Symptoms, causes and treatments

A peptic ulcer is a wound that can form in the lining of the stomach or duodenum (the upper part of the small intestine) and may be caused by a bacterial infection. Helicobacter pyloriusing anti-inflammatory medications without medical indication or due to bad habits (such as excessive consumption of spicy foods and/or alcoholic beverages).

If you have a peptic ulcer, you may notice symptoms such as a burning sensation in your stomach, nausea, vomiting, bloating, and abdominal pain, which tend to be more intense after meals.

If an ulcer is suspected, it is important to consult a gastroenterologist so that he can confirm the diagnosis, find out the cause and indicate the most appropriate treatment, usually through the use of medications and changes in dietary habits.

The main symptoms

The main symptoms of peptic ulcer are:

• burning sensation in the stomach;
• feeling of full stomach;
• nausea and vomiting;
• abdominal swelling;
• hiccups;
• Darker stool color;
• Weight loss without apparent cause;
• Severe abdominal pain.

In some cases, peptic ulcers cause only a general feeling of discomfort or may not cause signs or symptoms but are discovered during a routine checkup. However, when symptoms occur, they are usually worse after eating, so it is important to consult a gastroenterologist. Find out more about peptic ulcer symptoms.

How to make a diagnosis

The diagnosis of peptic ulcer should be made by a gastroenterologist first based on an evaluation of the patient’s presenting signs and symptoms. However, because symptoms may indicate a variety of digestive system changes, your doctor should recommend specific tests, especially an endoscopy.

During an endoscopy, doctors can look into the esophagus, stomach, and the beginning of the intestines to identify and verify the characteristics of ulcers. Learn how an endoscopy is performed.

Additionally, your doctor may recommend other tests, such as blood tests, stool tests, and/or respiratory tests, to investigate the cause of your peptic ulcer.

Causes of peptic ulcer

The main causes of peptic ulcers are:

• Long-term use of anti-inflammatory drugs without medical indication;
• Helicobacter pylori infection;
• Excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages;
• Smoking habits.

Additionally, some research suggests that regularly consuming spicy foods may increase your risk of developing peptic ulcers.

How to treat peptic ulcer

Treatment of peptic ulcers should be directed by a gastroenterologist and is designed to relieve symptoms and prevent ulcer expansion.

Therefore, your doctor may recommend changing your eating habits to eat more easily digestible, low-fat foods and reduce your intake of spicy foods. Learn what you should eat when you have a peptic ulcer.

Medications that suppress the production of stomach acid or neutralize the acid produced in the stomach may also be needed, which can help relieve symptoms and prevent peptic ulcers from getting worse.

peptic ulcer complications

Complications of peptic ulcer may be:

• internal bleedinganemia may occur, and even vomiting with blood or black stool may occur;
• ulcer perforationcausing bacteria to transfer from the stomach to the lining of the abdomen and infect it, causing peritonitis, which causes sudden, severe abdominal pain that worsens over time;
• gastric outlet obstruction It is a blockage of the path from the stomach to the small intestine, interfering with the passage of food, causing a feeling of fullness, vomiting of undigested food and bloating.

These complications are usually uncommon, but when they occur, they can be serious.