Whatever you wish to call it, an ulcer (referred to technically as a peptic ulcer) is no fun at all. It usually starts with a burning pain which can last for hours, and it brings untold misery to those suffering from it.
As many as 25 million Americans will have an ulcer at one point in their lives, and about 5 million are suffering from one at any point. U.S. News & World Report claims 500,000 new peptic ulcer cases are diagnosed each year, generating $10 billion in direct and indirect treatment costs.
We’ll get to what can make an ulcer worse, but first, let’s talk about how they form.
How Ulcers Form
There is no one thing or issue that makes people get ulcers. The blame falls on Helicobacter pylori (Pylori), a bacterium that will create an imbalance in the digestive fluids in the stomach and the first part of the small intestine, known as the duodenum.
Because of the bacteria’s effect, the acids that digest food instead attack the walls of the stomach, esophagus or duodenum. This causes a burning pain that can strike at any time, especially during the night or between meals.
This burning pain can last for minutes or hours, and it is no fun while it’s attacking, as acid washes over the ulcer and aggravates it. The condition may disappear for days or weeks, but eventually, it will return to sap strength and cause lost sleep. Eventually, if the sufferer experiences several nights in a row of stomach pain, that can cause lost productivity, inattention, inability to concentrate, and mistakes or accidents.
Because the pain can disappear for long stretches, many people will rely on antacids and soothing products like milk, which coats the stomach and cools the symptom. But that’s only buying time and won't heal the ulcer.
The pain can occur even on an empty stomach and sometimes can be felt from the navel to the breastbone area. In severe cases, ulcer sufferers may vomit red or black blood; notice dark, black or tarry stools; experience extreme nausea; have a change in appetite; and experience unexplained weight loss.
Five Things That Can Aggravate Ulcers
If you suspect that you have an ulcer, stay away from these five factors that may cause it to act up:
1) Alcohol – The sting of alcohol can aggravate the sore spot in the stomach, and any mixers like soda or citrus juice can increase stinging. It’s like pouring salt on an open wound.
2) Smoking – This habit reduces the immune system and generally increases any existing problems in the body.
3) Spicy foods – While this isn’t the cause of an ulcer, the flavors that provide the spice can aggravate the sore spot in the body. No one would pour pepper sauce on an open wound, but that’s exactly what happens when ingesting something spicy with an ulcer present.
4) Caffeine – This stimulant can generate excess stomach acid, thanks to the harsh chemicals found in the product. Even healthy stomachs sometimes react to coffee or soda, so a stomach with an ulcer is particularly at risk.
5) Stress – Project keeping you late at work? Marriage not the best? The body reacts to these issues by generating additional hormones and stomach acids, which can produce extra trouble if an ulcer is present.
How to Treat an Ulcer
Over-the-counter antacids and dairy products can calm the stomach. In fact, acid blockers called proton pump inhibitors are so effective at reducing stomach acid that they actually lower the number of cases of ulcers in the United States. The proton pump inhibitors block the cells that produce acid.
The proton pump inhibitors include omeprazole (sold commercially as Prilosec), lansoprazole (Prevacid), esomeprazole (Nexium), rabeprazole (Aciphex) and pantoprazole (Protonix). Keep in mind that the medications are meant for short-term use because they can weaken bones and increase the risk of fractures or other damages.
Beyond those treatments, stomach ulcer creation is something of a mystery. How the bacteria that causes ulcers is acquired is still unknown to the medical community. The Helicobacter pylori bacteria thrive in the mucous layer that lines the stomach and small intestines but then can be aggravated, causing an ulcer.
Some medical researchers speculate that kissing may cause the bacteria’s transmission, while others think it may be spread by food or water. No consensus has emerged on the issue, leaving no surefire way to avoid the condition.
Diagnosis and Treatment
If an ulcer is suspected, doctors will require blood, breath and stool tests to determine whether an ulcer is causing the patient's symptoms or if a tumor or other condition may be the issue.
Once diagnosed, there are several treatments for ulcers:
1) Antibiotics – These drugs are designed to kill Pylori bacteria. The typical program will call for two weeks of antibiotics in combination with antacids that can help with pain management.
2) Acid blockers – As noted, proton pump inhibitors can help in the short-term to reduce stomach acid by blocking the cells that produce acid.
3) Antacids – Over-the-counter antacids can help with stomach pains, but side effects can include constipation or diarrhea.
4) Cytoprotective agents – Sold under the names Carafate and Cytotec, these help protect the tissues lining the stomach and small intestine. Many patients are familiar with Pepto-Bismol, which is a cytoprotective agent known as bismuth subsalicylate.
Presuming no severe complications, an ulcer should heal roughly within a month.