Peptic ulcer is a common disease affecting millions of people every year, appears on the duoden lining and at the area of the stomach, the duoden lining is eroded by the stomach acid and develops stomach and duodenal ulcers also known as peptic ulcer.

Its symptoms may be severe pain and indigestion, untreated proper it leads to complications. In gastroscope (a telescope that doctors use to examine the stomach) peptic ulcers look like little mouth ulcers with 1-2 cm diameter.

Ulcers often come and go spontaneously especially in young people without the individual ever knowing, unless a serious complication (like bleeding or perforation) occurs and when that happens patients have a severe anemia and are quite weak so the situation becomes suddenly severe.

Chronic ulcers leave a scar even when they heal, are deeper and have symptoms. The acid content of the stomach helps to protect against infections and in digestion, ulcerus is produced when the stomach produces more acid or when the lining which is usually protected by mucus is exposed to this acid. There are many factors that determine ulcer. Others experience no pain at all, even though ulcers return. There is no conclusive evidence to suggest that life stresses or personality types contribute to ulcer disease.

Risk factors in producing peptic ulcers are: bacteria Helicobacter pylori that can be found also in the stomach of the healthy people, taking certain medicines regularly such as: ibuprofen, naproxen and diclofenac, smoking and alcohol in excess. If a cancer develops in the lining of the stomach there may also appear a gastric ulcer. The ulcer is more likely to occur in those who have infection with the germ Helicobacter pylori and is also very hard to treat. Popular beliefs consider that stress, coffee, colas, spicy foods, caffeine are important in ulcer formation.

Symptoms

In many patients there may appear no symptoms at all, while some report pain as a burning indigestion, abdominal discomfort, but those symptoms are relieved by foods and antiacids. Depending on the type of ulcerus you have the pain may be intense after or before you eat and may wake you up early in the morning. The pain may be in other spots for example in the back.

The ulcer may bleed and you vomit blood or digested blood(coffee grounds) or have black stools known as melaena. In this cases you should announce your doctor as soon as possible. Peptic ulcer disease is common especially in young people. Drugs such as: aspirin and anti-inflammatory drugs help producing ulcer, the ulcer is more likely to occur in those who have infection with the germ Helicobacter pylori and is also very hard to treat.