Peptic ulcers, Causes symptoms Treatment of peptic ulcers Gastritis
Ulcer formed in the gastric (Duodenal) mucosa, with an erosion of more than 5 cm is called as peptic ulcer. Peptic ulcer may be gastric or duodenal ulcer. The excess hydrochloric acid secreted by the stomach causes gastric irritation. If the gastric acid secretion is not inhibited at this excess state causes peptic ulcer. Peptic ulcers are also called as peptic ulcer disease. An ulcer formed only in stomach or an ulcer in duodenum is called as peptic ulcer. Parietal cells in the gastric layer helps in hydrochloric acid secretion in stomach. Peptic ulcers are the lesions found in the middle GI tract mainly includes esophagus, stomach, and first part of small intestine, i.e. duodenum.
Causes and Facts of peptic ulcer are…..
- Inflammation gastric mucosa is called as gastritis, and an untreated gastritis causes peptic ulcer.
- Most of the peptic ulcers are caused by Helicobacter pylori infection. Helicobacter pylori are the bacteria grow in the acidic environment of gastric juice. Following are the main causes of peptic ulcer.
- Prolonged excess acidic pH in the stomach is the main cause of gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer or peptic ulcer.
- Aspirin and NSAIDS are the main drugs causes gastric erosion there by causes peptic ulcer.
- Genetic factors and an Increasing age are risk factors of peptic ulcer.
- Hyper acidity is the main and basic cause of peptic ulcer.
- Smoking is also one of the cause of peptic ulcer by vascular effects.
- Psychological Stress also causes peptic ulcer,
- Irregular meal pattern, excess spicy food also stimulates gastric ulcers.
- More peptic ulcers are formed in duodenum, the first part of small intestine.
- Nearly 2 to 4 % of untreated gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer ( peptic ulcer) may turn into malignant tumor, i.e. cancer cells.
The following ulcers are called as peptic ulcer
A peptic ulcer are classified with respect to locations of ulcer.
Gastric ulcer: ulcer occurs in stomach mucosa.
Duodenal ulcer : occurs in Duodenum mucosa.
Oesophageal ulcer : Ulcer occurs in Oesophagus .
Meckel’s Diverticulum ulcer: The ulcer occurs in Meckel’s Diverticulum.
Peptic ulcers Types
Type I : Ulcer occurs in lesser curvature of stomach
Type II : Ulcers present both in gastric mucosa and duodenal mucosa
Type III: Prepyloric ulcer occurs in lower end of long curve
Type IV : Ulcer in upper gastroesophageal area
Type V: Any part of the gastric mucosa, commonly NSAID induced
Signs and symptoms of peptic ulcer…..
Important signs and Symptoms of a peptic ulcer are
Abdominal pain, Usually in the upper part of stomach (epigastric pain). The epigastric pain may be high around meal time. Most of duodenal ulcers induced abdominal pain is relieved by food intake, while the abdominal pain with gastric ulcers increases with food intake.
Abdominal bloating and abdominal fullness, is the main sign and symptom of gastric ulcer or peptic ulcer.
Excess saliva secretion in mouth is the symptom of peptic ulcer or gastritis.
Vomiting sensation or nausea, and copious vomiting is the symptom of peptic ulcer.
Loss of appetite and weight loss are the common symptoms of peptic ulcer.
Hematemesis, vomiting of blood is seen because of bleeding of blood directly from a gastric ulcer, Oesophag bleeding from Oesophagus damage.
Black stool or melena is the symptom of peptic ulcer. Because of oxidized iron from hemoglobin, feces becomes foul-smelling and black in color due to bleeding from peptic ulcer.
Some untreated peptic ulcer may cause gastric or duodenal perforation. This is an emergency, painful condition need immediate surgery.
Peptic ulcer diagnosis….
History collection from the peptic ulcer patient about heartburn, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and use of medication such as NSAIDS can help to suspect peptic ulcer. Glucocorticoids are the other Medicines known to cause peptic ulcer as NSAID (non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs). Both NSAID and Glucocorticoids inhibit good prostaglandin synthesis and thereby inhibit gastric mucus secretion and ultimately leads to geastric erosion, peptic ulcer.
Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), is an endoscopy, (gastroscopy) is the main diagnostic test used for diagnosis of peptic ulcer. This Esophagogastroduodenoscopy gives the correct location of peptic ulcer.
Histological examination and staining of an EGD biopsy helps in diagnosing any abnormal cell growth ( metastasis).
Nuture of peptic ulcer symptoms such as abdominal pain in relation to the meal helps in distinguishing gastric and duodenal ulcers. A gastric ulcer would give epigastric pain during the meal, as gastric acid is secreted, or after the meal, as the alkaline duodenal contents reflux into the stomach. Symptoms of duodenal ulcers would manifest mostly before the meal, as excess acid production is stimulated by hunger, and is passed into duodenum.
Treatment of peptic ulcer…..
Treatment of gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer or peptic ulcer, mainly depends on the nature, cause and extent of peptic ulcer.
Antacids are the first choice of treatment of gastric ulcers immediately.
H2 antagonists helps lot in treatment of peptic ulcers.
Proton pump inhibitors blocks acid secretion in the stomach and helps in treatment of peptic ulcer.
Misoprosto is a prostaglandin analogue which prevents the gastric erosion caused with NSAIDS.
Proton pump inhibitors are the very good inhibitors of hcl acid secretion in the stomach. So proton pump inhibitors are the best treatment of peptic ulcers.
A multivitamin supplement and nutritional supplement is necessary as the digestion and absorption of food materials is poor with peptic ulcer patients.
Perforated peptic ulcers need immediate surgical intervention and incentive care should be given to the patient.
Health care tips of peptic ulcer….
- For prevention and treatment of peptic ulcer ( gastric ulcer or duodenal ulcer ) follow these healthcaretips.
- Avoid stress and psychological upset to prevent gastric problems.
- Avoid eating junk foods eat very less spicy foods. Avoiding junk foods is the better preventive measure for peptic ulcer prevention.
- Take the medication regularly, even after the gastritis is reduced, for ten to twenty days.
- Have a curd rice with every meal reduce hyper gastric acid secretion and to prevent gastritis.
- Cabbage and Raw vegetables juices are very beneficial in treating peptic ulcer, gastric ulcer or duodenal ulcer.
- Eat raw carrot, is a better treatment of peptic ulcer and offers good nutrition.
- Eat enough fruits and vegetables with regular intervals.
- Fruits such as (citric fruits) orange, grapes are very good for treating peptic ulcer.
- Don’t take heavy meal, and take small meal more times to prevent peptic ulcer.
- Eat a diet rich in fiber, which helps in prevention of gastric ulcers and improves gastric motility.
- Quit smoking and avoid excess alcohol for prevention of peptic ulcer. While getting the treatment for peptic ulcer one should compulsory avoid smoking and alcohol.