Your in-depth digestive health guide will be in your inbox shortly. You will also receive emails from Mayo Clinic on the latest health news, research, and care. Peptic ulcers occur when acid in the digestive tract eats away at the inner surface of the stomach or small intestine. The acid can create a painful open sore that may bleed. Your digestive tract is coated with a mucous layer that normally protects against acid. But if the amount of acid is increased or the amount of mucus is decreased, you could develop an ulcer.
A bacterium. Helicobacter pylori bacteria commonly live in the mucous layer that covers and protects tissues that line the stomach and small intestine. Often, the H. It's not clear how H. It may be transmitted from person to person by close contact, such as kissing. People may also contract H. In addition to having risks related to taking NSAIDs , you may have an increased risk of peptic ulcers if you:.
Alone, these factors do not cause ulcers, but they can make ulcers worse and more difficult to heal. You may reduce your risk of peptic ulcer if you follow the same strategies recommended as home remedies to treat ulcers. It also may be helpful to:. Protect yourself from infections. It's not clear just how H. You can take steps to protect yourself from infections, such as H. Use caution with pain relievers.
If you regularly use pain relievers that increase your risk of peptic ulcer, take steps to reduce your risk of stomach problems. For instance, take your medication with meals. Work with your doctor to find the lowest dose possible that still gives you pain relief. Avoid drinking alcohol when taking your medication, since the two can combine to increase your risk of stomach upset.
If you need an NSAID , you may need to also take additional medications such as an antacid, a proton pump inhibitor, an acid blocker or cytoprotective agent. Peptic ulcer care at Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version.
But an ulcer is likely to come back if you have an H. Recurring ulcers caused by reinfection with H. Ulcers in the stomach gastric ulcers often heal more slowly than ulcers in the upper small intestine duodenal ulcers.
The following things can increase your chance of getting a peptic ulcer and may slow the healing of an ulcer you already have:. In the past, spicy foods, caffeine, and moderate amounts of alcohol were thought to increase ulcer risk.
This is no longer believed to be true. If you have been diagnosed with a peptic ulcer, call or other emergency services immediately if you have:. If you have been diagnosed with a peptic ulcer and medical treatment is not helping, call your doctor. Waiting until your symptoms get worse can be serious. If you don't know if you have a peptic ulcer and you don't have any of the emergency symptoms listed above, you may try taking an antacid or nonprescription acid reducer and other home treatment, such as making changes to your diet.
If further testing or treatment is needed, you may need to see someone who specializes in the treatment of diseases of the digestive tract gastroenterologist. If surgery is needed, your doctor may refer you to a general surgeon.
But surgery is rarely needed to treat ulcers. Although not all peptic ulcers are caused by bacteria, it's getting more common to do a test for Helicobacter pylori whenever someone has ulcer symptoms. This includes testing your blood, breath, stool, or a sample of tissue from your digestive tract biopsy. An endoscopy may be done so that a doctor can:. If you are older than 55, you may need an endoscopy because of a higher risk for stomach cancer. This is especially true if you have:.
Left untreated, many ulcers eventually heal. But ulcers often recur if the cause of the ulcer is not eliminated or treated. If ulcers keep coming back, you have an increased risk of developing a serious complication , such as bleeding or a hole in the wall of your stomach or intestine.
Most of the time, treatment means taking medicines—such as H2 blockers and proton pump inhibitors PPIs —and making lifestyle changes, including:. If your ulcer is caused by Helicobacter pylori H. If treatment isn't working, you may need more tests to look for bacteria. If you still have an H. He or she may also suggest that you see a gastroenterologist. This specialist will do an endoscopy to look at your ulcer and to take a tissue sample biopsy.
If you have serious complications from a peptic ulcer, such as bleeding or obstruction, you may need an endoscopy , even if you have already had one. If your stomach or intestine has a perforation or your ulcer continues to bleed despite treatment, you may need surgery.
But surgery is rarely used to treat an ulcer. Many people who have mild ulcer symptoms first try home treatment for a short time without seeing a doctor. But see your doctor if your symptoms don't get better after 10 to 14 days of home treatment, or if you have other symptoms such as weight loss, nausea after eating, or consistent pain.
This is even more important if you are middle-aged or older, because the risk for cancer or other illnesses that cause symptoms similar to peptic ulcer disease increases with age. Medicines that reduce the amount of acid produced by the stomach are used to treat all forms of peptic ulcer disease. Be careful when you take over-the-counter antacid medicines.
Many of these medicines have aspirin in them. Read the label to make sure that you are not taking more than the recommended dose. Too much aspirin can be harmful. Doctors prescribe combination drug therapy to cure infection with H. This usually includes at least two antibiotics, a proton pump inhibitor, and sometimes a bismuth compound.
Medicines used to protect the stomach from damage caused by frequent use of aspirin or other NSAIDs include:. If you are using OTC acid reducers such as Prilosec or Pepcid to help with your symptoms for more than 10 to 14 days at a time, or if your symptoms are very bad, be sure to see your doctor. Author: Healthwise Staff. Medical Review: E. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor.
Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content. To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. Updated visitor guidelines. You are here Home » Peptic Ulcer Disease.
Top of the page. Topic Overview What is a peptic ulcer? Treatment cures most ulcers. And symptoms usually go away quickly. What causes peptic ulcers? The two most common causes of peptic ulcers are: Infection with Helicobacter pylori H.
What are the symptoms? Symptoms include: A burning, aching, or gnawing pain between the belly button navel and the breastbone. Some people also have back pain. The pain can last from a few minutes to a few hours and may come and go for weeks. Pain that usually goes away for a while after you take an antacid or acid reducer.
Loss of appetite and weight loss. Bloating or nausea after eating. Vomiting blood or material that looks like coffee grounds. Passing black stools that look like tar, or stools that contain dark red blood. Different people have different symptoms, and some people have no symptoms at all. How are peptic ulcers diagnosed? How are they treated?
Cause The two most common causes of peptic ulcers are: Infection with Helicobacter pylori H. Although many people are infected with H. It didn't answer any of my questions.
I still don't know what to do next. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions. Patient Education. Understanding Perforated Ulcers A peptic ulcer is an open sore in the stomach lining or the upper part of the small intestine duodenum. What causes perforated ulcers?
The main causes of peptic ulcers include: Infection with the H. Symptoms of a perforated ulcer Symptoms of a perforated ulcer may include: Sudden, severe pain in the belly abdomen , usually in the upper abdomen Pain spreading to the back or shoulder Upset stomach nausea or vomiting Lack of appetite or feeling full Swollen belly or feeling bloated. Treatment for a perforated ulcer Treatment for a perforated ulcer starts with fixing the hole in your digestive tract.
Prescription medicines may help with the following: Reducing the amount of acid the stomach makes Coating the lining of the stomach and the duodenum Treating infections Your provider may also give you different medicines if your ulcer was caused by over-the-counter pain medicines. Possible complications of a perforated ulcer Perforated ulcers can have serious complications.
These include: Infection of the lining of the abdomen Bloodstream infection Death. When to call your healthcare provider Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these: Vomiting blood, or vomit that looks like coffee grounds Bloody, black, or tarry-looking stools Fever of
0コメント