Peptic Ulcer
Peptic ulcers are erosions in the stomach or duodenum (the first part of the small intestine). The term “peptic” distinguishes peptic ulcers from ulcerations that affect other parts of the body. Peptic ulcer should never be treated without proper diagnosis.
Peptic ulcer is usually caused by infection from Helicobacter pylori. People with peptic ulcer due to infection should discuss conventional treatment directed toward eradicating the organism—a combination of antibiotics and bismuth—with a medical doctor. Ulcers can also be caused or aggravated by stress, alcohol, smoking, and dietary factors.
What are the symptoms of peptic ulcer?
Peptic ulcers are occasionally painless. However, the most common symptom is a dull ache in the upper abdomen that usually occurs two to three hours after a meal; the ache is relieved by eating. Other common symptoms include weight loss, bloating, belching, and nausea. Untreated, peptic ulcers often bleed and may cause sharp burning pain in the area of the stomach or just below it.
Dietary changes that may be helpful:
People with ulcers have been reported to eat more sugar than people without ulcers, though this link may only occur in those with a genetic susceptibility toward ulcer formation. Sugar has also been reported to increase stomach acidity, which could aggravate ulcer symptoms.
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