Download stomach ulcers - WordPress.com

STOMACH ULCERS
WHAT CAUSES IT?
A stomach ulcer can be caused by a variety of things,
including:
Helicobacter Pylori: This is a bacteria responsible for around
60 percent of stomach ulcers. It lives in the lining of the
stomach and the chemicals the bacteria produce cause
irritation and inflammation towards the stomach which
then causes the ulcer.
Medications: Certain medications including aspirin, taken
regularly to help prevent heart attack or stroke, drugs for
arthritis and anti-Inflammatory medications are believed
to cause around two fifths of stomach ulcers.
Cancer: Stomach cancer can present as an ulcer, especially
with older people.
HOW IS IT DIAGNOSED?
When going to the doctors you will get asked a series of questions about
your symptoms, past health, family’s health, medication you’re taking,
allergies you may have and other issues. If your symptoms are like the
symptoms of a stomach ulcer you will then need to have further tests to be
diagnosed. There are a few different types of tests available which are:
Upper Gastrointestinal Series: This is a type of x-ray of the stomach,
duodenum and esophagus. How it works is the person drinks a whitish
liquid called barium while getting the x-ray, and if they have an ulcer it
should be outlined on the x-ray.
Endoscopy: This procedure is done by the doctor and the person who gets the
endoscopy is given anesthetic and will have no memory of the procedure.
Using an endoscope which is a skinny, lighted tube with a special camera
on the end the doctor guides it down the esophagus into the stomach and
upper intestines. Here the doctor is able to look at the inner lining of these
organs and can watch the procedure on a television screen, take pictures and
tissue can be removed to be tested for Helicobacter pylori to detect the ulcer.
Blood Test: A doctor can also do a blood test for Helicobacter pylori bacteria.
This may be important if an ulcer is found in the upper GI series. The blood
test can be done right in the doctor's office.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?
Symptoms of a stomach ulcer can include:
* Burning abdominal pain just below the ribcage
* Indigestion
* Nausea
A stomach ulcer
* Loss of appetite
* Vomiting
* Weight loss
* Symptoms of anemia, such as light
headaches
* In some cases bleeding
* Feeling tired and weak
WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?
If you could see inside your stomach, the ulcer would
look like a small, red crater on the inside lining of the Stomach.
Although basically it’s a bigger version of an ulcer in the mouth.
HOW IS IT TREATED?
Different treatments are available to beat the stomach ulcer, they can
include:
Medications: Including antibiotics are used to destroy the Helicobacter
pylori bacteria colony and drugs are used to speed up the healing process.
Although drugs need to be used in combination and some have side effects,
such as diarrhoea and rashes. Usually two antibiotics would be taken every
day for about two weeks.
Reducing Acid: Tablets that are taken to reduce the acid content in the
gastric juices.
Antacids: Are available in tablet or liquid form. They do not effectively
heal ulcers but they do relieve symptoms of the ulcers by neutralizing
stomach acid, which then raises the pH level in the stomach. Their
effectiveness varies with the amount of antacid taken and the amount of
acid a person produces.
Lifestyle Changes: Such as quitting smoking, since smoking reduces the
natural defenses in the stomach and impairs the healing process. Also
having a healthy diet is a good option.
HOW IS IT TRANSMITTED?
HOW IS TRANSMISSION PREVENTED?
Doctors still today are not totally certain how Helicobacter pylori (the
bacteria responsible for causing 60% of stomach ulcers) are transmitted. It
is believed though that it is through saliva, so then kissing may be one.
They also may spread through food, water or contact with vomit.
The best advice in ulcer prevention is to always wash your hands after you
use the bathroom and before you eat and to take good care of your body by
exercising regularly and not smoking or drinking.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Mama’s Health (2009) Stomach Ulcers online, Available at: <
http://www.mamashealth.com/stomach.asp >(8th October 2009)
Kids Health (2009) Ugh! Ulcers online, Available at: <
http://kidshealth.org/kid/health_problems/stomach/ulcers.html > (8th
October 2009)
Better Health Channel (N,A) Stomach Ulcer online, Available at: <
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Stomach_ul
cer > (9th October 2009)
Bupa's Health Information Team (2007) Peptic Ulcer online, Available at:
<http://hcd2.bupa.co.uk/fact_sheets/html/Peptic_ulcer.html > (9th October
2009)
Miranda Thomas – Disease Assignment
Helicobacter pylori
An ulcer in the
stomach lining
A stomach ulcer