Stomach ulcers
Your gut tries its best to deal with whatever you force on it, be it 10 pints of lager or a chicken vindaloo, without so much as a hint of complaint. Unless you count stomach ulcers, that is.
What are they?
Ulcers are sores on the sensitive lining of the skin, caused by bacteria. They're properly known as peptic ulcers. It's thought that up to one million people in the UK will experience symptoms of an ulcer in any one year. At least 4% will need hospital treatment, and without it some may even die. There are two types of ulcer:
- Duodenal ulcers: Tend to form on the duodenum wall and/or upper small intestine, and can start affecting people in their twenties and beyond.
- Gastric ulcers: These affect the stomach lining, and mainly affect people in their forties and over.
Signs and symptoms
- Duodenal ulcers: The discomfort tends to crop up lower down, around the belly. The pain can come and go, but may get worse at night or between meals when the stomach is empty. Snacking can help relieve the pain, but only temporarily.
- Gastric ulcers: Tends to make its presence known as a burning feeling in your abdomen (the area below your breastbone). Accompanying signs can include belching, feeling bloated and sick. The pain is fairly steady, but certain foods may also aggravate discomfort.
Treatments and self-help
- Stomach ulcers can often be treated with a combination of antibiotics and medication that protects the stomach lining.
- In some cases, surgery may be necessary, especially where the ulcer is bleeding, has perforated (eroded right through the stomach wall) or is obstructing food.
- Only your GP can diagnose stomach ulcers, but you can help alleviate symptoms by cutting out smoking, alcohol, tea, coffee and aspirin (which can contribute to gastric ulcers).
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