Ulcers are sores that develop on the lining of your stomach and can cause an intense amount of discomfort. Ulcers can be caused by a wide range of things, including poor diet, stress, bacterial infections, overuse of pain medications, smoking and drinking. If you suspect you have an ulcer, you can look for certain warning signs.
History
Although poor diet and stress were considered the cause of ulcers, research has now shown that H. pylori bacteria infection is the most common reason a person will develop an ulcer.
Types
There are three main types of ulcers and they develop in different parts of your digestive system: gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer and esophageal ulcer. A gastric ulcer occurs in the stomach, a duodenal ulcer develops in the small intestine, and an esophageal ulcer affects the lower esophagus.
Effects
Pain is the most common warning sign of an ulcer and will likely flare up at night and radiate from the navel to the breastbone. The pain can last anywhere from a few minutes to several hours.
Considerations
Other warning signs of ulcers include vomiting blood, dark stools, nausea, vomiting and an unexpected weight loss.
Warning
If an ulcer is left untreated, the symptoms will worsen and can lead to internal bleeding, infection or scar tissue.
Tags: diet stress, duodenal ulcer, esophageal ulcer, gastric ulcer, most common