Ulcer Symptoms and Treatment

Usually, the term 'ulcers' refers to peptic ulcers - sores or lesions which won't heal. These sores may have their origin on the inside lining of the stomach, upper small intestine or esophagus. And depending on the location they affect, they are attributed as duodenal ulcers, stomach ulcers and esophageal ulcers. Gastric ulcers are peptic ulcers which have their formation in the stomach and so, they may be used interchangeably with stomach ulcers.

Symptoms
If we talk about the symptoms, they do not differ much when it comes to the different types of ulcers. Meaning, a person suffering from a case of duodenal ulcer may experience the same symptoms which would appear in case of another person who has been diagnosed with a stomach ulcer (gastric ulcer). So, the common symptoms which occur include a burning or a gnawing pain that may be felt anywhere from the area of the navel up to the breastbone. The pain somehow becomes severe and more debilitating to the affected area of the body, and usually lasts from a few minutes to several hours. It is common to find patients to complain about the worsening of the pain when they haven't eaten anything. The pain usually calms down by eating certain foods or taking acid-reducing medication. Another symptom to take a note of is the disappearance of the pain before it strikes back for a few days or weeks. These were the common ulcer symptoms which are experienced by quite a lot of people. Apart from these, there are a few more symptoms, which although rare, are concernedly severe. These may include vomiting of blood, dark stools or tarry stools, nausea, abnormal weight loss and unusual changes in appetite.

Treatment
The corkscrew-shaped bacterium Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) has been found to be the culprit for the development of the ulcer, in most cases. So, the treatment involves getting rid of this bacteria and reduce the acid level in the stomach to manage the pain and encourage recuperation. This is the reason why the treatment involves the use of more than one kind of medication. For taking care of the bacteria, antibiotics are used for about two weeks, depending on the type and number of the bacteria. Then comes the use of acid blocker drugs. These drugs hamper the release of hydrochloric acid in the digestive track thus, relieving the pain and hastening the recovery. Patients may be prescribed to take antacids in conjunction with acid blockers. These medicines, although do not work to reduce the secretion of acid, they help in neutralizing the existing acid and provide pain relief. The other class of drugs used for treating ulcers are known as proton pump inhibitors. There are tiny pumps in the acid-secreting cells and these drugs help to shut down these pumps. In this way, they cut short the production of acid in the stomach. Then comes what are known as cytoprotective agents. These are for forming a protective barrier for the tissues that line your stomach and small intestine, so as to prevent any further complications.

Avoiding smoking and alcohol greatly helps in the healing of ulcers. To add to this, abstaining from using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and limiting spicy and fatty foods also aids in the effectiveness of the treatment, and recovery.