﻿ Peptic Ulcer Disease:Facts on Symptoms, Treatment and Diet

Peptic Ulcer Disease

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Peptic ulcer facts

  • Peptic ulcers are sores in the lining of the stomach or duodenum.
  • Ulcer pain may not correlate with the presence or severity of ulceration.
  • The main symptom of peptic ulcer is upper abdominal pain which can be dull, sharp, or burning. (Bloating and burping are not symptoms of peptic ulcer, and vomiting, poor appetite, and nausea are uncommon symptoms of peptic ulcer.)
  • Diagnosis of ulcer is made with upper GI series or endoscopy.
  • Treatment of ulcers involves antibiotic combinations along with stomach acid suppression to eradicate H. pylori, eliminating precipitating factors such as NSAIDs and stomach acid suppression with medications alone .
  • Complications of ulcers include bleeding, perforation, and blockage of the stomach (gastric obstruction).
  • If a person with peptic ulcers smokes or take NSAIDs, the ulcers may recur after treatment.

What is a peptic ulcer?

A peptic ulcer is a break in the inner lining of the esophagus, stomach, or duodenum. A peptic ulcer of the stomach is called a gastric ulcer; of the duodenum, a duodenal ulcer; and of the esophagus, an esophageal ulcer. Peptic ulcers occur when the lining of these organs is corroded by the acidic digestive (peptic) juices which are secreted by the cells of the stomach. A peptic ulcer differs from an erosion because it extends deeper into the lining of the esophagus, stomach, or duodenum and excites more of an inflammatory reaction from the tissues that are eroded.


Medically Reviewed by a Doctor on 7/17/2014

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Bleeding Ulcers: Symptoms and Causes


Symptoms of a bleeding ulcer include:

  • Indigestion
  • Abdominal discomfort after eating