You will also receive emails from Mayo Clinic on the latest health news, research, and care. Peptic ulcers occur when acid in the digestive tract eats away at the inner surface of the stomach or small intestine. The acid can create a painful open sore that may bleed. Your digestive tract is coated with a mucous layer that normally protects against acid.
But if the amount of acid is increased or the amount of mucus is decreased, you could develop an ulcer. A bacterium. Helicobacter pylori bacteria commonly live in the mucous layer that covers and protects tissues that line the stomach and small intestine.
Often, the H. It's not clear how H. It may be transmitted from person to person by close contact, such as kissing. People may also contract H. In addition to having risks related to taking NSAIDs , you may have an increased risk of peptic ulcers if you:.
Alone, these factors do not cause ulcers, but they can make ulcers worse and more difficult to heal. You may reduce your risk of peptic ulcer if you follow the same strategies recommended as home remedies to treat ulcers. It also may be helpful to:. Protect yourself from infections. It's not clear just how H. You can take steps to protect yourself from infections, such as H. Use caution with pain relievers. If you regularly use pain relievers that increase your risk of peptic ulcer, take steps to reduce your risk of stomach problems.
For instance, take your medication with meals. Work with your doctor to find the lowest dose possible that still gives you pain relief. Ulcers occur in this lining. The Helicobacter pylori bacterium H. The discovery of this micro-organism in revolutionised many aspects of gastroenterology, including the treatment of stomach ulcers. It is thought that about one in three people over the age of 40 years is infected with this strain of bacteria in Australia.
The germs live in the lining of the stomach and the chemicals they produce cause irritation and inflammation. Other disorders caused by this infection include inflammation of the stomach gastritis and dyspepsia indigestion. Researchers believe the germ could also play a contributing role in the development of stomach cancers. The infection is more common among poor or institutionalised people. The mode of transmission is so far unknown, but is thought to include sharing food or utensils, coming into contact with infected vomit, and sharing of water such as well water in undeveloped populations.
This is a serious complication of ulcer disease and is particularly deadly in the elderly or those with multiple medical problems. Bleeding from stomach ulcers is more common in people treated with blood thinning agents, such as warfarin, aspirin or clopidogrel Plavix and those people should also consider using regular anti-ulcer medication to prevent this complication. A severe, untreated ulcer can sometimes burn through the wall of the stomach, allowing digestive juices and food to leak into the abdominal cavity.
This medical emergency is known as a perforated ulcer. Treatment generally requires immediate surgery. Special diets are now known to have very little impact on the prevention or treatment of stomach ulcers.
Treatment options can include:. This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:. The type of pain felt in the abdomen can vary greatly. Children may feel stomach pain for a range of reasons and may need treatment. Around half of cases of anal fissures heal by themselves with proper self-care and avoidance of constipation. This is especially true if you have: Ulcer symptoms for the first time.
Ulcer symptoms that return before or after treatment is completed. A family history of stomach cancer. Other symptoms that may point to a more serious problem, such as stomach cancer. These include: Blood in the stool. Difficulty swallowing dysphagia. Abdominal mass. This test may be done to detect blood in the stool, which may be caused by a peptic ulcer or another serious problem, such as colon cancer. By itself, an FOBT cannot diagnose peptic ulcer disease, but it may show if an ulcer is bleeding.
Complete blood count CBC. This blood test may be done to look for anemia, which may be caused by a bleeding ulcer. Upper GI series. This X-ray exam of the esophagus and stomach may be used to diagnose peptic ulcer disease, although this test is being used less frequently.
Treatment Overview Left untreated, many ulcers eventually heal. Most of the time, treatment means taking medicines—such as H2 blockers and proton pump inhibitors PPIs —and making lifestyle changes, including: Not taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs , if possible.
Quitting smoking. Not drinking too much alcohol no more than 2 drinks a day for men and 1 drink a day for women. Treatment if ulcers get worse If you have serious complications from a peptic ulcer, such as bleeding or obstruction, you may need an endoscopy , even if you have already had one. Prevention You can greatly reduce the chance that you will get a peptic ulcer if you: Don't smoke. Smokers are much more likely than nonsmokers to get ulcers. For ways to quit smoking, see the topic Quitting Smoking.
Avoid taking aspirin, ibuprofen, and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs for longer than a few days at a time. If you are taking one of these medicines daily, for example taking aspirin for heart problems, ask your doctor about taking medicine to help protect your stomach and intestines from ulcers. Drink alcohol only in moderation. Limit alcohol to 2 drinks a day for men and 1 drink a day for women. Home Treatment Many people who have mild ulcer symptoms first try home treatment for a short time without seeing a doctor.
Try these home treatment steps to stop symptoms and help an ulcer heal: Stop smoking. Try nonprescription medicines that reduce stomach acid. Make sure you tell your doctor about any medicines you are taking. Make changes to your diet, such as eating smaller, more frequent meals.
These changes may improve your symptoms, but they won't help your ulcer heal. Drink alcohol only in moderation, or not at all.
Drinking too much alcohol may make an ulcer heal more slowly and may make your symptoms worse. Medications Medicines are used to: Treat peptic ulcers by reducing the amount of acid produced by the stomach. Kill Helicobacter pylori H. Protect the lining of the stomach and upper small intestine from injury caused by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs. Medicine choices Medicines to reduce stomach acid Medicines that reduce the amount of acid produced by the stomach are used to treat all forms of peptic ulcer disease.
Antacids such as Tums Acid reducers H2 blockers such as Pepcid. Some H2 blockers are available without a prescription. Proton pump inhibitors PPIs such as Prilosec. Some PPIs are available without a prescription. Medicines to kill H. Medicines to protect the stomach Medicines used to protect the stomach from damage caused by frequent use of aspirin or other NSAIDs include: Acid reducers. These include: H2 blockers such as Tagamet. Prostaglandin analogs such as Cytotec. Surgery Surgery is rare, but it is needed sometimes to treat: Ulcers that don't heal intractable peptic ulcers.
Life-threatening complications of an ulcer , such as severe bleeding, perforation, or obstruction. If surgery is suggested, you may want to: Seek a second opinion and ask whether all medicine treatment options have been tried. Compare the cost of long-term medicine treatment to the one-time cost of surgery. Remember that no surgery can completely prevent ulcers from returning.
Find a surgeon who has a lot of experience with surgery for ulcers. Surgery choices When surgery is done, it usually involves one or more of the following: Cutting one or more of the nerves to the stomach vagotomy.
Widening the opening of the bottom of the stomach pyloroplasty. Removing part of the stomach partial gastrectomy. Prompt treatment can prevent excessive bleeding and other complications. An endoscope is a long flexible tube with a light and camera on the end. The tube is inserted into your throat, then to the esophagus , stomach, and upper part of the small intestine. Learn how to prepare for an endoscopy here. Generally performed as an outpatient procedure, it allows the doctor to locate and identify problems in the stomach and upper intestine.
Bleeding ulcers must be addressed quickly, and treatment can start during the initial endoscopy. If bleeding from ulcers is found during the endoscopy, the doctor can:. This can be done using a tissue sample taken during the endoscopy.
It can also be accomplished with noninvasive tests such as a stool sample or breath test. If you have the infection, antibiotics and other drugs can help fight the bacteria and ease symptoms. To be certain you get rid of it, you must finish taking the medication as directed, even if your symptoms stop. Ulcers are treated with acid-blocking drugs called proton pump inhibitors PPIs or H2 blockers. They can be taken orally, but if you have a bleeding ulcer, they can also be taken intravenously.
Cameron ulcers are usually treated with PPIs, but sometimes surgery is needed to repair the hiatal hernia. If your ulcers are the result of taking too many NSAIDs, work with your doctor to find another medication to treat pain. Over-the-counter antacids sometimes relieve symptoms. An untreated ulcer that swells or scars can block your digestive tract.
It can also perforate your stomach or small intestine, infecting your abdominal cavity. That causes a condition known as peritonitis. A bleeding ulcer can lead to anemia, bloody vomit, or bloody stools. A bleeding ulcer usually results in a hospital stay. Severe internal bleeding is life-threatening. Perforation or serious bleeding may require surgical intervention. Ulcers can be successfully treated, and most people heal well.
0コメント