Peptic ulcers, also known as stomach ulcers are open sores that are formed in the lining of the stomach and the top part of the small intestine. When the sores form on the lining of the stomach, they are known as gastric ulcers, while sores that form on the top part of the small intestine are known as duodenal ulcers. Peptic ulcers can be extremely painful and their most common symptom is burning and gnawing pain in the stomach.

Their most common cause is when the bacteria H. Pylori that infects the digestive system and also when you have a prolonged history of using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

1. Symptoms of peptic ulcer

Symptoms can get worse when you eat the wrong kinds of food that aggravate ulcers but food by itself is not the cause of the ulcer. Symptoms of peptic ulcer include:

• Gnawing or burning pain in the stomach
• Bloating, belching, and gas formation in the stomach
• Inability to tolerate fatty foods and deep-fried oily foods
• Heartburn and feelings of discomfort
• Vomiting or vomiting blood; vomit that is dark or black or red in color
• Feeling nauseous
• Passing blood in stools; stools that are dark or black or tarry in color
• Difficulty in breathing
• Feeling light-headed or faint or dizzy
• Weight loss that is not related to anything else
• Change in appetite or loss of appetite
• Indigestion and inability to digest food
• Uneasiness and feeling sick
• Weakness

If you have any of the symptoms listed above, please ensure to consult a doctor. If you are using home remedies, antacids, and acid blockers and they are not working to keep the pain away, please seek medical help immediately. Many people who have peptic ulcers don’t show all these symptoms. Peptic ulcer pain is very difficult to live with. It gets aggravated when excess stomach acid is produced and when you don’t eat and even when your stomach is empty. The pain and symptoms are generally worse when you don’t eat anything, the time between meals, or in the night.

2. Causes of peptic ulcer

The open sores of peptic ulcers are formed when the mucus layer of the stomach which protects the stomach from the stomach acids gets damaged. The stomach acid then disintegrates the unprotected lining, thereby causing painful open sores to develop in the lining. There are two major causes of peptic ulcer:

• The H. Pylori (Helicobacter pylori) bacteria is one of the main causes of peptic ulcers as it infects the digestive system and attacks the lining of the stomach and small intestine. It goes into the mucus layer that lines the stomach and causes inflammation and open sores. You can get infected with H. Pylori through contaminated food or water.
• Prolonged usage of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), especially high doses of it can also cause peptic ulcers. They irritate and damage the stomach lining. Examples of NSAIDs include ibuprofen, naproxen, aspirin, and ketoprofen.

When intervention is done at the right time, peptic ulcers can be managed to a large extent.