Ulcers
In old movies, we see stressed out businessmen complaining about ulcers. That's because we used to think that a stressful lifestyle caused ulcers - that or spicy food. Ulcers are caused by too much acid in the stomach, and the reasons for excess acid is usually a bacterial infection or prolonged use of NSAID painkillers like aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen. Smoking can also be a culprit.
Ulcers cause pain, most often when the stomach is empty or at night. The pain can in the chest, as low as the navel, or as high as the breastbone. Often eating will reduce the pain. Severe ulcers can cause vomiting. Modern treatment is with medicine to kill bacterial infection and to block, suppress, or neutralize excess acid.
Recently Answered
- Q What lifestyle changes should I make if I have an ulcer?
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The lifestyle changes your doctor may suggest will depend on the kind of ulcer you have. It is possible that lifestyle changes will not be recommended for your kind of ulcer. If you have a peptic ulcer in your digestive tract, your doctor may suggest... Full Answer
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- Q What is a stomach ulcer?
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A peptic ulcer is a sore in the lining of your stomach or upper small intestine. Ulcers form when the protective layer in the lining has broken down, often because of a bacterial infection or frequent use of aspirin or similar medicine. Peptic ulcers can... Full Answer
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- Q Can ulcers have any complications?
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Untreated peptic (stomach) ulcers can have serious complications. The complications may vary according to the type of ulcer you have, but possibilities include serious infection, scarring, internal bleeding, and cancer. If you think you may have... Full Answer
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- Q Can stress cause ulcers?
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It is possible for stress to contribute to the formation of some ulcers. Canker sores, ulcers in the mouth, are linked to stress. However, stress is not a cause of peptic ulcers. These ulcers that occur in the digestive tract were once thought to... Full Answer
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- Q Can certain foods cause ulcers?
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For most kinds of ulcers, food is not considered a possible cause. Canker sores (aphthous ulcers) may be caused by food allergies, but otherwise, food has little effect on the development of ulcers. Doctors once thought that spicy foods could cause... Full Answer
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- Q Could my ulcer be caused by multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1)?
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In very rare cases, severe ulcers can be caused by multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1). MEN1 is an inherited genetic condition occurring in about 0.02 percent of the population. MEN1 can cause the pancreas gland, as opposed to just the pancreas,... Full Answer
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- Q What is a refractory ulcer?
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The word "refractory" simply means a disease that resists treatment or cure. Refractory ulcers, then, are those that cannot be cured, ulcers that persist regardless of treatment. An ulcer itself is a sore that appears in the lining of the stomach,... Full Answer
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- Q What causes peptic ulcers?
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While people once thought that peptic ulcers - sores on the stomach lining, esophagus, or small intestine - were caused by fiery foods or a stressful life, this has been found to be untrue. A bacterial infection is the most common culprit. Some... Full Answer
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- Q What headache drugs are safe for bleeding ulcers and peptic ulcer disease?
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Dr. Howard LeWine, Internal MedicineBefore we address what you can take for pain and what you should avoid, first consider the two main causes of peptic ulcer disease.Peptic ulcer disease is most often caused by a bacterial infection called Helicobacter pylori. These bacteria sit below the... Full Answer
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- Q How do pain relievers cause GI bleeding and ulcers?
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Stacy Wiegman, PharmacySome pain relievers, particularly nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like aspirin and ibuprofen, work by inhibiting prostaglandin production. Prostaglandins are chemicals that protect your digestive tract from acid. Prostaglandins also... Full Answer
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