Is stomach ulcer caused by bacterium

 

What is a stomach ulcer?

Stomach ulcers, which are also known as gastric ulcers, are painful sores or lesions in the stomach lining.

Stomach ulcers are a type of disease.

Stomach ulcer is a curable disease

Stomach ulcers occur when the thick layer of mucus that protects your stomach from digestive juices is reduced. This allows the digestive acids to eat away at the tissues that line the stomach, causing an ulcer.

Stomach ulcers may be easily cured, but they can become severe without proper treatment.

Types of Ulcer

Stomach ulcers are divided into two;

Duodenal ulcer which is prevalent on one part of the stomach called duodenum.

Peptic ulcer which is the most common type of ulcer.

Causes

Stomach ulcers are almost always caused by one of the following:

• an infection with the bacterium known as Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) long-term use of non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen.

Rarely, a condition known as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome can cause stomach and intestinal ulcers by increasing the body’s production of acid. This syndrome is suspected to cause less than 1% of all peptic ulcers.

SYMPTOMS

A number of symptoms are associated with stomach ulcers. The severity of the symptoms depends on the severity of the ulcer.

The most common symptom is a burning sensation or pain in the middle of your abdomen between your chest and belly button. Typically, the pain will be more intense when your stomach is empty, and it can last for a few minutes to several hours.

Other common signs and symptoms of ulcers include:

• dull pain in the stomach
• weight loss
• not wanting to eat because of pain
• Nausea
• vomiting
• Acid reflux
• Heartburn (burning sensation in the chest)
• Pains that may improve when you eat, drink, or take antacids.
• Anemia (symptoms can include tiredness, shortness of breath, or paler skin)
• dark, tarry stools
• vomit that’s bloody or looks like coffee grounds

Talk to your doctor if you have any symptoms of a stomach ulcer. Even though discomfort may be mild, ulcers can worsen if they aren’t treated. Bleeding

Diagnosis

ulcers can become life-threatening.

Diagnosis and treatment will depend on your symptoms and the severity of your ulcer.

To diagnose a stomach ulcer, your doctor will review your medical history along with your symptoms and any prescription or over-the-counter medications you’re taking.

To rule out H. pylori infection, a blood, stool, or breath test may be ordered. With a breath test, you’ll be instructed to drink a clear liquid and breathe into a bag, which is then sealed. If H. pylori is present, the breath sample will contain higher-than-normal levels of carbon dioxide.

Other tests and procedures used to diagnose stomach ulcers include:

• Barium swallow:

 You drink a thick white liquid (barium) that coats your upper gastrointestinal tract and helps your doctor see your stomach and small intestine on X-rays.

• Endoscopy (EGD):

A thin, lighted tube is inserted through your mouth and into the stomach and the first part of the small intestine. This test is used to look for ulcers, bleeding, and any tissue that looks abnormal.

• Endoscopic biopsy:

A piece of stomach tissue is removed so it can be analyzed in a lab.

Treatment Of Stomach Ulcers

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.

It’s important to promptly treat an ulcer. Talk to your doctor to discuss a treatment plan. If you have an actively bleeding ulcer, you’ll likely be hospitalized for intensive treatment with endoscopy and IV ulcer medications.

Non surgical treatment

If your stomach ulcer is the result of H. pylori, you’ll need antibiotics and drugs called proton pump inhibitors PPIs block the stomach cells that produce acid.

In addition to these treatments, your doctor may also recommend:

• H2 receptor antagonists (drugs that also block acid production)
• stopping use of all NSAIDs
• follow-up endoscopy
• Probiotics (useful bacteria that may have a role in killing off  pylori)
• bismuth supplement

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. pylori infections, to make sure that all bacteria are eliminated.

Side effects of medications used to treat stomach ulcers can include:

• nausea
• headaches
• dizziness
• dehydration
• diarrhea
• abdominal pain

These side effects are typically temporary. If any of these side effects cause extreme discomfort, talk to your doctor about changing your medication.

Surgical treatment

In very rare cases, a complicated stomach ulcer will require surgery. This may be the case for ulcers that:

• continue to return
• don’t heal
• bleed
• tear through the stomach
• keep food from flowing out of the stomach into the small intestine

Surgery may include:

• removal of the entire ulcer
• taking tissue from another part of the intestines and patching it over the ulcer site
• tying off a bleeding artery
• cutting off the nerve supply to the stomach to reduce the production of stomach acid

Healthy diet

In the past, it was thought that diet could cause ulcers.

A lot of people have thought that they developed ulcer because they starve or do not eat food properly.

We know now this isn’t true.

We also know that while the foods you eat won’t cause or cure a stomach ulcer, eating a healthful diet can benefit your intestinal tract and overall health.

In general, it’s a good idea to eat a diet with lots of fruits, vegetables, and fiber.

That said, it’s possible that some foods play a role in eliminating H. pylori.

Foods that may help fight off H. pylori or boost the body’s own healthy bacteria include:

• broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and radishes
• leafy greens, such as spinach and kale
• probiotic-rich foods, such as sauerkraut, miso, kombucha, yogurt (especially with lactobacillusand Sacharomyces)
• apples
• blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, and blackberries
• olive oil

Natural Remedies

In addition to eating healthy foods, the following items may help reduce the effects of H. pylori, the bacteria responsible for many stomach ulcers. However, these supplements are not intended to replace prescription medication or your current treatment plan. They include:

• probiotics
• honey
• glutamine (food sources include chicken, fish, eggs, spinach, and cabbage)

Your doctor may also have suggestions for things you can do at home to relieve discomfort from your ulcer.

When to see a doctor.

If you think you have a stomach ulcer, call your doctor. Together you can discuss your symptoms and treatment options. It’s important to get a stomach ulcer taken care of because without treatment, ulcers and H. pylori can cause:

• bleedingfrom the ulcer site that can become life-threatening
• penetration, which occurs when the ulcer goes through the wall of the digestive tract and into another organ, such as the pancreas
• perforation, which occurs when the ulcer creates a hole in the wall of the digestive tract
• obstruction(blockage) in the digestive tract, which is due to swelling of inflamed tissues
• stomach cancer, which is up to  more likely in people who have  pylori infections compared to those who don’t

Symptoms of these complications can include those listed below.

If you have any of these symptoms, be sure to call you doctor right away:

• weakness
• trouble breathing
• red or black stools
• sudden, sharp pain in your abdomen that doesn’t go away

Prevention of stomach ulcers

To prevent the spread of bacteria that might cause a stomach ulcer, wash your hands with soap and water on a regular basis. Also, be sure to properly clean all of your food and to cook it thoroughly as needed.

To prevent ulcers caused by NSAIDs, stop using these medications (if possible) or limit their use. If you need to take NSAIDs, be sure to follow the recommended dosage and avoid alcohol while taking these medications. And always take these medications with food and adequate liquids.