A frustrating pain in your stomach or gut may be more than just indigestion. Millions of people suffer from ulcers around the world, and they often go untreated or misdiagnosed. An ulcer means that you have an opening in your digestive system where acids can irritate the mucous-membrane lining. The pain emanates from this damaged area. Learn the truth about ulcers so that you can pinpoint one before it worsens.
It's Not About Stress
The collective wisdom in the past pointed to stress as the leading cause for ulcers. When people dealt with too much stress, their stomachs produced excess acid that ate away at the lining. Although this theory was accepted for many years, most doctors don't put much confidence in that thinking today. There's normally an underlying cause besides excess stomach acid that's creating the ulcers. If stomach acid alone was the problem, almost everyone would have an ulcer by the time they were in their 40s or 50s.
Bacteria's Role
Most doctors agree that ulcers are commonly created because of a certain bacteria present in the digestive system. Helicobacter pylori is a bacteria that's been discovered in a huge number of ulcer sufferers. Doctors can't say that it's the primary cause for all ulcers because the bacteria isn't always present. However, 80 to 90 percent of ulcers found today have this bacteria nearby. It's possible that the bacteria and stomach acid work together to form the ulcer, which is further irritated by the acidity of the environment.
They Occur in Multiple Areas
The truth about ulcers includes their numerous locations. You're probably familiar with the stomach ulcer that was made famous back in the 1980s. Other ulcers are possible in the esophagus and duodenum. All of these ulcers have different causes that are associated with their locations. You may feel a burning sensation in multiple areas, but the ulcer is really only isolated to one location. Visiting your doctor is the only way to pinpoint the ulcer's origination point. Most people will only have one ulcer. Esophageal ulcers are incredibly rare so most diagnoses are limited to the stomach or duodenum.
Blood Types Matter
Researchers are also making a distinction between ulcer patients who have different blood types. Type O blood doesn't have a particular component that's common to other types. This substance typically resides on the outside of the blood cells, which contributes to protective linings in the digestive system. Because of this difference, researchers believe that type O people have an increased chance for duodenum ulcers. Further research is necessary, but type-O people should be more aware of this possible occurrence.
Over-the-Counter Medication Influences
Ulcers are also connected to medication use. Overuse of ibuprofen and aspirin are the main culprits. When these medications are taken on a regular basis, they can irritate the digestive system's lining. Aspirin tends to be more of an issue because older people take it for cardiovascular or pain needs. If an ulcer develops in people who take regular medications, their doctors may need to alter their dosage or change the drug type. An ulcer can be healed if the causal effect is removed from the equation.
In some cases, an ulcer might point to other issues developing in your body. When you suspect an ulcer, visit your doctor for an entire workup. They'll test your blood along with other evaluations to verify the reasoning behind the ulcer. You can work on recovery at that point with a clean bill of health otherwise.
It's Not About Stress
The collective wisdom in the past pointed to stress as the leading cause for ulcers. When people dealt with too much stress, their stomachs produced excess acid that ate away at the lining. Although this theory was accepted for many years, most doctors don't put much confidence in that thinking today. There's normally an underlying cause besides excess stomach acid that's creating the ulcers. If stomach acid alone was the problem, almost everyone would have an ulcer by the time they were in their 40s or 50s.
Bacteria's Role
Most doctors agree that ulcers are commonly created because of a certain bacteria present in the digestive system. Helicobacter pylori is a bacteria that's been discovered in a huge number of ulcer sufferers. Doctors can't say that it's the primary cause for all ulcers because the bacteria isn't always present. However, 80 to 90 percent of ulcers found today have this bacteria nearby. It's possible that the bacteria and stomach acid work together to form the ulcer, which is further irritated by the acidity of the environment.
They Occur in Multiple Areas
The truth about ulcers includes their numerous locations. You're probably familiar with the stomach ulcer that was made famous back in the 1980s. Other ulcers are possible in the esophagus and duodenum. All of these ulcers have different causes that are associated with their locations. You may feel a burning sensation in multiple areas, but the ulcer is really only isolated to one location. Visiting your doctor is the only way to pinpoint the ulcer's origination point. Most people will only have one ulcer. Esophageal ulcers are incredibly rare so most diagnoses are limited to the stomach or duodenum.
Blood Types Matter
Researchers are also making a distinction between ulcer patients who have different blood types. Type O blood doesn't have a particular component that's common to other types. This substance typically resides on the outside of the blood cells, which contributes to protective linings in the digestive system. Because of this difference, researchers believe that type O people have an increased chance for duodenum ulcers. Further research is necessary, but type-O people should be more aware of this possible occurrence.
Over-the-Counter Medication Influences
Ulcers are also connected to medication use. Overuse of ibuprofen and aspirin are the main culprits. When these medications are taken on a regular basis, they can irritate the digestive system's lining. Aspirin tends to be more of an issue because older people take it for cardiovascular or pain needs. If an ulcer develops in people who take regular medications, their doctors may need to alter their dosage or change the drug type. An ulcer can be healed if the causal effect is removed from the equation.
In some cases, an ulcer might point to other issues developing in your body. When you suspect an ulcer, visit your doctor for an entire workup. They'll test your blood along with other evaluations to verify the reasoning behind the ulcer. You can work on recovery at that point with a clean bill of health otherwise.
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