It is known that many people in the world suffer of ulcer, which is of different types like: gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer and esophageal ulcer.At the level of stomach can be find: hydrochloric acid and pepsin.An ulcer is the result of the imbalance between aggressive and defensive factors. So too much acid and pepsin can damage the stomach lining and cause ulcers.Beneath these two factors there are also influences from other parts.



If a person does not receive treatment for ulcers, it could be lead to a bleeding ulcer, a perforated ulcer or a narrowing and obstruction of the intestinal opening preventing food from leaving the stomach and entering the small intestine. The stomach defends itself from hydrochloric acid and pepsin by creating a mucus coating, by producing bicarbonate and by circulating blood to the stomach lining to aid in cell renewal and repair.If any of these functions are missing the ulcer can appear.

The ulcer is produced by a bacterium called Helicobacter pylori, which is a spiral-shaped bacterium able to cost damage to cells on the surface of the stomach wall,by producing urease, an enzyme generates ammonia.The effect caused by H. pylori is the inflammation of the mucous coating of the stomach.There are other factors that can damage the stomach.One of these is anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin, ibuprofen,naproxen, or piroxicam interfere with the stomach's abilityto produce mucus and bicarbonate, but also affects blood flow to the stomach.A person's lifestyle can also damage(drinking caffeine, consuming alcohol, smoking and stress).

The symptoms of the ulcer are the following: a gnawing or burning pain in the abdomen between the breastbone and the navel, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, loss of weight, tiredness (a symptom of a bleeding ulcer), weakness (a symptom of a bleeding ulcer), blood in vomit or stool (symptom of a bleeding ulcer).The diagnosis of an ulcer can be made by several methods like: endoscopic, x-ray examinations or testing of H. pylori. The first one can be done by an instrument called a fiber-optic endoscope which illuminates the entire stomach.By this method the doctor can observe the existence of an ulcer.The second method x-ray use a chalky liquid that contains barium, which makes the ulcer visible.