Can someone help please..............?

Question

Can someone please tell me what an ulcer is? And how do you know that you have an ulcer in your stomach? And the symptoms for ulcers?Someone please give me some advice.............

Answer 1

What Is an Ulcer?

An ulcer is a sore, which means it's an open, painful wound. Peptic ulcers are ulcers that form in the stomach or the upper part of the small intestine, called the duodenum (pronounced: doo-uh-dee-num).

Peptic ulcers are very common. Doctors say that in the United States, almost 1 in every 10 people will get an ulcer at some time during their lives.
What Causes an Ulcer?

For almost 100 years, doctors believed that stress, spicy foods, and alcohol caused most ulcers. Now we know that most peptic ulcers are caused by a particular bacterial infection in the stomach and upper intestine, by certain medications, or by smoking.

In 1982, two doctors — Barry Marshall and Robin Warren — discovered a certain kind of bacteria that can live and grow in the stomach. Both doctors went on to win the Nobel Prize for their discovery. The medical name for these bacteria is Helicobacter pylori (or H. pylori, for short). Today doctors know that most peptic ulcers are caused by an infection from H. pylori.

Lots of people have H. pylori infections. Almost 2 out of every 10 people younger than 40 have this bacteria in their digestive systems.

Experts believe that 90% of the people around the world who have ulcers are infected with H. pylori. But strangely enough, most people infected with H. pylori don't develop an ulcer. Doctors aren't completely sure why, but they think that part of the reason may depend on the individual person — for example, people who develop ulcers may already have a problem with the lining of their stomachs. It is also believed that some people may naturally secrete more stomach acid than others — and it doesn't matter what stresses they're exposed to or what foods they eat. Peptic ulcers may have something to do with the combination of H. pylori infection and the level of acid in the stomach.

When H. pylori bacteria do cause ulcers, here's how doctors think these ulcers develop:

1. Bacteria weaken the protective coating of the stomach and upper small intestine.
2. Acid in the stomach then gets through to the sensitive tissues lining the digestive system underneath.
3. Acid and bacteria directly irritate this lining resulting in sores, or ulcers.

Although H. pylori are responsible for most cases of peptic ulcers, these ulcers can happen for other reasons, too. Sometimes people regularly take pain relievers (like aspirin or ibuprofen) that fight inflammation in the body. These medications, known as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), are used to treat certain long-term painful conditions like arthritis. If taken in high daily doses over a long period of time, they can cause ulcers in some of the people who use them.

Smoking is also associated with peptic ulcers. Smoking increases a person's risk of getting an ulcer because the nicotine in cigarettes causes the stomach to produce more acid. Drinking a lot of alcohol each day for a period of time can also increase a person's risk of ulcers because over time alcohol can wear down the lining of the stomach and intestines.

In certain circumstances stress can help cause ulcers. But this usually only happens in situations when illness involving severe emotional or physical stress is involved — such as when someone is so sick that he or she cannot eat for a long period of time. Ulcers occur because of uncontrolled increased acid production in the stomach and changes in a person's immune system (the body system that fights infection). With any illness where the body's ability to heal is challenged (such as when a person has been burned badly in a fire), there is a risk for developing ulcers.
Signs and Symptoms

Stomach pain is the most common symptom of an ulcer. It usually feels like sharp aches between the breastbone and the belly button. This pain often comes a few hours after eating. It can also happen during the night or early in the morning, when the stomach is empty. Eating something or taking an antacid medication sometimes makes the pain go away for awhile.

Other symptoms of ulcers can include:

* loss of appetite
* sudden, sharp stomach pains
* nausea
* frequent burping or hiccuping
* weight loss
* vomiting (if blood is in the vomit or the vomit looks like coffee grounds, which only happens with severe ulcers, call a doctor right away)
* bloody or blackish bowel movements (this could indicate a serious problem, so call a doctor right away if you notice this)

Anyone who thinks he or she may have an ulcer needs to see a doctor. Over time, untreated ulcers grow larger and deeper and can lead to other problems. An untreated ulcer can cause bleeding in the digestive system or make a hole in the wall of the stomach or duodenum, making someone very sick.
How Are Ulcers Diagnosed and Treated?

In addition to doing a physical examination, the doctor will take a medical history by asking about any concerns and symptoms you have, your past health, your family's health, any medications you're taking, any allergies you may have, and other issues. If you have stomach pain or other symptoms of an ulcer, the doctor will perform some tests to help make the diagnosis.

One test is called an upper gastrointestinal (GI) series. This is a type of X-ray of the stomach, duodenum, and esophagus, the muscular tube that links the mouth to the stomach. A person drinks a whitish liquid called barium while getting an X-ray, and if he or she has an ulcer, it should be outlined on the X-ray.

Another common procedure to look for an ulcer is called an endoscopy (pronounced: en-dass-kuh-pee). During this test, the doctor uses an endoscope, a skinny, lighted tube with a special camera on the end.

A doctor will give someone getting an endoscopy medicine to feel relaxed. Then the doctor gently guides the endoscope into the throat and down into the esophagus, and finally into the stomach and upper intestines. The doctor is able to look at the inner lining of these organs from the camera on a television screen and can even take pictures. Tissue can be removed during an endoscopy and then tested for H. pylori bacteria.

A doctor can also do a blood test for H. pylori bacteria. This may be important if an ulcer is found in the upper GI series or is suspected before the endoscopy. The blood test can be done right in the doctor's office. Sometimes a bowel movement or a person's breath can also be specially tested to check for the H. pylori bacteria.

Ulcers caused by H. pylori bacteria are generally treated with a combination of medications; usually two to three medicines are taken every day for a few weeks. Antibiotics are prescribed to kill the H. pylori bacteria. The other medicines — acid blockers or proton pump inhibitors — lessen the amount of acid in the stomach and help protect the lining of the stomach so the ulcer can heal.
Ulcer Prevention

Doctors are not totally certain how H. pylori bacteria are transmitted from person to person. The bacteria have been found in saliva, so kissing may be one way. They may also be spread through food, water, or contact with vomit (puke) that has been infected with the bacteria.

The best advice in ulcer prevention is to always wash your hands after you use the bathroom and before you eat and to take good care of your body by exercising regularly and not smoking or drinking.

Answer 2

An ulcer is an open sore on skin, mucous membrane or eyes. These sores can bleed pus or blood. Usually, people are thinking of a peptic ulcer when an ulcer is mentioned. A peptic ulcer is usually located in the mucous membrane of your stomach lining, digestive tract or esophagus. Common complaints of pain are brought on by the irritation of the ulcer caused by the presence of digestive acids. Stress that leads to malnutrition, lack of sleep and changes in body chemistry stemming from stress can adversely affect an ulcer. The cause of an ulcer is still debated as the common wisdom is that stress is the cause but the medical thinking is that an ulcer is an infectious disease caused by bacteria or a virus. However, it is unquestionable that ulcers and stress are related. It is possible for the ulcer to grow larger in size over time from the acidity. Typical symptoms include abdominal pain, bloating, nausea and vomiting (sometimes of blood). In some rare cases, the ulcer can develop into a perforation (i.e. hole) that requires emergency surgery.

Answer 3

ulcer is the discontinuity in the surface epithelium of any structure....its a breach in the "skin of ur stomach"...which is normally protected by a sort on mucus from the acid...
u know u ve an ulcer by many non specific symptoms like

belching,
pain which is burning type... this pain often aggravates after food if u ve a ulcer in ur stomach and reduces if u ve a ulcer in ur duodenum

also u may ve fullness loss of appetite,
increased farting
etc
u can get ur self investigated only after u undergo a complete course of antacid medications which resolve 99% of ulcers.

u can confirm the ulcer by using an endoscope or by contrast studies

best opinion still is to take antacid medications for a month and ur ulcer will subside

Answer 4

Ulcers are a tears/sores in your stomach and intestinal lining. The largest sympton is extreme stomach pain. Sometimes ulcers can cause internal bleeding. They can be due to stress. Look at the webmd website and contact a doctor. They are serious and can be life-threatening if not properly treated.

Answer 5

My husband has a stomach ulcer and he has alot of pain and poops out blood if he eats spicy foods. You need to see a doctor and get some professional advise.

Answer 6

Ulcer in stomach is peptic ulcer. here is the link.get the endoscopy done and treatment is simple

Answer 7

Try this website. It has some basic information about ulcers. I hope this helps.

Answer 8

Lets see... i think i have had ulcers, they come from worrying to much its were you stomach acid start to eat through you stomach wall. and i think frequent stomach aches are signs that you have one. but hey i am not a doctor but i have had them before. i hope this helps you!

Answer 9

stomach or gastric ulcer is a break in the tissue lining the stomach. The term 'peptic ulcer' refers to those that occur in either the stomach or the first part of the small intestine that leads out of the stomach, called the duodenum. It was once commonly thought that stress, smoking and diet were the principal causes of stomach ulcers. However, the Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacterium is now known to be responsible for most duodenal ulcers and 60 per cent of stomach ulcers. The H. pylori bacterium also prompts many symptoms of dyspepsia, or indigestion. Treatment for stomach ulcers includes the use of antibiotics to kill the infection, and acid-suppressing drugs.
Some stomach ulcers are asymptomatic. The symptoms of a stomach ulcer can include:

Abdominal pain just below the ribcage
Indigestion
Nausea
Loss of appetite
Vomiting
Weight loss
Altered blood present in the vomit or in the bowel motions (occasionally)
Symptoms of anaemia, such as light-headedness.
The stomach
The stomach is an organ of the digestive system, located in the abdomen just below the ribs and on the left. Swallowed food is squeezed down the oesophagus and pushed through a sphincter (small muscle ring) into the stomach, where it is mixed with powerful gastric juices containing enzymes and hydrochloric acid. The stomach is a muscular bag, so it can churn the food and break it down mechanically as well as chemically. Once the food is the consistency of smooth paste, it is squeezed through a second sphincter into the first part of the small intestine (duodenum). The lining of the stomach - the mucosa or gastric epithelium - is layered with multiple folds. Ulcers occur in this lining.

A variety of causes
A stomach ulcer can be caused by a variety of factors, including:
Helicobacter pylori - these bacteria is thought to be responsible for around 60 per cent of stomach ulcers and at least 90 per cent of duodenal ulcers.
Certain medications - including aspirin, taken regularly to help prevent heart attack or stroke, and drugs for arthritis. Anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDS) are thought to cause around two fifths of stomach ulcers.
Cancer - stomach cancer can present as an ulcer, particularly in older people.
Helicobacter pylori
The Helicobacter pylori bacterium (H. pylori) is the main cause of peptic ulcers. The discovery of this micro-organism in 1983 revolutionised many aspects of gastroenterology, including the treatment of stomach ulcers. It is thought that about one in three people over the age of 40 years are infected with this strain of bacteria in Australia. The germs live in the lining of the stomach, and the chemicals they produce cause irritation and inflammation. H. pylori directly causes one third of stomach ulcers, and is a contributing factor in around three fifths of cases. Other disorders caused by this infection include inflammation of the stomach (gastritis) and dyspepsia (indigestion). Researchers believe the germ could also play a contributing role in the development of stomach cancers. The infection is more common among poor or institutionalised people. The mode of transmission is so far unknown, but is thought to include sharing food or utensils, coming into contact with infected vomit, and sharing of water (such as well water) in undeveloped populations.

Perforated ulcer
A severe, untreated ulcer can sometimes burn through the wall of the stomach, allowing digestive juices and food to leech into the abdominal cavity. This medical emergency is known as a perforated ulcer. Treatment generally requires immediate surgery.

Diagnosis methods
Diagnosing a stomach ulcer is done using a range of methods, including:
Endoscopy - a thin flexible tube is threaded down the oesophagus into the stomach under light anaesthesia. The endoscope is fitted with a small camera so the physician can see if there is an ulcer.
Barium meal - a chalky liquid is drunk and an x-ray is performed, showing the stomach lining. These tests are less common nowdays, but may be useful where endoscopy is unavailable.
Biopsy - a small tissue sample is taken during an endoscopy and tested in a laboratory. This biopsy should always be done if a gastric ulcer is found.
C14 breath test - to check for the presence of H. pylori. The bacteria convert urea into carbon dioxide. The test involves swallowing an amount of radioactive carbon (C14) and testing the air exhaled from the lungs. A non-radioactive test can be used for children and pregnant women.
Treatment options
Special diets are now known to have very little impact on the prevention or treatment of stomach ulcers. Treatment options can include:
Medications - including antibiotics, to destroy the H. pylori colony, and drugs to help speed the healing process. Different drugs need to be used in combination; some of the side effects can include diarrhoea and rashes. Resistance to some of these antibiotics is becoming more common.
Subsequent breath tests - used to make sure the H. pylori infection has been treated successfully.
Changes to existing medications - the doses of arthritis medications, aspirin or other anti-inflammatory drugs can be altered slightly to reduce their contributing effects on the stomach ulcer.
Reducing acid - tablets are available to reduce the acid content in the gastric juices.
Lifestyle modifications - such as quitting cigarettes, since smoking reduces the natural defences in the stomach and impairs the healing process.
Where to get help
Your doctor

Answer 10

Dear cutie 18, A ulcer is just like one of your friends,not realy a friend but a friend who will harm you one day,until that day you will be comfortable,enjoy.The day it attack you,its too late.Dont bother about ,Just enjoy your life with your friends Cutie.