Ulcers: When to say when

One of the most common gastric afflictions in America is the stomach ulcer. Long thought to be caused by stress, alcoholism, spicy food or a combination of the three, understanding the real cause of ulcers has recently made them easier to recover from and prevent.

First, a brief anatomy lesson is in order, because there are several types of ulcers associated with the stomach and gut area. Ulcers can develop in the esophagus, stomach, duodenum, or other areas of the gastrointestinal tract. In men, duodenal ulcers are more common than stomach ulcers; in women, the opposite is true. The diagram here is a very simple rendering, so you can orient the areas where pain might occur if you’re experiencing symptoms.

Peptic ulcers are holes or breaks in the protective lining of the duodenum (the upper part of the small intestine) or the stomach, both areas that come into contact with stomach acids and enzymes. Duodenal ulcers are more common than stomach ulcers. Comparatively rare are esophageal ulcers, which form in the esophagus — or swallowing tube — and are often a result of alcohol abuse.

Approximately 500,000 new cases of peptic ulcer are reported each year. At any given time, as many as 5 million people are affected in the United States alone. Ninety to one hundred percent of the duodenal ulcers, and 70 percent of the gastric ulcers, throw a positive for H. pylori bacteria in blood and saliva tests when the patient is diagnosed with ulcers. While excessive stomach acid secretion certainly plays a role in the development of ulcers, a relatively recent theory holds that bacterial infection is the primary cause of peptic ulcers. 

The remaining numbers of those diagnosed are heavily attributed to overuse of over-the-counter painkillers (such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen), heavy alcohol use and smoking, as all three exacerbate and may promote the development of ulcers. Research indicates heavy smokers are more prone to developing duodenal ulcers than are nonsmokers, and daily use of painkillers is proven to cause peptic damage.

People who have a family history of ulcers seem to have a greater likelihood of acquiring the condition, as do people with type O blood. (Forty-five percent of people in the U.S. have Type O-positive or -negative blood.) In addition, liver disease, rheumatoid arthritis and emphysema are among the conditions that may increase vulnerability to ulcers. Stomach and pancreatic cancers also can cause these sores to form.

ULCER TREATMENTS | Relieving the irritation that comes with ulcers is key to enabling healing to progress naturally. Antacids counteract stomach acid and relieve symptoms, but they can also cause complications. For example, sodium bicarbonate, a primary antacid ingredient, contains large amounts of sodium, which can aggravate kidney disease or high blood pressure.