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Ask
the Pharmacist By Ron and Marla Chapleau |
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Q) What does an ulcer feel like? A) Well, it hurts for sure, but then, so do many other stomach ailments such as heartburn and those spicy chicken wings you should have passed on. But there are some ways to distinguish between them. A peptic ulcer is, in fact, an open sore on the lining of your stomach, esophagus or upper small intestine. The predominant symptom is a burning stomach pain caused by stomach acid coming into contact with the ulcerated area. This pain is typically worse when your stomach is empty, flares up at night, can be felt anywhere from your navel to your breastbone and can actually disappear for short periods before rearing up again. Other symptoms that occur less commonly include nausea and/or vomiting, stools that are black or tarry, unexplained weight loss, changes in appetite or the vomiting up of blood which can look like coffee grains. Peptic ulcers do not tend to be associated with tasting acid or food in the back of your mouth, trouble in swallowing, sore throat or a worsening of symptoms when you lie down or bend over. Symptoms such as these are more likely associated with GERD (heartburn). It is extremely important to treat peptic ulcers as they may lead to potentially life-threatening internal bleeding, abdominal infections or the formation of scar tissue which can block the passage of food through the digestive tract. We now know that ulcers are not caused by a poor diet or a stressful life but are, in fact, caused by bacteria called H. pylori that commonly live within the protective mucous layer of the stomach and small intestine. At times, these bacteria can disrupt this mucous layer leading to inflammation of the now-unprotected tissue underneath and producing an ulcer. We’re not entirely sure how H. pylori is spread but it may be contracted by consuming contaminated food and water or by close contact with an infected person (eg. kissing).
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Ulcers may also be caused by the regular use of
anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen
(Aleve), aspirin and others. There are many safe and effective drug treatments for ulcers but the key is paying attention to the symptoms and getting a proper diagnosis from your physician before serious damage has been caused. For more information about this or any other health-related questions, contact the pharmacists at Gordon Pharmasave, Your Health and Wellness Destination Scrolling stops when you move your mouse inside the scroll area. You can click on the ads for more
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