Understanding Ulcers, and Best Treatment Options

Your body’s ability to process and digest the food you eat is dependent on the presence of stomach (hydrochloric) acid being present in the stomach in sufficient quantity. You wouldn’t be able to break food down without it, and it really is great stuff for that purpose. Unfortunately, it’s not so great when it escapes your stomach. When it does, that’s the source of the constant pain that comes with having ulcers. There are two more common types of ulcers – peptic (stomach) ulcers and duodenal ulcers, and one more rare type - esophageal ulcers.

Overall, ulcers are one of the digestive health maladies that affect people in North America most frequently. Estimates are that one in every 10 North Americans will suffer from one at some point in their lives. We’ll look at ulcer causes symptoms and treatment here, as well as more detailed information on what are ulcers exactly and how to get rid of ulcers most effectively. The good news is that ulcers are very treatable and most people are able to find relief from the pain.

Ulcer Causes Symptoms and Treatment

Over the last 2-plus decades the medical community has come to a different understanding about what causes ulcers. Before that the predominant belief was that ulcers were exclusively the result of external factors causing an overproduction of stomach acid and digestive enzymes. This excess would then lead to an erosion of the protective lining of the duodenum, stomach, or esophagus and the acid would then creates holes or breaks in it that cause the pain.

The causes of this overproduction of stomach acid were believed to be constant stress exposure, genetic predisposition to increased stomach acid production, and poor lifestyle habits.

However, it’s since become understood that the symptoms of stomach ulcers in adults can be more attributed to a bacterial infection than any of the factors listed above. This is particularly true for peptic and duodenal ulcers, and the bacteria responsible for them – H. Pylori – is what promotes the stomach producing too much stomach acid.

What researchers are also coming to understand is that environmental and lifestyle factors and genetics increased the risk of ulcers for people who also have a naturally high levels of H. Pylori. This combination of factors is believed to be the reason why some people develop ulcers chronically and / or have severe episodes with them.

Two other factors can also be the cause of ulcers. The first is advanced age, and the way that the pylorus (the valve between the stomach and duodenum) becomes more relaxed in older people and this allow excess bile to seep up into the stomach and erode the stomach lining. The second is the way that people with Type O blood get duodenal ulcers more often because their blood type does not produce the substance on the surface of blood cells required to protect the lining of the duodenum.

It’s especially helpful to note that overuse of the OTC painkillers like aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen is a leading cause of ulcers, and the problem here is that many older people use these drugs regularly to manage arthritis and similar painful health conditions.

Ulcer Symptoms

The variety of different ulcer symptoms include ones that are mild and pass quickly and then others that linger and involves a significant amount of pain and discomfort. Ulcer symptoms include:

• Abdominal pains and burning sensations, along with bloating
• Nausea and vomiting
• Bleeding while vomiting or using the bathroom
• Loss of appetite and changes in body weight
• Darker stools
• Sleeping difficulties due to abdominal pain
• Related digestive health issues like heartburn, acid reflux, and being overly gaseous
• Dehydration, weakness, and fatigue
• Diarrhea

In severe cases, stomach ulcers can lead to bleeding as part of liver cirrhosis and this can develop into chronic kidney disease if left untreated.

Best Treatment Options for Ulcers

Physicians usually advise patients that the best way to treat ulcers is to make changes to diet, lifestyle, and the medications you choose to use. NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) drugs like aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen are known to promote ulcers (and heartburn) by altering how digestive enzymes and stomach acids are produced and inhibit ones that are needed to protect the stomach lining. Finding alternative pain management drugs and / or techniques is a good start for finding relief from ulcers.

It’s also important to understand that symptoms of stomach ulcers in adults will likely increase if you take antacids or acid-reducing medications. They may relieve pain temporarily but will actually make symptoms worse over time.

Other recommended steps for ulcer relief are:

1. Stress management – there is a strong connection between the brain and gut, and excess stress that’s allowed to build up because the individual doesn’t work to manage their stress can be a major factor in ulcer development.
2. Boosting immunity and controlling inflammation – not engaging in substance abuse and being more physically active are keys here.
3. Eating Better – more specifically, this means eating more of a low-processed, nutrient-dense diet that is based on whole foods. Also worth noting that eating a large amount of food at once can make ulcers worse.

There are also specific foods to avoid and then see if your ulcer symptoms improve. They include black pepper, red hot peppers and chili powder, caffeine, alcohol, cocoa and chocolate, soft drinks, citrus fruits and juices, fatty and fried foods, peppermint, and tomato products.

4. Avoid foods that you are allergic – A blood serum food allergy test is recommended if you have recurring issues with ulcers.
5. Maintain a healthy body weight and avoid obesity.

For some people the only way to get rid of ulcers will be to take medications. Common medications for mediating stomach ulcer symptoms in adults include Aciphex (Rabeprazole) and Nexium (Esomeprazole), and Protonix (Pantoprazole sodium) may be prescribed for people who are known to be more susceptible to ulcers based on their genetics.