Anyone who has ever had an ulcer will know that it is an experience not to be repeated. Not only are ulcers extremely painful, but they also carry serious health risks.

A peptic ulcer is a sore in the lining of the stomach, the intestines (duodenum) or in the throat. Throat ulcers, or oesophageal ulcers are rare, while the first two types are far more common.

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The causes of ulcers
Until the middle of the 1980s it was thought that ulcers were caused by stress, a diet rich in fatty foods, excessive secretion of stomach acids and a high intake of coffee, alcohol and colas. Smoking, regular use of medication containing aspirin and ibuprofen also didn't help matters. While all these things seemed to make ulcers worse, they were, however, not the primary cause of them.

The real culprit turned out to be a bacterium called Helicobacter pylori, identified by two Australian researchers, who were awarded a Nobel prize for Medicine in 2005 for their efforts. Many people thought that bacteria could not survive in the acidic environment of the stomach, but they were proved wrong.

The research of doctors Barry J. Marshall and J. Robin Warren confirmed that this bacterium caused ulcers by either stimulating increased acid production, or by damaging the lining of the stomach or the intestines.

The symptoms of peptic ulcers
Peptic ulcers have a wide variety of symptoms. Many people suffer from excessive indigestion or discomfort, or a severe burning feeling, or a feeling of hunger in the upper part of the stomach. This can happen before or after meals and, very frequently occurs at night. This can also happen after the drinking of orange juice, coffee or alcohol, or after taking an aspirin.

Other symptoms of ulcers could include a feeling of bloatedness, or excessive fullness during or after meals, nausea and vomiting, black or bloody stools, weight loss, fatigue and heartburn. So, all in all, not a pleasant experience.

Treatment for peptic ulcers
There are several things that can be done to treat peptic ulcers:

• Make a plan to stop smoking
• Eat frequent, small meals
• Avoid foodstuffs such as coffee, alcohol, caffeine and spicy foods
• Find a way to de-stress, such as exercising or relaxation techniques
• Find an antacid that works for you, but remember that this merely treats the symptoms of a peptic ulcer
• H2 blockers and proton pump inhibitors can both reduce the amount of gastric acid the stomach produces
• The right kind of antibiotics could eliminate H. pylori from your stomach and stop the ulcer from recurring
• Surgery may be necessary if the ulcer has ruptured the stomach wall or the duodenal wall. All operations to the stomach carry a high risk and are not performed as a matter of course in the case of peptic ulcers, unless there is an emergency

(Susan Erasmus, Health24.com)

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