Gastric Ulcers And Its Treatment

Are you having a persistent, gnawing or burning pain below your breast bone and above your belly button? Do you have heartburn or a burning sensation in your stomach? Is your tummy bloated or you feel easily full? If you are experiencing any/or all of the above symptoms, you are likely to have a gastric or stomach ulcer. Most of the signs mentioned above are gastric acid symptoms and need a consultation at an expert gastroenterology clinic.

What are gastric ulcers?
Gastric or stomach ulcers are sores formed on the tender lining of the stomach. They occur when the thin protective mucosal lining of the stomach is eroded. This causes the acidic digestive juices to eat away the stomach lining, causing sores. Gastric ulcers are a kind of peptic ulcers which affect both the stomach and small intestine.

Causes of stomach ulcers

Gastric ulcers are caused due to

• Prolonged use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) like aspirin, ibuprofen, etc.
• Bacterial Infection by Helicobacterium pylori.
• Zollinger-Ellison syndrome which increases the stomach's acid secretion

Stomach ulcer signs and symptoms
If you are suffering from gastric ulcers, you are like to experience the following gastric acid symptoms.

• dull, biting, burning or gnawing pain in the stomach.
• pain that may improve after taking antacids
• loss of appetite
• stomach bloating
• feeling full
• weight loss
• nausea or vomiting
• indigestion or dyspepsia
• heartburn
• burping
• dark stools that look like tar
• vomiting blood or dark residue
• anaemia

Any person with the above ulcer signs and symptoms must immediately head to a professional gastroenterology clinic without further delay.

Diagnosis of gastric ulcers
Gastric ulcers are diagnosed by an experienced gastroenterologist using the following tests.

• Barium swallow test - The patient is asked to drink a glass of white barium liquid. This liquid coats the stomach helping the gastroenterologist to see the stomach's lining clearly
• Endoscopy - A small thin tube is inserted through the mouth into the stomach and the beginning of the small intestine. This lighted tube help to look for any bleeding, ulcers or tissue abnormalities.
• Endoscopic biopsy - A small piece of stomach tissue is given for lab testing
• Breath testing - This test is prescribed only for patients who are suspected to have Pylori infection. The patient is asked to drink a clear liquid and breathe into a bag which is sealed later. If the patient has Pylori infection, his breath will have higher amounts of carbon-dioxide than normal.

Gastric ulcers treatment
Gastric ulcers are easy to treat. For mild ulcer, non-surgical treatment is enough. For severe cases, surgery is the only option of gastric ulcers treatment.

Non-surgical gastric ulcers treatment

• For normal ulcers caused by NSAID, changing the drugs to mild painkillers will do.
• Antacids are prescribed by the gastroenterologist to mollify the acid produced.
• The gastroenterologist prescribes drugs like Pepto-Bismol to protect the stomach lining.
• Treatment for H. pylori infection requires antibiotics.
• PPI or proton pump blockers are prescribed by the gastrospecialist to prevent the formation of acid producing cells.
• Hydrogen receptor antagonists which inhibit excess acid production.

Surgical gastric ulcers treatment
Gastric ulcers treatment for severe ulcers may require surgery for the following reasons:

• Removal of the ulcer.
• Covering ulcer by sewing tissue taken from another part of the stomach or body.
• Tying up the blood vessel to stop bleeding.
• Cutting off the nerve that stimulates the production of acid in the stomach.

Diet to prevent gastric acid symptoms and gastric ulcers
Following the correct diet may prevent the formation of gastric ulcers.

• Eat a lot of fruit and vegetables that are rich in antioxidant that will help repair the stomach lining.
• Consume a lot of fibre to reduce the risk of ulcers.
• Take probiotics like yoghurt to improve digestion and mitigate the effect of antibiotics.
• Citric fruit rich in Vitamin C must be eaten daily to prevent H. pylori infection.
• Zinc supplement must be taken to improve immunity.
• Selenium-rich foods like brazil nuts, tuna etc must be taken to promote the healing of stomach lining.

Gastric ulcers can be painful and may intensify if left untreated. Consult an expert gastro specialist or head to a gastroenterology clinic for effective treatment of gastric ulcers.