Understanding Your Stomach or Duodenal Ulcer
Sunday, August 23rd, 2009When you have an ulcer in the stomach
it is called a gastric ulcer. When your ulcer is in the duodenum
it is known as a duodenal ulcer.
People used to believe that they could get ulcers from living lives that were too stressed or by something they were eating. The truth is that ulcers are caused by too much acid specifically hydrochloric acid and pepsin. pylori). Lifestyle
acid and pepsin
and H. Pylori can all perform a part in ulcer development. H. pylori are what’s the primary root of the ulcers.
Factors that play a role in the development of ulcers of the gut and duodenal include Helicobacter pylori
smoking
caffeine ingestion
consuming alcoholic drinks
emotional stress ( increases the pain of ulcers but not causes them)
and acid and pepsin
and also nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
If you have these kinds of ulcers you can have the following indicators : burping
juice
feeling knackered and weak
nausea
loss of weight
and also poor appetite.
You can have ulcers and not have any symptoms. Usually a person who has ulcers feels a nibbling or burning sensation in the stomach between the navel and the breastbone. They feel these sensations usually happen between meals or in the early hours of the morning. They may feel these sensations for a jiffy or the sensations may last for some hours.
Individuals with these types of ulcers can experience complications that include: bleeding of the ulcer
perforation of the ulcer
a narrowing or obstruction at the end of the belly
where the duodenum is attached
due to swelling and scarring from the ulcer.
Diagnosis:
There are several tests used to make the diagnosis including an upper GI
endoscopy
and blood
breath and stomach tissue tests.
Ulcers can be diagnosed by having an upper GI ( gut ) series
which are x-rays of the esophagus
stomach
and duodenum. These x-rays are used to help identify where the ulcer is found. The individual is asked to swallow a chalky liquid called
“barium” for the ulcer to show up on the x-rays.
Another diagnostic test is named an endoscopy. This is where a small flexible instrument with a camera at the end is inserted through the mouth of the individual and into the esophagus
stomach
and duodenum for the doctor to view the whole higher GI tract.
Treatment:
Your doctor will identify the proper treatment for you depending on the locale of the ulcer
the size and your age. Other considerations that may establish your treatment are your overall health
and your medical history
your toleration for medications
procedures and cures
what the doctor determines to be the predicted course of the disease
and of course your views or preferences for treatment.
It might be advised that you make some lifestyle changes including avoiding or limiting any foods that the individual discovers to be aggravating to their symptoms
and smoking has been shown to delay the healing of ulcers ; so decreasing the habit or giving up will be advised.
Treatment may be a combination of medications
antibiotics and surgery.
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