Stomach Ulcer Symptoms, Diagnosis and Cure

Stomach ulcer also called as Peptic ulcer or ulcus pepticum or Peptic Ulcer Disease (PUD) is an ulcer that is a mucosal erosion that is greater than or equal to 0.5 cm at an acidic region of gastrointestinal. The stomach ulcers and about 90 percent of other ulcers are caused by Helicobacter pylori. It is spiral-shaped bacterium that lives in the acidic environment of stomach.
 

Classification of peptic ulcer:

Stomach ulcer classification depends on the part where the ulcers occur. Ulcers that occur at stomach refers to gastric ulcers and ulcers that occur at Duodenum are called duodenal ulcers. Similarly ulcers occurring at the Oesophagus are called Oesophageal ulcers and the last of its kind, Meckel's Diverticulum ulcers are the ones that form in the Meckel's Diverticulum.

These highly painful ulcers mostly appear in the duodenum rather than in the stomach. The duodenal ulcers are usually benign.
 

Peptic ulcer symptoms:

The primary stomach ulcer symptom that generally occurs is the abdominal pain. The pain is usually the burning or gnawing sensation which extends to the back. The pain is experienced usually after eating.

Other stomach ulcer symptoms that usually arises are a typical heartburn, a bitter taste in mouth, a sick feeling.

Bloating, abdominal fullness, nausea and copious vomiting are some of the other stomach ulcer symptoms which arises at the stomach region. Severe cases would experience:
 
Hematemesis: This is a condition of vomitting blood. It can occur as a result of bleeding that arises directly from a gastric ulcer or arises because of damage of the esophagus from continuing vomiting.

Some stomach ulcers are similar to the gas symptoms that arises as a result of tightness of bowel along with the stomach ulcer. The gas symptoms of blurbing and farting is experienced and accompanied by melena, a sign where the feces turns tarry and foul smelling.
 
 
Diagnosis of Stomach ulcer:

The diagnostic tests of peptic ulcer are:

Breath  test: This involves a procedure that requires a radioactive carbon atom to detect Heliobacter pylori.

A small glass of liquid containing radioactive carbon as a part of the substance is administered to the patient. This radioactive carbon will be broken down by Heliobacter. pylori. The breath sample taken less than an hour shall identify if the person is infected or not. The infected person would have the radioactive carbon content in the form of carbon dioxide.
 
Blood test: Confirmation of presence of Heliobacter  pylori antibodies requires a blood test. The inability to differentiate past exposure and current infection is the only possible     flaw in diagnosis through blood test.  

Stool antigen test: Existence of Heliobacter. pylori is examined in the stool samples in this test.

Upper gastrointestinal X-ray: Most usual test is barium contrast X-ray test of Gastrointestinal tract. The person is made to swallow a white, metallic barium liquid at the time of X-ray. This coats the digestive tract and makes the ulcers more visible.

Endoscopy: The procedure follows an upper GI X-ray. Endoscopy is performed after the detection of the ulcer.  A long, narrow tube with an inbuilt camera is threaded down the throat, esophagus, stomach down to the duodenum providing a view of the upper digestive tract, assisting the physician to  identify the exact region of ulcer.
 

Ulcer diet:

It is recommended for the ulcer patients to follow a diet that aids in digestion, doesn't cause irritation and is less in acid content. Some of them include breads, antacids, avoiding caffeine containing foods. Having a good source of protein at each meal and snacks includes also forms a healthy diet.
 
It is better to avoid Aspirin and other NSAIDs (Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory) drugs as they can cause or can aggravate the ulcer. NSAIDs or NAIDs are drugs that have analgesic and antipyretic effects.