How do ulcers develop

Treatment will vary depending on the cause of your ulcer. Most ulcers can be treated with a prescription from your doctor, but in rare cases, surgery may be required. Talk to your doctor to discuss a treatment plan. You may also require a blood transfusion. If your stomach ulcer is the result of H. PPIs block the stomach cells that produce acid.

Symptoms of an ulcer may subside quickly with treatment. But even if your symptoms disappear, you should continue to take any medication prescribed by your doctor. This is especially important with H. These side effects are typically temporary. If any of these side effects cause extreme discomfort, talk to your doctor about changing your medication.

In very rare cases, a complicated stomach ulcer will require surgery. This may be the case for ulcers that:. In the past, it was thought that diet could cause ulcers. Foods that may help fight off H. Additionally, since people with stomach ulcers may have accompanying acid reflux disease, it is a good idea to stay away from spicy and sour foods while an ulcer is healing.

Learn more about foods that may be good for stomach ulcers — and foods that may not be. In addition to eating healthy foods, the following items may help reduce the effects of H. However, these supplements are not intended to replace prescription medication or your current treatment plan. They include:. Peptic ulcer disease, commonly called ulcers, is very common and affects more than 4 million people each year in the U.

Ulcers are sores or eroded areas that form in the lining of the stomach or duodenum small bowel. Left untreated, ulcers can cause significant problems, including significant pain and severe bleeding.

Fortunately, most people who develop ulcers can be easily treated. People with ulcers can have a wide variety of symptoms. Some people may experience no symptoms at all, or in rare instances can develop life — threatening complications, such as bleeding. Some of the more common symptoms may include abdominal pain , burning, nausea, bloating , fatigue, or black stools.

The two most common causes of ulcers are Helicobacter pylori H. When the mucus layer is disrupted, it triggers the release of certain enzymes and toxins that injure the cells of the stomach or duodenum causing small sores. Once a small sore develops, the tissue becomes more vulnerable to damage from digestive juices and has the potential to develop into an ulcer.

These types of drugs are taken to decrease inflammation. Inflammation is caused by a natural chemical in the body called prostaglandins. However, certain prostaglandins are important in protecting the stomach lining from the corrosive effects of stomach acid, as well as playing a role in maintaining the natural, healthy condition of the stomach lining. Elisa Faybush, MD bannerhealth. The majority of peptic ulcers are caused by a bacterial infection of the stomach called Helicobacter pylori.

This infection is often asymptomatic and can be acquired in childhood. The other cause of ulcers is the regular use of aspirin and anti — inflammatory medicines. There is no evidence that stress causes ulcers. Symptoms of ulcers can include upper abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, and black, tarry stools a sign of a bleeding ulcer.

Read More. Food Poisoning. Acute Bronchitis. Eustachian Tube Dysfunction. Bursitis of the Hip. Abnormal Uterine Bleeding. High Blood Pressure. Home Diseases and Conditions Ulcers.

Table of Contents. What is an ulcer? Symptoms of an ulcer Common ulcer symptoms include: Discomfort between meals or during the night duodenal ulcer Discomfort when you eat or drink gastric ulcer Stomach pain that wakes you up at night Feel full fast Bloating, burning or dull pain in your stomach Comes and goes days or weeks at a time The discomfort lasts for minutes or hours If your ulcer becomes perforated torn , it becomes a bleeding ulcer.

This can cause the following symptoms: Nausea Vomiting blood Unexpected weight loss Blood in your stool or dark stools Pain in your back. What causes an ulcer?

How is an ulcer diagnosed? Can an ulcer be prevented or avoided? Ulcer treatment Your doctor will give you an antibiotic medicine to treat an H. Living with an ulcer If you have an ulcer, avoid the things that make your ulcer pain worse. Questions to ask your doctor How can I tell the difference between an ulcer and the stomach flu? Where is my ulcer located?

NSAIDs work by blocking or reducing the amount of these enzymes that your body makes. However, one of the enzymes also produces another type of chemical that protects the stomach lining from stomach acid and helps control bleeding. When NSAIDs block or reduce the amount of this enzyme in your body, they also increase your chance of developing a peptic ulcer. Once H. Together, the stomach acid and H. Zollinger-Ellison syndrome is a rare disorder that happens when one or more tumors form in your pancreas and duodenum.