The old myth and wives-tale that ulcers are caused
by stress and diet has been debunked by modern medicine. Instead, doctors today
know that these painful sores that develop in the stomach, esophagus, and the
top part of your small intestine are caused by infections caused by bacteria
and even prescriptions.
So now that a light has been shed on a major shadow
covering this painful condition - you can learn what causes ulcers, and how to
treat them properly.
What
causes ulcers to form?
While we know now that ulcers are the result of an
infection - a single cause for them has yet to be identified. WebMD says
doctors do know that ulcers are the end result of an imbalance in your
digestive fluids. But, there are some conditions and factors that can increase
your risk for developing ulcers, including:
- Use of painkillers called nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like: aspirin, naproxen (Aleve, Anaprox,
Naprosyn, and others), ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, some types of Midol, among
others).
- Excess acid production in the stomach.
- Excessive alcohol drinking.
- Smoking or chewing tobacco.
- Serious illness.
- Radiation treatment to the area where ulcers
appear. (stomach, esophagus, small intestine)
How
do I know if I have an ulcer?
The symptoms of an ulcer according to the Mayo
Clinic include:
- Burning pain that's only worsened by stomach acid
coming in contact with it.
- Burning that is felt from your belly-button up to
your breast bone.
- Burning that's worse when your stomach is empty.
- Flares at night.
- Temporarily relieved when eating certain foods, or
by taking antacids.
- Flares that come and go every few days, or even
weeks.
But there are also severe signs of an ulcer - and if
you have these you need to get medical attention right away:
- Vomiting of blood — which may appear red or black.
- Dark blood in stools or stools that are black.
- Nausea and/or vomiting.
- Unexplained weight loss.
- Changes in appetite.
How
do I treat an ulcer?
If you recognize these symptoms and your doctor
diagnoses you with an ulcer, the first step might be to treat the infection
that's caused the ulcer. Your doctor might also prescribe medications to block
acid production so that you can have a less agitated ulcer, and promote
healing. There's also a medication that can protect the lining of your stomach
and small intestine - but this all depends on how the ulcer is affecting you
and what will be your best personalized treatment.
It's also important to note that most of the time,
these treatments work. But sometimes your symptoms may persist. So don't let
them go on - speak up and talk to your doctor right away if your ulcer doesn't
seem to be healing.
Can
I avoid an ulcer?
You can try an avoid an ulcer by eating and living
healthy, not smoking, avoiding alcohol, and considering switching pain
relievers that bother your stomach. But sometimes avoiding an ulcer is
impossible due to medications, or underlying conditions or illnesses.
Comments
Post a Comment