Ulcers are open infections that can affect any part of the body. However, usually the stomach or the intestine is the place of ulcer formation. To be more precise, the mucus layer lining the inner stomach wall is affected. Ulcers are classified depending upon where they occur. You may be wondering what is a peptic ulcer, and gastric ulcer. Well, gastric ulcers affect the stomach, whereas peptic ulcers are seen in the small intestine. On the other hand, one is diagnosed with duodenal ulcers when the infection is observed in the area between first 30 cm of the small intestine. Although stomach and peptic ulcer disease symptoms cause discomfort, it is the location of pain that distinguishes these two types of ulcers. Pain in the abdomen is one of the most common stomach ulcer symptoms. Burping can occur as a consequence of ulcer formation but the doctor also checks for other symptoms to confirm whether ulcers are present in the gastrointestinal tract.
What are the causes of stomach ulcers? Doctors are of the opinion that ulcer formation in the stomach or the intestine is because of the body's response to excessive intake of spicy foodstuffs on a daily basis. However, Helicobacter pylori infection is the primary factor responsible for the development of ulcers. The bacteria erode the stomach lining, which leads to the formation of hole-shaped ulcers. Besides, excessive use of drugs like, NSAIDS, smoking, excess consumption of alcohol are some of the causes of stomach ulcer.
Is Burping a Sign of Ulcer?
Ulcers in the stomach or intestine are likely to cause burping. However, burping alone cannot indicate the presence of ulcers. Indigestion also gives rise to persistent burping, and is one of the common burping causes. So it would be foolish to assume that the person is having stomach ulcers only on the basis of burps. Of the many ulcer symptoms, burping is one of them. Ulcers typically cause abdominal pain that usually occurs intermittently. This abdominal discomfort worsens on an empty stomach and reduces considerably after meals. Also, the pattern of burping associated with peptic or stomach ulcers is different from the one that we usually experience. It is loud and doesn't stop even after trying all sorts of burping remedies. This kind of involuntary burping is simply annoying and to add to the patient's woes, stomach bloating may also occur.
As we all know, burping is a way of getting rid of the excess gas accumulated in the stomach. During meals, along with food, air also goes inside the stomach. In order to release air containing gases likes nitrogen, carbon dioxide and oxygen, we burp. Also soft drinks contain a high amount of carbon dioxide and so we often burp loudly after consuming these beverages. Gas producing bacteria are already present in our stomach but due to H. pylori bacteria that cause ulcers, there is too much build up of gas in the stomach. So, to relieve the stomach from excess gas, a lot of burping may occur.
The abdomen hurts when doing mundane tasks and is accompanied by too much burping. Ulcer symptoms are not limited to stomach pain and frequent bouts of burping. Some people experience nauseating feeling and may even vomit. In such circumstances, the desire to eat food vanishes. Many a time, excessive burping is followed by excretion of stools that are covered with blood. This is an indication of bleeding ulcers, which is a serious issue and may require urgent medical intervention. Intense stomach pain, loss of appetite accompanied by frequent burping also points towards serious complications.
Antibiotics such as amoxicillin are commonly prescribed to treat ulcers of the stomach and the intestines. It is observed that the stomach releases a fluid, also known as gastric acid, when food is consumed, for better digestion. However, production of stomach acid can aggravate the discomfort associated with ulcers. In order to minimize stomach acid production, acid blockers are prescribed. It is the combination of antibiotics and antacids that work to relieve ulcer symptoms.
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