If Your Ulcer Was Caused By Helicobacter Pylori
Most stomach ulcers are caused by infection with H. pylori. Therefore, a main part of the treatment is to clear this infection. If this infection is not cleared, the ulcer is likely to return once you stop taking acid-suppressing medication. For more information, see the separate leaflet called Helicobacter Pylori.
What Are The Symptoms Of Any Complications
Stomach ulcers can cause various complications but these are much less common now because of more effective treatments. However, complications can be very serious and include:
Bleeding from the ulcer
- This can range from a ‘trickle’ to a life-threatening bleed.
- If there is sudden heavy bleeding then this will cause you to vomit blood and make you feel very faint.
- Less sudden bleeding may cause you to vomit and the vomit looks coffee-coloured because the stomach acid has partly broken down the blood.
- A more gradual trickle of blood will pass through your gut and cause your stools to look very dark in colour or even black .
PerforationThis is the term used to describe the ulcer having gone all the way through the wall of the stomach. Food and acid in the stomach then leak out of the stomach. This usually causes severe pain and makes you very unwell. Stomach perforation is a medical emergency and needs hospital treatment as soon as possible.
Stomach blockageThis is now rare. An ulcer at the end of the stomach can cause the outlet of the stomach to narrow and cause an obstruction. This can cause frequent severe vomiting.
Stomach Ulcers: Symptoms Treatments And How To Get Rid Of Them Naturally
22nd Nov 17 6:01 pm by admin
The American Gastroenterological Association estimates there are more than 4 million Americans who suffer from peptic ulcer disease. That makes the stomach ulcers a common condition. With that in mind, you need to be able to recognize the symptoms and understand how to react. There are both medical and home remedies for stomach ulcersyou decide which treatment works the best for you.
In most cases, stomach ulcers are caused by H. pylori bacterium. People taking anti-inflammatory drugs and non-steroidal drugs are at higher risk. If you have a family history of ulcers, youre at risk as well. Drinking alcohol and beverages with caffeine increases your chances of developing a stomach ulcer. Last, but not least, diseases associated with the lungs, kidneys, and the liver also contribute to developing stomach ulcers.
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How Are Stomach Ulcers Diagnosed
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 youre taking.
To rule out H. pylori infection, a blood, stool, or breath test may be ordered. With a breath test, youll 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 that coats your upper gastrointestinal tract and helps your doctor see your stomach and small intestine on X-rays.
- Endoscopy : 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.
Diagnosis Of A Stomach Ulcer
Diagnosing a stomach ulcer is done using a range of methods, including:
- Endoscopy a thin flexible tube is threaded down the oesophagus into the stomach under light anaesthesia. The endoscope is fitted with a small camera so the physician can see if there is an ulcer.
- Barium meal a chalky liquid is drunk and an x-ray is performed, showing the stomach lining. These tests are less common nowadays, but may be useful where endoscopy is unavailable.
- Biopsy a small tissue sample is taken during an endoscopy and tested in a laboratory. This biopsy should always be done if a gastric ulcer is found.
- C14 breath test this checks for the presence of H. pylori. The bacteria convert urea into carbon dioxide. The test involves swallowing an amount of radioactive carbon and testing the air exhaled from the lungs. A non-radioactive test can be used for children and pregnant women.
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How Are Peptic Ulcers Treated
Treatment will depend on the type of ulcer you have. Your healthcare provider will create a care plan for you based on what is causing your ulcer.
Treatment can include making lifestyle changes, taking medicines, or in some cases having surgery.
Lifestyle changes may include:
- Not eating certain foods. Avoid any foods that make your symptoms worse.
- Quitting smoking. Smoking can keep your ulcer from healing. It is also linked to ulcers coming back after treatment.
- Limiting alcohol and caffeine. They can make your symptoms worse.
- Not using NSAIDs . These include aspirin and ibuprofen.
Medicines to treat ulcers may include:
- Antibiotics. These bacteria-fighting medicines are used to kill the H. pylori bacteria. Often a mix of antibiotics and other medicines is used to cure the ulcer and get rid of the infection.
- H2-blockers . These reduce the amount of acid your stomach makes by blocking the hormone histamine. Histamine helps to make acid.
- Proton pump inhibitors or PPIs. These lower stomach acid levels and protect the lining of your stomach and duodenum.
- Mucosal protective agents. These medicines protect the stomach’s mucus lining from acid damage so that it can heal.
- Antacids. These quickly weaken or neutralize stomach acid to ease your symptoms.
In most cases, medicines can heal ulcers quickly. Once the H. pylori bacteria is removed, most ulcers do not come back.
What Is Peptic Ulcer Disease
Peptic ulcer disease is a condition in which painful sores or ulcers develop in the lining of the stomach or the first part of the small intestine . Normally, a thick layer of mucus protects the stomach lining from the effect of its digestive juices. But many things can reduce this protective layer, allowing stomach acid to damage the tissue.
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How Is An Ulcer Diagnosed
Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms. They may do an endoscopy. This procedure involves inserting a thin, flexible tube attached to a camera down your throat and into your stomach. Your doctor will test your blood, breath or stool for H. pylori. They also can test a sample of your stomach lining. Your doctor also will ask you if you regularly take aspirin or anti-inflammatory medicines.
When To See A Doctor
Anyone who thinks they may have an ulcer in their stomach should consult their doctor. Any stomach symptoms that last for more than a few days or keep happening need evaluation and treatment.
A slow-bleeding ulcer can be signaled by symptoms of anemia, such as being tired and breathless. More serious bleeding is an urgent medical problem and can be signaled if blood is vomited up, or stools are black and sticky.
Perforation, or a hole in the stomach, is also an emergency. Without quick treatment, the wall of the stomach can become infected. Sudden stomach pain that gets worse can indicate perforation, and any signs of being very unwell with infection need treatment as soon as possible.
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Treatment For A Stomach Ulcer
Special diets are now known to have very little impact on the prevention or treatment of stomach ulcers. Treatment options can include:
- medication including antibiotics, to destroy the H. pylori colony, and drugs to help speed the healing process. Different drugs need to be used in combination some of the side effects can include diarrhoea and rashes. Resistance to some of these antibiotics is becoming more common
- subsequent breath tests used to make sure the H. pylori infection has been treated successfully
- changes to existing medication the doses of arthritis medication, aspirin or other anti-inflammatory medication can be altered slightly to reduce their contributing effects on the stomach ulcer.
- reducing acid tablets are available to reduce the acid content in the gastric juices
- lifestyle modifications including quitting cigarettes, since smoking reduces the natural defences in the stomach and impairs the healing process.
When Should You Call Your Doctor
If you have been diagnosed with a peptic ulcer, 911 or other emergency services immediately if you have:
- Symptoms that could indicate a heart attack or shock.
- Sudden severe, continuous belly pain or vomiting.
- Frequent feelings of dizziness or light-headedness, especially when moving from lying down to a seated or standing position.
- Blood in your vomit or something that looks like coffee grounds in your vomit.
- Stools that are black or that look like tar, or stools that contain dark red or maroon blood.
- Your symptoms continue or become worse after 10 to 14 days of treatment.
- You begin to lose weight without trying.
- You are vomiting.
- You have new belly pain or belly pain that does not go away.
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Ulcers Can Lead To Internal Bleeding And Death
Stomach ulcers must be treated because they can lead to dangerous and even life-threatening conditions. Ulcers can bleed, and often the bleeding isnt immediately noticeable. If the bleeding becomes severe, it can be potentially fatal.
Further, its possible for an ulcer to perforate the stomach wall completely, leaking the contents of your stomach into your abdominal cavity. This is a critical condition that can result in widespread infection in the abdomen, called peritonitis. The infection can spread to your bloodstream , which can lead to organ failure or death. You have to address these issues. Again, the first step is to go to your doctor.
Who Is More Likely To Get Ulcers
One in 10 people develops an ulcer. Risk factors that make ulcers more likely include:
- Frequent use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs , a group of common pain relievers that includes ibuprofen .
- A family history of ulcers.
- Illness such as liver, kidney or lung disease.
- Regularly drinking alcohol.
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Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil
This is not ground cinnamon oil. The aroma is more powerful, and the oil is sweeter than its ground counterpart. Cinnamon bark is distilled from the outer bark of the cinnamon tree. With respect to stomach ulcers, the oil has a calming and relaxing effect on our stomach.
Pros:
- Cinnamon contains eugenol, a crucial compound that heals stomach ulcers
- Its antimicrobial effect can kill H. pylori bacteria
- Restores balance to the intestinal flora
- In addition to bacteria, it can also fight off yeast and fungi
- Prevents fermentation in the intestines
- Cinnamon bark is packed with antioxidants
Cons:
- Be careful when applying topically, as it can cause skin sensitivity
- May cause nausea, diarrhoea, and stomach pain in some cases if it does, stop using it immediately
- Dont use if you take heart disease medications
- May cause burning in the mouth and tongue
Stomach Ulcer Diagnosis And Conventional Treatment
If you suspect you have a stomach ulcer, see your doctor to first rule out other causes of your pain. In order to diagnose a stomach ulcer, your doctor may perform an endoscopy, which allows the doctor to view the inside lining of the esophagus, stomach and small intestine. Once a diagnosis is verified, treatment options can begin.
Your doctor will likely take your medical history and perform a physical exam along with a blood test, plus ask you about your past use of medications and possibly do an X-ray to locate a stomach ulcer. Testing the blood for H. pylori, plus doing a urea breath test and/or stool test to look for the presence of H. pylori antigens, are common ways to diagnose an ulcer.
The goal of stomach ulcer treatments is to help reduce pain and inflammation in the digestive tract, boost the immune system to fight H. pylori bacteria, prevent complications, and lower the chance for future ulcers from forming or returning.
Today, conventional treatment options for stomach ulcers include:
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Symptoms Of Stomach Ulcer
Perhaps the most common symptom of this condition is a burning sensation or pain in the area between the chest and the belly button. Depending on the severity of the ulcer, the pain may last for a few minutes to several hours.
Other symptoms of stomach ulcers include:
- Poor appetite
- Vomiting red or black blood
When To See The Doctor
Peptic ulcers will get worse if theyre not treated, so contact your doctor if you have symptoms or any signs that you could have one. Unfortunately, a lot of the time the way people find out they have an ulcer is by developing bleedstheyre taking a lot of aspirin or NSAIDS and they either start vomiting blood or have black tarry stool, says Marcus.
Your doctor may be able to diagnose a peptic ulcer by talking with you about your symptoms. Be sure to disclose the frequency of NSAID use.
However, some tests are usually used to confirm the diagnosis. For instance, to see if you have an H. pylori infection, your doctor will test your blood, breath or stool. They may also look inside your stomach and duodenum by doing an endoscopy or X-ray. An endoscopy is a procedure where a lighted tube is inserted through the throat and into the stomach to check for abnormalities.
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Drink Apple Cider Vinegar With Water
Being a probiotic liquid, apple cider vinegar is naturally rich in live bacteria and yeast that offer several benefits for the digestive health.
It helps restore the pH of the stomach, which in turn help treat the ulcer and relieve the pain.
A 2016 study published in Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine highlights the possible use of probiotics in H. pylori eradication, one of the main causes of ulcers.
What Are Some Ulcer Symptoms
Some people with ulcers dont experience any symptoms. But signs of an ulcer can include:
- Gnawing or burning pain in your middle or upper stomach between meals or at night.
- Pain that temporarily disappears if you eat something or take an antacid.
- Bloating.
In severe cases, symptoms can include:
- Dark or black stool .
- Vomiting.
- Severe pain in your mid- to upper abdomen.
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What Is An Ulcer
Your stomach has digestive juices that contain hydrochloric acid and other enzymes. The stomach lining is coated with mucus to withstand the acidity without being damaged. Sometimes the lining of your stomach wears down due to the action of bacteria and other factors. When this happens, the digestive juices damage the stomach lining causing a sore known as an ulcer.
An ulcer is a sore that occurs in the inner lining of the stomach or upper small intestine, also called the duodenum. When it is in the stomach, it is a gastric ulcer. If it is in the duodenum, then it is called a duodenal ulcer. They are both types of peptic ulcer.
For many years, it was thought that ulcers were caused by stress, alcohol, or spicy food. However, modern research shows they are usually caused by a specific bacterial infection in the stomach and upper intestine, certain medicines, and smoking.
Nsaid Drugs And Stomach Ulcers
A group of painkillers known as NSAIDs carries a risk of stomach ulcers. The two best-known NSAIDs are aspirin and ibuprofen.
The risk of ulcers increases if the drugs are taken in high doses, or regularly for a long time.
Stronger NSAIDs, such as those that need a prescription, are riskier for stomach ulcers than those that can be bought over-the-counter .
People should always check labels and talk to a pharmacist or a doctor about any concerns with using painkillers. They may recommend an alternative such as acetaminophen.
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Can A Peptic Ulcer Come Back
Yes, a peptic ulcer can come back. If you smoke or take NSAIDs, peptic ulcers are more likely to come back. If you need to take an NSAID, your doctor may switch you to a different medicine or add medicines to help prevent a peptic ulcer. Peptic ulcer disease can return, even if you have been careful to reduce your risk.
When Should I Call My Healthcare Provider
See your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms:
- Vomiting blood or dark material that looks like coffee grounds
- Extreme weakness or dizziness
- Blood in your stools
- Nausea or vomiting that doesnt get better, or gets worse
- A sudden, severe pain that may spread to your back
- Losing weight without even trying
Untreated peptic ulcers may cause other health problems. Sometimes they bleed. If they become too deep, they can break through your stomach.
Ulcers can also keep food from going through your stomach.
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Fight The Infection With A Little Cayenne Pepper
Capsaicin in cayenne pepper can help alleviate uneasiness and treat a stomach ulcer naturally.
Capsaicin soothes the mucosal lining of the stomach and increases the release of alkali, which helps ease the discomfort and aid in the treatment of ulcers.
A 1997 study published in FEMS Microbiology Letters, found that capsaicin supplementation or consumption inhibited the growth of H. pylori.
According to a review published in Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition in 2006, the compound capsaicin present in cayenne pepper inhibits the secretion of stomach acids, boosts the production of alkali, and stimulates mucus secretions and gastric mucosal blood flow, thereby preventing and healing ulcers.
- Mix a â teaspoon of cayenne pepper into 1 glass of warm water. Drink the solution twice a day for 3 days. Gradually increase the amount of cayenne pepper up to ¼ teaspoon for the rest of the week.
- Alternatively, take cayenne capsules that are available at health food stores. Consult your doctor for the right dosage.