Stomach Ulcers Symptoms, Causes and Treatment 

Stomach ulcers are sores along your stomach’s lining. The condition is quite common and is fairly mild and treatable.

Men are thought to be more at risk of getting stomach ulcers. It was predicted that around 60% of men will get them sometime in their life. However, it was also thought that approximately 10% of all people will have a stomach ulcer at some point in life as well.

Mobidoctor’s GPs can help you uncover the causes of your stomach ulcer. Treatment will then be dependent upon the causative factors of the disease. Don’t hesitate to talk to one of our physicians about your stomach ulcer today.

Sores along the stomach lining aren’t always painful. But a burning sensation may ensue due to the irritation of the stomach lining. Other symptoms you might experience include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Indigestion

Serious cases of stomach ulcers present with these additional symptoms:

• Blackened stools
• Persistently sharp stomach pains
• Vomiting blood

See your physician immediately once you get these serious symptoms.

Your stomach has a lining that can easily be broken down by acidic fluids normally occurring in the stomach itself. Ulcers happen when the acid eats through the lining, causing sores as a result. The development of a stomach ulcer may be due to the following:

• Bacterial infections
• A result of medication side effects (ibuprofen or aspirin)

Smokers also tend to develop more stomach ulcers than non-smokers.

Stomach ulcers usually subside after a few months. Treatment is based on the identified causes in your individual case.

If the culprit is a bacterial infection, you’ll likely undergo a course of antibiotic therapy. If it is a medication side effect, alternative medications like paracetamol may be given to you,

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are also given to decrease the amount of acid inside your stomach. Lesser acid means your stomach lining gets less irritated and your ulcers heal faster.

If you experience indigestion as a symptom of your ulcers, you may temporarily stop eating trigger foods that exacerbate both indigestion and the ulcers. It was commonly thought that certain foods such as spices aggravate ulcers and indigestion. However, no exact evidence regarding this is available at the moment.