Gastric ulcers: medications, symptoms, prevention etc. & bull; hello healthy

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Definition

Gastric ulcers are inflammation of the stomach wall that causes sores to form. Sometimes this digestive system disorder can also occur in the small intestine or esophagus adjacent to the stomach.

This condition occurs when the walls of the stomach and small intestine are eroded so that they hit deeper tissues. Without proper treatment, stomach ulcers can cause prolonged pain or even damage to digestive organs.

Signs and symptoms

The most common symptom of stomach ulcers is pain or burning in the navel and breastbone area. You may feel the following complaints.

• Your stomach hurts when you are hungry.
• The stomach hurts at night.
• The pain goes away if you eat or take antibiotics.
• The pain can last from a few minutes to several hours.
• The pain can go away (recur) for a few days, weeks or even months.

Other rare symptoms of stomach ulcers include:

• bloated,
• belching,
• stomach discomfort,
• decreased appetite,
• nausea, as well
• weight loss or gain,

There may be signs and symptoms not listed above. If you have concerns about a particular symptom, consult your doctor.

When to see a doctor?

Gastric ulcers are a condition that can get worse if not treated promptly. You should contact your doctor if you experience any or more of the following suspicious symptoms.

• It's easy to feel tired.
• Heavy breathing.
• Experiencing vomiting blood or vomiting that is dark in color.
• The stool is blackish in color or contains blood.
• Pain that is sudden and persistent.

These signs usually appear as the condition of the injured stomach gets worse.

Cause

The main cause of peptic ulcers is excess stomach acid which erodes the inside of the stomach or small intestine. Gradually, excess stomach acid can form open sores that cause pain and even bleeding.

Your digestive tract is lined with mucous membranes that normally protect organs from acids. Unfortunately, the amount of acid that tends to be excessive can thin the mucus layer.

Various things that can erode the mucus layer and eventually cause stomach ulcers include the following.

1. Infection Helicobacter pylori

Some people don't realize they have bacteria Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) in his body. The reason is, most people are infected H. pylori also did not show any symptoms.

However, in others, these bacteria can increase the amount of acidic fluids and destroy the protective mucus lining of the stomach. This combination can irritate the digestive tract, including the stomach and esophagus.

2. Taking NSAIDs

Taking NSAIDs such as aspirin and ibuprofen can cause stomach ulcers. These drugs can block the production of natural chemicals that help protect the lining of the stomach and small intestine from the effects of stomach acid.

Usually, the stomach has three protections against stomach acid, namely:

• mucus produced by the foveolar cells that line the stomach,
• bicarbonate produced by foveolar cells and functions to neutralize stomach acid, and
• blood flow which helps repair and renew the cells of the mucosal lining of the stomach.

NSAIDs work to reduce pain by inhibiting the function of enzymes involved in prostaglandin production. Prostaglandins are substances that are formed naturally from fat and can cause pain when the amounts are out of balance.

Even so, prostaglandins actually also have the effect of protecting the mucosal lining of the stomach. When the prostaglandins are depleted, there will be a gap in the lining of the stomach. This breakdown of the body's natural defenses can cause inflammation of the lining of the stomach.

Over time, this condition can cause the capillaries to burst in the stomach. As a result, there was bleeding and the emergence of open sores on the mucosal lining of the stomach.

3. Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome

Another factor that causes stomach ulcers is Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome. This is a rare disorder that occurs when a tumor called gastrinoma forms inside the duodenum (duodenum).

Gastrinoma secretes a hormone known as gastrin, which produces excess acid in the stomach. Over time, sufferers may experience injury to the esophagus, stomach, or small intestine.

4. Other causes

Gastric ulcers can be experienced by anyone. However, as you get older, you become more at risk for this condition. Bad habits such as smoking and drinking alcohol can also make you more prone to stomach ulcers.

Risk factors

Stomach ulcers can occur in people who take anti-inflammatory drugs, usually to treat arthritis. Additional medicines that can increase your risk for having a stomach ulcer include:

• osteoporosis treatment using alendronate and risedronate drugs
• anticoagulant drugs such as warfarin or clopidogrel,
• drug serotonin reuptake inhibitors selective (SSRI), or
• certain chemotherapy drugs.

Other risk factors known to worsen and make it difficult for gastric and duodenal ulcers to heal include:

• the habit of eating spicy food,
• habit of consuming alcohol,
• have a previous history of gastric ulcers,
• smoking, and
• have unmanageable stress.

Complications

Untreated gastric ulcers will make the symptoms worse. The complications that can occur are as follows.

1. Internal bleeding

Bleeding can occur when the body loses a lot of blood due to ulcers or injury to the stomach. Over time this bleeding can lead to anemia, so you may need to be hospitalized for a blood transfusion.

2. Infection

Sores or ulcers in the duodenum and stomach can put you at risk of serious infection in the abdominal cavity, which is known as peritonitis.

3. Blockage

Sores in the stomach or the beginning of the small intestine can block the passage of food into the digestive tract. In addition, blockages are also a frequent cause of swelling, inflammation, or scarring.

Diagnosis

Generally the doctor will start asking about your medical history. Tell your doctor when and where you have the most symptoms.

Gastric and duodenal ulcers can cause pain in different parts of your stomach.

Various tests will usually be performed because stomach pain associated with peptic ulcers has many causes. If your doctor considers H. pylori is the cause of stomach ulcers, the doctor will confirm through the following tests.

• Blood test to see if there are signs of infection H. pylori in the bloodstream.
• Stool examination by sending a stool sample to the laboratory for testing.
• A urea breath test by measuring the level of carbon dioxide gas after you take a special pill.
• Esophagogastroduodenoscopy by inserting a device with a camera on the end into your digestive tract.
• The doctor will look for ulcers and other problems and take a tissue sample (biopsy).

To be able to check for certain conditions, the doctor will also perform the following tests:

• Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy.
• Barium swallow by drinking a special solution that is easily visible on X-rays.

Medicine and medication

Gastric ulcers are treatable. However, the treatment must be adjusted to the cause of the wound formation. The following are various drugs that are commonly used to treat this disease.

1. Antibiotics

Gastric ulcers caused by bacterial infection should be treated with antibiotics. This medicine can reduce infection by killing bacteria.

The types of antibiotics that are usually prescribed are:

• amoxicillin,
• clarithromycin,
• metronidazole,
• tinidazole,
• tetracycline, and
• levofloxacin.

2.Proton pump inhibitor (PPI) drugs

This medication is taken by mouth to reduce stomach acid production by blocking the stomach lining cells that produce acid. Examples of PPI drugs that are usually prescribed to relieve symptoms of stomach ulcers include:

• omeprazole,
• lansoprazole,
• rabeprazole,
• esomeprazole, and
• pantoprazole.

However, the use of this drug needs to be supervised by a doctor considering the side effects that can cause bone problems due to the lack of absorption of calcium by the body.

3. Gastric acid neutralizing drugs

In addition to PPI drugs, you can also use drugs to neutralize stomach acid, yani antacids. This medicine can relieve pain in the stomach quickly. However, in some cases it can cause constipation or diarrhea.

4. H2 drugs blockers

This drug has the same function as PPI drugs, which reduces acid production. By reducing stomach acid, the symptoms of stomach ulcers will quickly improve. This medication is available either with or without a doctor's prescription, eg

• ranitidine,
• famotidine,
• cimetidine, and
• nizatidine.

5. Abdominal lining medicine

The function of this drug is to protect the lining of the stomach and small intestine from infection or inflammation. Some of the options for this type of medicine for stomach ulcers are sucralfate and misoprostol. Both can only be obtained by prescription.

6. Follow-up treatment

Generally, the drugs above are successful in healing wounds in the stomach lining. However, if the condition does not improve, the doctor will recommend an endoscopy to see other possible causes of the symptoms you are feeling.

Sores on the stomach that don't heal with this treatment are called refractory ulcers. It is likely that this condition occurs for various reasons, such as:

• do not take peptic ulcer medication according to the doctor's instructions,
• the bacteria causing the infection are resistant to antibiotics, or
• keep smoking or use NSAID drugs.

Treatment of refractor ulcers focuses on reducing the various factors that interfere with recovery, along with other antibiotics that are more potent against bacterial infection.

Home remedies

A healthy lifestyle is the key to preventing stomach ulcers from appearing. Here are lifestyle and home remedies that can help you deal with the symptoms.

• Avoid the causes of acid reflux by managing stress, eating regularly, and eating healthy and nutritious foods.
• To prevent bacterial and bacterial infections, wash your hands regularly. Make sure to clean and cook the food thoroughly.
• To prevent stomach ulcers caused by NSAIDs, try to limit your use of these drugs.
• If you need to take an NSAID, follow and take the dosage as recommended by your doctor
• Avoid drinking alcohol and smoking.

If you have any questions, consult your doctor for the best solution to your problem.