Symptoms and causes of ulcers

All sores that erode mucous membranes or the skin and penetrate the underlying muscle are referred to as ulcers. These guidelines will tell you how to recognize symptoms of ulcers and how to properly treat them.

Those sores that occur in the lower part of the esophagus, the stomach or the duodenum are known more specifically as "peptic ulcers," because they form in areas exposed to stomach acids and the digestive enzyme, pepsin. When the erosion occurs in the duodenum, the upper part of the small intestine, the term duodenal ulcer is used to describe the lesion; an ulcer in the stomach is called a gastric ulcer. Peptic ulcer disease is one of the most common disorders diagnosed in North America today, and men and women are equally affected.

A person with an ulcer may describe the pain as gnawing or burning and can often pinpoint the exact spot. The pain usually occurs two to three hours after eating, is worse when the stomach is empty and can be relieved by eating a small amount of food or taking an antacid. Some people never have ulcer pain; however, they may develop intestinal bleeding, heartburn, bloating and gas, as well as nausea and vomiting.

The antacid industry is based on the notion that oversecretion of stomach acid causes ulcers as well as indigestion and heartburn. Although excess acid secretion plays a role, most ulcers develop when a common bacterium, called Helicobacter pylori, infects the intestinal tract.

Smoking, emotional stress and heavy drinking can also contribute to a person's risk of ulcers, and some people may have a hereditary predisposition. Ulcers frequently occur in people subjected to extreme physical stress, such as serious burns or surgery.

The other major cause of ulcers is the heavy use of drugs like aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which erode the mucous membranes. Aspirin's effects are particularly serious, because it also inhibits blood clotting and promotes bleeding.