Stomach ulcer
It is also known as gastric ulcer. When the mucosa of the stomach is ruptured and its surface becomes sore, It is called gastric ulcer or peptic ulcer.
Duodenal ulcer
This is the other type of ulcer included in the peptic ulcer disease. Duodenal ulcers are more common than stomach ulcers. It is a result of the erosion of the lining of duodenum, caused by the acids and enzymes secreted in the gastrointestinal tract for digestion of food. Classically hurry, curry and worry were believed to be three basic causes of Peptic Ulcer Disease.
Symptoms of Peptic Ulcer
• Abdominal Pain-This is typically the most annoying symptom of peptic ulcer disease but all ulcers may not present with pain. The stomach and duodenal ulcers differ in their relation between food and onset of pain.
Burning pain or gnawing pain felt in the upper, middle abdomen
Pain in stomach ulcer-This begins immediately after eating in case of stomach ulcers. Pain is relieved after digestion of food. So patients may prefer to remain without having his meal.
Pain in duodenal ulcer- In case of duodenal ulcer pain starts two-three hours after meal, when the stomach is empty. This can even wake up a person from sleep. Eating relieves the pain due to duodenal ulcers.
• Heartburn.
• Sensation of fullness after a meal.
• Nausea.
• Vomiting .
• Hematemesis (Vomiting of blood).
• Melaena (Dark or Black stool).
• Loss of Weight.
• Poor Appetite.
• Feeling sick.
Complications of Peptic
If the symptoms are left uncared following complications develop which may be medical emergencies according to the case:
• Severe blood loss.
• Perforation of the stomach and intestine.
Causes of Peptic Ulcer
Stomach and duodenum of healthy individuals is lined by mucosa that protects the gastro intestinal tract against its own acids secreted for digestion of food. Whenever this mucosa is damaged, it leads to ulcers. The causes for damage of mucosa are as follows:
• Infection of H. pylori
• NSAIDs- Irrational use of pain killers and drugs like ibuprofen and aspirin can cause peptic ulcers.
• Smoking
• Alcohol
• Stress
• Caffeine
Causes of Peptic Ulcer
Stomach and duodenum of healthy individuals is lined by mucosa that protects the gastro intestinal tract against its own acids secreted for digestion of food. Whenever this mucosa is damaged, it leads to ulcers. The causes for damage of mucosa are as follows:
• Infection of H. pylori
• NSAIDs- Irrational use of pain killers and drugs like ibuprofen and aspirin can cause peptic ulcers.
• Smoking
• Alcohol
• Stress
• Caffeine
How to diagnose Peptic Ulcer
Peptic Ulcers can be diagnosed by the clinical presentation in many cases. However, following tests confirm the diagnosis:
• X-Rays
• Endoscopy
• Urea Breadth Test
• Stool Antigen Test
• Blood Test
How to prevent the occurrence of gastric ulcers and duodenal ulcers?
• Avoid using painkillers and NSAIDS
• Don't Smoke
• Avoid alcohol
Characteristics and guiding symptoms of some medicines used in this disease are described below:
Anacardium ori: The complaints of violent epigastric pain appears 2-3 hours
after meal and ameliorated by eating. The patient is chilly and lack of memory. Plug
sensation in rectum.
Argentum nitricum: Chronic duodenal ulcer with intolerable burning, epigastric
pain with much flatulence. More desire for sweets and cold foods. Aggravation from
sweets, salts, milk and cold food. The patient is very restless and susceptible to
hot.
Arsenic album: Great burning in stomach. Vomiting immediately after cold eating or cold drinking. Aggravation at midday and midnight. Frequent thirst for small quantity of water. The patient is very much restless, weak, chilly and full of fearof death.
Chelidonium: Gnawing and grinding pain, relieved by eating hot/warm food and
warm milk. Aggravation from 4 p.m.— 8 p.m. The patient is sad and tendency to
affect right side.
Hamamelis: When tarry stool with bloody vomiting and very painful abdomen. Severe
weakness.
Kali bich: When the ulcer is at the cardiac end of stomach and pain relievers after eating. The
patient is chilly. Tendency to alternative rheumatism and phlegmatic condition. Sting — like
discharge.
Phosphorus: Vomiting of food and mucus mixed with bile and blood just after eating of hot
food. Ameliorated by cold food and drinks. The patient is lean and thin, sympathetic, restlessness, susceptible to hot and full of fear of darkness and thunder-storm.
Uranium nitricum: Tendency to formation of ulcers. Ameliorated by eating. Severe appetite and thirst. Distension of abdomen