Stomach Ulcers: What You Need To Know?

Stomach ulcers or gastric ulcers are the open sores that develop on the lining of the stomach when the lining of the stomach has become damaged. This is a type of peptic ulcer that affects both the stomach and small intestines.

A thick layer of mucus protects the digestive juices in the stomach. A decline in this mucus allows the digestive acids to eat away the tissues that line the stomach, causing ulcers. A stomach ulcer is common and can be cured easily. However, If left untreated, it can turn into a more severe condition.

Symptoms of stomach ulcers

Some stomach ulcers don't show any symptoms. If present, they can include:

• Abdominal pain just below the rib cage
• Indigestion 
• Nausea 
• Loss of appetite
• Vomiting 
• Weight loss
• Presence of blood in vomit or bowel motions
• Shock due to blood loss

What Causes Gastric Ulcers?

Gastric ulcer or stomach ulcer is usually caused when the layer protecting the stomach lining from stomach acid breaks down. This is mainly due to a bacterial infection called H. pylori. 

Other major causes of gastric ulcers are:

• Excessive usage of NSAIDs – non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
• Excessive Smoking
• Hypercalcemia – excessive production of calcium
• Zollinger-Ellison syndrome – a condition when the body produces excessive acid.
• unrestrained consumption of alcohol

Treatment for a stomach ulcer

Lifestyle modifications can improve the symptoms of stomach ulcers. These include:

• Losing weight(If you are overweight).
• Quitting smoking
• Quitting alcohol
• Avoid foods such as coffee, chocolate, tomatoes, fatty foods, or spicy foods.

These modifications can reduce the severity of the disease, along with other treatment methods such as:

• Medication: Different drugs, including antibiotics, to destroy the H. pylori colony, and to speed the healing process. Along with these, tablets to reduce the acid content in the gastric juices are also suggested
• Breath tests: Breath tests help to make sure that the H. pylori infection has been treated successfully and to monitor the improvement.
• Changes to existing medication: Medications for other health conditions can have effects on the ulcer. These medications are slightly altered to improve the symptoms and effects of stomach ulcers. 

Most stomach ulcers will improve a few months after treatment. However, the chances of recurrence are high even after the treatment if the underlying causes are not properly addressed. If you suspect that you have stomach ulcers, talk to your doctor to discuss the appropriate treatment plan.

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Rectify peptic ulcer

Ulcers which occur in the inside of the stomach and the upper portion of the small intestine will be considered as peptic ulcer. Gastric ulcers occur inside the stomach and duodenal ulcers occur in the inside of the upper portion of the small intestine.

Symptoms
The most common symptom of ulcer would be severe stomach pain. Other signs would be as follows:

• Nausea
• Bloating
• Intolerant to fatty food
• Heartburn

Causes
Usually, peptic ulcers occur when acid in the digestive system eats away at the inner surface of the stomach or small intestine. And this can lead to severe pain as open sores form and it might even lead to bleeding. There is a mucous layer for the digestive tract which usually can protect against the acid. Ulcers are usually developed when the number of acid increases or when the amount of mucus decreases. Common causes could be as follows:

• Due to helicobacter pylori bacteria
• Using pain relievers on a daily basis
• Consuming too much of spicy food
• Certain medications

Medical care
The primary treatment for ulcers would be acid suppression and measures to heal the ulcers. Usually, doctors would prescribe certain medications for acid suppression and multiplication of the bacterium.This would include proton pump inhibitors, H2 blockers, and mucosal protective agents. These medications or antibiotics can help acid suppression or to heavily line the mucus, and this could reduce the formation of peptic ulcers. When these medications fail to treat ulcers, doctors would suggest surgery.

Usually, there are 4 types of surgical treatments for ulcers such as:

• Vagotomy - a surgical procedure that involves removing the part of vagus nerves. These nerves transfer messages from the stomach to the brain to stimulate acid secretion. If the vagus nerve is cut, then it will interpret the transmission of messages which could suppress the acid production.
• Antrectomy - a surgical option that involves removing the lower portion of the stomach that is antrum. Antrum produces hormones that will stimulate the stomach to produce digestive juices including pepsin and acid.
• Pyloroplasty - a surgery that will widen the opening of the lower stomach that is pylorus which will help the stomach to empty the contents into the small intestine that is duodenum.
• Laparoscopy - a surgical option that leads the passage to the inside of the abdomen or stomach and pelvis. Large cuts on the skin will not be required while performing laparoscopy. The pain is less and the recovery period is faster.
  

Ulcers could lead to further complications hence, it is recommended to treat before it gets worse or severe.

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Don’t Delay Your Hernia Treatment!

Are you feeling pain due to a bulge in your groin while bending or lifting any object or during coughing. Then you may be suffering from inguinal hernia. It occurs when the tissues of the intestines protrude through a weak spot in the muscles of the abdomen and results in a bulge.

Symptoms of Inguinal Hernia are as follows

• A visible bulge in the groin. 
• Aching sensation at the bulge.
• Discomfort and intense pain in the groin region.

Others signs:

• Vomiting and Nausea
• Inability to move the bowels

The condition in its initial stage is not very dangerous, it usually shows no signs of improvements with time and in future can cause complications that can even become a threat to the life of the patient. Thus it is recommended by doctors to not keep a hernia untreated and opt for a surgery to fix the condition, if you have symptoms. Book an appointment with Dr. Kamalesh by logging on to http://surgicalgastro.com/  to get expert advice. With unmatched experience, he can provide you with the best quality treatment and guide you towards a healthy life. 

Complications are as follows:

• Incarcerated Hernia: When the portions of the affected intestine get trapped within the hernia obstructing the bowel movements and can thus cause intense pain and vomiting.
• Strangulation: If the hernia is left untreated it can get incarcerated resulting in stopping of blood flow to the parts of the intestine. It can result in the damage of bowel tissues and may require immediate surgery.
• Increase in size: If left untreated the size of the hernia increases with time and thus creates huge complications. In such cases it becomes difficult to conduct a keyhole surgery or a minimally invasive surgery and an open surgery is done which further complicates the things.

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Reviewed by: Dr Kamalesh
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