Symptoms Of Stomach Ulcers
Early recognition of symptoms of stomach ulcer leads to faster and easier treatment for it, helping you avoid many unpleasant symptoms. There are numerous symptoms of it and we will discuss them further.
Caused by a bacterium that creates small erosion in the gastrointestinal tract, the stomach ulcer is a common disease among Americans now, and not only. There are many symptoms of stomach ulcers that make it easier to be diagnosed if the patient is informed correctly and goes immediately to a doctor’s office.
The most common symptom reported is a burning feeling in the stomach area that can last even more than a couple of hours. Most people may think that the burning sensation is caused by indigestion but if it happens too often you should see a doctor. For the moment the pain can be relieved by drinking a glass of warm milk or taking some antacids, but they will not solve the main problem it will only delay its treatment.
The pain or the burning sensation may occur at different times and this is one of the reasons is hard to associate it from the start with a stomach ulcer. The pain can appear after you have eaten something, but also after two or three hours after a meal, installing gradually. It can happen during the night or early in the morning or immediately after taking an antacid. As you can see there is no clear pattern, but if the pain lasts more than a couple of weeks then go see a doctor.
Other symptoms associated with a stomach ulcer that is caused by the main symptom, the burning sensation in the stomach and chest, are the loss of appetite, either sudden or progressive, nausea and vomiting. These symptoms can lead to major weight losses and the ulcer should be diagnosed before getting to this point.
A small part of people doesn’t experience these symptoms, even though they have an ulcer. So, here are a few other things that should send you immediately to a doctor:
– stinging pains in the stomach that won’t go away no matter what you try
– you vomit blood of a darker colour than it normally should be
– there is blood in your stools
These symptoms are more serious because they indicate an advanced form of stomach ulcer that is going to require intensive care.
Once diagnosed your doctor will prescribe you some drugs that will kill the bacterium causing the ulcer and afterwards will coat the ulcer and fix the erosion in your stomach.
What is An Ulcer?
An ulcer is essentially a sore that is not healing or is healing so slowly that it remains open for a significant period. Like any sore, an ulcer will not heal if it is persistently irritated by digestive juices (a combination of acid and enzymes). Yet, digestive juices are necessary for the efficient digestion of some very nutritious foods. How does one reduce or eliminate the production of digestive juices without using proton pump inhibitors (PPI)? I hope to provide you with some of the answers to that question.
Do Proton Pump Inhibitors Work For YOU?
If you’re reading this then you’ve probably tried using a PPI and realized that it didn’t do much to help you. You are not alone. Many people are aware of the ineffective nature of these drugs. Even worse, some of these drugs can also be expensive. There are few things more irritating than investing money into a product that does not perform. Fortunately, there are ways to reduce the amount of acid that your ulcer is exposed to daily.
Before we continue, you must understand that this website IS NOT about a quick fix because there is no quick fix in regards to your sore. Just as your ulcer probably took weeks or even months to develop, it will probably take weeks or months for your ulcer to heal. This, of course, depends on the severity, but the point is that you are going to have to change your lifestyle, and this site will help you with the process.
If you’re looking for some spray, pill, or food that will heal your ulcer in a day or two, then you’ve come to the wrong place.
Ulcer VS Heartburn or GERD
It is important to understand that your symptoms might not be an ulcer. You may be experiencing heartburn, which is, of course, related to ulcer formation in the sense that they both involve acid produced by your own body. If you notice the following symptoms, you most likely have an ulcer and NOT a simple case of heartburn:
1. Dull ache in the upper abdominal area.
2. Pain that is typically relieved by eating.
3. Pain that seems to get worse later in the evening.
A person with a simple case of heartburn probably will experience the worst symptoms shortly after finishing a meal, and the pain usually is not worse at night. Also, the location of the pain is different; with heartburn, the burning or gnawing sensation will seem to be near the heart (hence the term heartburn). This is because of the acid that is irritating the esophagus, which extends from the pharynx (just behind the mouth) to the stomach.
It is possible to develop an esophageal ulcer, but these are relatively uncommon compared to duodenal ulcers (ulcers that occur in the upper part of the small intestines). For some people, there is pain associated with eating food if a gastric ulcer is present, but gastric ulcers are also less common than duodenal ulcers. Bottom line: Most ulcers of the GI tract are duodenal, which is why the pain disappears shortly after eating – food absorbs the acid produced by the stomach, which means less acid available to irritate the sore.
If you experience problems with heartburn, there are simple ways to eliminate the problem that won’t involve your gastroenterologist. Interestingly enough, these same tips can help alleviate pain associated with ulcers.
- Try not to eat too much food in a short period. Eating a lot of food in a small period leads to overproduction of stomach acid (producing more acid than is required to digest the meal recently consumed). This excess acid will reside in the GI tract even after food leaves your stomach and upper small intestine. This is when the residual acid is likely to irritate your esophagus.
- Try to consume a balanced meal. Eating too many acid-stimulating foods such as eggs, meat, and dairy in a single sitting can lead to excess acid as well. On the other hand, eating a meal that is balanced with fiber and the products just mentioned will help “temper” the acid situation in your GI tract. Your body will not produce much acid in response to consuming soluble fiber, so go for the chicken breast with a side salad instead of the chicken sandwich with a milkshake.
- Masticate and drink plenty of water! Chewing food thoroughly, or masticating, is a good way to increase the surface area of the foods that you consume. Why is this important? With increased surface area, the acid produced by your stomach can more easily reach a larger quantity of the food within your belly. Translation – you can digest more food with less acid, so your stomach has to produce less acid. Drinking water helps with distributing digestive enzymes like pepsin and the acid across this surface, but remember to consume the water AS YOU EAT. In other words, do not wait 2 hours after eating to consume a large glass of water. When you do drink water, try to drink it at room temperature because very cold water inhibits enzyme activity.
If you follow these steps and you still experience persistent heartburn, then it may be time to see a physician about your symptoms, but most people can eliminate heartburn with these simple lifestyle alterations.
Diet For Stomach Ulcer
Countless people suffer from stomach ulcers. Did you know that a diet for stomach ulcers can help you maintain your symptoms and lessen your pain?
Stomach ulcers can be extremely painful and uncomfortable. However, they are often confused with hunger pains, indigestion or heartburn. An ulcer is a small hole that normally appears in the small intestine within twelve inches of the stomach. These are normally benign ulcers that simply cause more discomfort than anything. Some ulcers can occur in the stomach itself.
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These are known as gastric ulcers. For the most part, these too are benign, but they can turn into a malignant stomach ulcers. There are many causes of stomach ulcers, but people are at a higher risk to develop them if they have a family history of ulcers, smoke cigarettes or consume excessive amounts of alcohol.
Normally, a diet for stomach ulcers will help to control the symptoms. In very extreme cases, stomach surgery may be required, but it’s not something that is done, except in cases where the ulcer is extreme. The pain from an ulcer will feel like a burning sensation or a gnawing feeling around the area of your stomach. Often the pain from an ulcer can be relieved by drinking a glass of cold milk, taking an antacid or simply getting a little rest.
If you have a stomach ulcer you should avoid consuming foods that are spicy, hot or extremely acidic because these foods can make the ulcer flare up and put you in pain.
While some people may feel pain from a stomach ulcer immediately after eating their meal, others may not experience any discomfort for hours. It’s not uncommon for an aggravated ulcer to wake you up in the middle of the night. There are other symptoms you may experience in addition to discomfort in your abdomen. Some people may notice bloody or black stools.
Others are also prone to vomiting after meals. If this is the case, you may notice weight loss or even a loss of appetite. People with gastric ulcers may gain weight. This is because eating will normally soothe an ulcer in the stomach, so people tend to eat more than normal. Ulcers can be very aggravating, but with the proper diet and nutrition, they can often be maintained.
Disclaimer: This site and links out are for information purposes only and not to be used as medical advice, please follow up with your doctor for medical care. Click on disclaimer for more information.