Most people have had, on more than one occasion, strong pain in the stomachwhich is often combined with ardor after eating foods with a lot of seasoning or is more frequent at night. This could be caused by stomach ulcers.
“A peptic ulcer is a sore in stomach or duodenum lining (first part of the small intestine). It is called stomach or duodenal ulcer, depending on where it is, ”says Mario López, gastroenterologist.
Peptic ulcers are divided into gastric ulcer, which occurs in the stomach; and duodenal ulcer, which is located in the first part of the small intestine. The two are very common and affect both men and women, mostly adults.
Why are peptic ulcers
Peptic ulcers appear when the acid of the digestive system corrodes the inner surface of the stomach or the small intestine. That is, it creates an open sore that causes pain, burning and in more serious cases it can bleed.
According to Brenda Castillo, internist, the body secretes the adequate amount of acids to undo food and facilitate digestion. However, when a disorder occurs and secretes more acids than normal, these usually decrease the mucosa that protects the digestive system and cause stomach wall injuries or thin intestine.
“Acid segregation can occur by several factors, but the most common is because of the Helicobacter pylori bacteria and the frequent use of some medications to relieve pain. Having more acids in the digestive system, it becomes weaker and ends up injured with sores, ”explains the specialist.
- Helicobacter pylori: This microbe lives in the mucosa that covers the stomach and small intestine. Sometimes it causes inflammation of the inner layer of the stomach and irritation. It is spread through food and by contact with another person.
- Pain medications: Frequent use of medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen or non -steroid anti -inflammatories often irritate or inflame the stomach cladding or small intestine.
Other factors that also affect the appearance of an ulcer is to consume too much alcohol, smoking cigarettes or chewing tobacco, radiation treatments, stress and being connected to a respirator, by some more serious disease.
Symptoms
The specialists agree that the symptoms will depend on the place where the sore (stomach or small intestine) and the age of the person is.
In both cases there is pain in the mouth of the stomach, which usually occurs at night and for being so strong makes the person wake up. In addition, there is a feeling of satiety too soon during or after the food, the empty stomach also feels after one or three hours of having eaten
Nausea, vomiting, fatigue, constant gastric acidity, among other discomforts are presented.
Duodenal ulcers are characterized by more constant pain. The person can wake up are discomfort, but they appear in the middle of the morning and relieves with some foods, but again appear at hours.
When you have these constant symptoms, the ideal is to visit a doctor for a check and determine if you have the peptic ulcerative disease. The diagnosis is performed by means of an endoscopy, blood analysis, among others.
How to prevent ulcers
Peptic ulcers are treated, first, through medications that help cure the wound of the stomach or the small intestine. Then, in treatments that control or avoid the cause that caused the sore.
To prevent these problems of the digestive system, the ideal is to change habits. For example, quit smoking and consume less alcohol.
In case the cause is the consumption of pain medications, your doctor must recommend other medications, take proton pump inhibitors, among others. In addition, the ideal is to reduce stress levels and take care of their food.