red or have a dark brown, grainy appearance, similar to coffee grounds
• passing dark, sticky, tar-like stools
• a sudden, sharp pain in your tummy that gets steadily worse

These could be a sign of a serious complication, such as internal bleeding.

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 Is A Peptic Ulcer

A peptic ulcer is an open sore in the lining of the stomach or the duodenum . When a peptic ulcer is located in the stomach, its known as a gastric ulcer, and when its located in the duodenum its called a duodenal ulcer.

Although peptic ulcers are far more common in adults, children of any age can develop these ulcers, and without proper treatment, they may experience serious complications, including:

• Bleeding: As the lining of the stomach or duodenal wall is eroded, blood vessels may also be damaged, causing bleeding.
• Perforation: Sometimes a hole has worn through the wall of the stomach or duodenum, and bacteria and partially digested food can spill through the opening into the sterile abdominal cavity .
• Narrowing and obstruction: Ulcers located at the end of the stomach can cause swelling and scarring, which can narrow or close the intestinal opening.

When Should I Go To Er

Seek emergency care if you have:

• Severe pain that doesnt go away.
• Signs of blood in your poop or bloody vomit.
• Signs of severe blood loss, such as paleness and faintness.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Stomach ulcers are common and treatable, but they should be taken seriously. Even when they dont cause symptoms, they arent a good sign. A stomach ulcer means that your natural stomach acid is overwhelming your protective stomach lining. Thats a situation that can only get worse if it isnt managed. Lifestyle changes may help, but youll still need to treat the underlying cause. Its probably either NSAID use or a common bacterial infection. Your healthcare provider can help prescribe the right medicines for your condition.

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Your Appetite Went Mia

For many patients with ulcers, the condition can actually result in a loss of appetite. This drop in food intake, combined with occasional vomiting, may lead to unexpected weight loss. Some ulcer patients report eating their normal amount of food, yet still lose weight, so the ulcer itself may cause a drop on the scale, too.

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.

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How Do Symptoms Differ

One way of telling if you may have a gastric or duodenal ulcer is to figure out where and when your symptoms occur. For some, the time between meals aggravates an ulcer. For others, eating may be a trigger for the pain.

The exact location of the pain doesnt always match up with the location of the ulcer, though. Sometimes the pain is referred. This means that a person may have pain in a location away from the actual ulcer.

Other symptoms can include:

Pearls And Other Issues

Ulcers are differentiated from erosions based on size. Lesions less than 5 mm in diameter are termed erosions, whereas lesions greater than 5 mm in diameter are termed ulcers. COX-2 selective NSAIDs are less likely to cause PUD as COX-2 is not expressed on the gastric mucosa. Therefore, in patients with a history of PUD, COX-2 selective NSAIDs are preferred. A gastrin-producing endocrine tumor causes Zollinger-Ellison syndrome or gastrinoma usually arises from the pancreas or duodenum. It results in multiple ulcers in the duodenum and jejunum. It can be diagnosed by measuring serum gastrin levels.

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How Do H Pylori Cause A Peptic Ulcer And Peptic Ulcer Disease

H. pylori are spiral-shaped bacteria that can cause peptic ulcer disease by damaging the mucous coating that protects the lining of the stomach and duodenum. Once H. pylori have damaged the mucous coating, powerful stomach acid can get through to the sensitive lining. Together, the stomach acid and H. pylori irritate the lining of the stomach or duodenum and cause a peptic ulcer.

What Are The Signs Of Stomach Ulcers

If youve developed a stomach ulcer, there are several signs that should alert you to the problem. Here are the main seven signs you should look for:

As we said earlier, in some cases, you may not have symptoms at all. On the flip side, the severity of your symptoms could put you in the hospital. Severe signs of a peptic ulcer may include:

• Feeling faint
• Trouble breathing
• Vomiting blood

Any signs of a stomach ulcer should prompt you to take a trip to the doctor. These illnesses, particularly if they are severe, will simply not get better on their own. If left untreated, a stomach ulcer can worsen to the point where it actually breaks through the stomach wall. This is called a perforation and its extremely serious.

Some of the other complications of an untreated stomach ulcer include:

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Symptoms Of A Duodenal Ulcer

If you have a duodenal ulcer, you might:

• have pain in the stomach or abdomen
• have indigestion
• feel very full and bloated after eating
• feel like you might vomit
• lose weight

Very occasionally, an ulcer can cause serious complications. Go to the emergency department if:

• you have a sharp pain in your stomach that doesn’t go away
• your vomit or stools look bloody or a black colour

If you are concerned about symptoms, you can use healthdirect’s online Symptom Checker to get advice on the next appropriate healthcare steps and when to seek medical attention.

Give Yourself Time To Heal

Stomach ulcers often respond well to treatment and sometimes heal within weeks. Your doctor may want to do another H. pylori test or endoscopy to make sure. An ulcer that doesnt clear up could be due to many reasons, from not taking your drugs the right way or another health problem like Crohns disease. Be patient. Your doctor will gather more info about your symptoms and try other treatments to get your stomach feeling better.

Digestive Disorders: Visual Guide to Stomach Ulcers

• American Gastroenterological Association: Peptic Ulcer Disease.
• American College of Gastroenterology: Peptic Ulcer Disease.
• Mayo Clinic: Peptic Ulcer.

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If Your Ulcer Was Caused By An Anti

If possible, you should stop taking the anti-inflammatory medicine. This allows the ulcer to heal. You will also normally be prescribed an acid-suppressing medicine for several weeks. This stops the stomach from making acid and allows the ulcer to heal. However, in many cases, the anti-inflammatory medicine is needed to ease symptoms of arthritis or other painful conditions, or aspirin is needed to protect against blood clots. In these situations, one option is to take an acid-suppressing medicine each day indefinitely. This reduces the amount of acid made by the stomach and greatly reduces the chance of an ulcer forming again.

Fact #: 70% Of Peptic Ulcers Are Painless

Duodenal ulcers are commonly asymptomatic or have very minimal symptoms. However, one study found that about 70% of patients may have peptic ulcer diseases.

Having an ulcer in your duodenum doesnt always mean you will have pain or other symptoms.

Factors that may contribute to :

• Being obese or overweight.
• Habitual tea drinking.
• Smaller ulcer . Duodenal ulcers tend to be smaller than stomach ulcers, so they are more likely to be asymptomatic.

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What Is The Stomach

The stomach is a J-shaped organ that digests food. It produces enzymes and acids . This mix of enzymes and digestive juices breaks down food so it can pass to your small intestine.

Your stomach is part of the gastrointestinal tract. The GI tract is a long tube that starts at your mouth. It runs to your anus, where stool leaves your body. The GI tract is a key part of your digestive system.

Adaptation Of H Pylori To High Acidity Of Stomach

As mentioned above, H. pylori produce large amounts of urease to produce ammonia as one of its adaptation methods to overcome stomach acidity. Helicobacter pylori arginase, a bimetallic enzyme binuclear Mn2-metalloenzyme arginase, crucial for pathogenesis of the bacterium in human stomach, a member of the ureohydrolase family, catalyzes the conversion of L-arginine to L-ornithine and urea, where ornithine is further converted into polyamines, which are essential for various critical metabolic processes.

This provides acid resistance and is thus important for colonization of the bacterium in the gastric epithelial cells. Arginase of H. pylori also plays a role in evasion of the pathogen from the host immune system mainly by various proposed mechanisms, arginase competes with host-inducible nitric oxide synthase for the common substrate L-arginine, and thus reduces the synthesis of NO, an important component of innate immunity and an effective antimicrobial agent that is able to kill the invading pathogens directly.

Alterations in the availability of L-arginine and its metabolism into polyamines contribute significantly to the dysregulation of the host immune response to H. pylori infection.

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Signs You May Have A Stomach Ulcer

We have absolutely warned our patients about the dangers of untreated ulcers in the past. However, we consider this to be an extremely important matter and therefore, we will continue to try to educate the people of Los Angeles, as well as those elsewhere on the most common symptoms of stomach ulcers. If you know the signs, you can see your doctor sooner rather than later when things have gotten especially bad. Continue reading below to get familiar with what these symptoms are.

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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