Ulcer means wound. Peptic literally means related to digestion. When peptic ulcers are mentioned in daily life, ulcers of the stomach-esophagus and duodenum come to mind, not ulcers of the entire digestive system. What they all have in common is the pain they cause in the upper abdomen. Stomach ulcer (gastric ulcer) occurs on the inner wall of the stomach. Esophageal ulcer (esophageal ulcer) occurs in the esophagus, which is a hollow tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach. Duodenal ulcer occurs in the duodenum, which connects the upper part of the small intestine to the stomach. The term peptic ulcer covers all ulcers occurring in these three regions. In this article, peptic ulcer will be briefly mentioned as an ulcer.
According to the traditional belief in the society, hot-sour-pickled-fried-spicy foods, coffee-tea-cola-cigarette-alcohol and stress play a role in the formation of ulcers. There is some truth to this belief, but most ulcers are caused by a bacteria called helicobacter pylori. This bacterium irritates the inner wall of the stomach and duodenum and paves the way for ulcers. With the increase in stomach acid secretion, the irritated area turns into a wound. We call this an ulcer. Some medications, especially those known as painkillers or rheumatism medications, can also cause ulcers. These drugs cause ulcers by both irritating the inner wall of the digestive system and increasing acid secretion. Cortisone type drugs are another group of drugs that cause ulcers. The role of genetic predisposition in ulcer formation is also known. This disease is more common in people with a family history of ulcers. Psychological factors play a role in the occurrence of duodenal ulcers, especially by increasing acid secretion.
What are the symptoms of peptic ulcer? A common symptom of ulcers is pain in the upper part of the belly. This pain is more like a pain. In many cases, the patient describes his complaint as burning in his stomach rather than pain. Pain is felt at the tip of the breastbone, which we call the board of faith. It increases by stepping on it. It becomes more uncomfortable when the stomach is empty. By snacking on some foods or taking antacids, the pain decreases and the patient feels relieved. Within a few days or weeks, the discomfort returns again. Side of pain and burning Sometimes patients may complain of nausea and sometimes the nausea turns into vomiting. If the vomit is dark brown or tarry, stomach bleeding should be considered. In such cases, it is important to analyze the defecation for bleeding. Bleeding brings with it anemia. If there is a lot of bleeding in a short time, life-threatening may occur. If there is a serious loss of appetite and weight loss, it is a medical priority to first consider cancer and perform an examination accordingly. If the ulcer extends beyond the stomach wall, it can cause infection in the membrane surrounding the abdominal organs. This condition is called peritonitis and can be life-threatening. If the healing wound sometimes heals as an irregular and swollen repair tissue, it creates a stenosis that prevents the passage of food from the esophagus, stomach or duodenum. That's why vomiting and weight loss occur. There are some differences between duodenal ulcer and stomach ulcer. The incidence of duodenal ulcer is three or even four times higher than that of stomach ulcer. While duodenal ulcer is generally seen in young people, stomach ulcer is a disease of older ages. Complaints caused by duodenal ulcers are loud, while stomach ulcers are a little quieter. While the main cause of duodenal ulcer is excess acid, the main cause of stomach ulcer is the erosion of the inner wall of the stomach, that is, the disruption of the mechanisms that ensure the integrity of the inner wall. There is a risk of cancer in stomach ulcers, but this risk is very rare in duodenal ulcers.
What is done to diagnose ulcers? First of all, diseases that mimic ulcer pain, such as gallbladder, liver, pancreas, heart, etc., should be differentiated. Ultrasonography is an important diagnostic tool in differentiating many diseases. The esophagus-stomach and duodenum are examined by endoscopy. With this method, the ulcer is visually visible and a biopsy is performed to distinguish whether it is benign or malignant. The presence of Helicobacter pylori bacteria is investigated in blood, breath and defecation. It can also be understood whether there is blood in the stool. In some cases, your doctor may request an x-ray. This diagnostic tool is no longer preferred as gatroscopy becomes more common.
The mainstay of treatment is Helicobacter pylori microbe, if it is detected. Appropriate antibiotics can be used to eliminate this, drugs that prevent excessive acid secretion or neutralize acid (break its effect), ensure wound healing, and also aim to relieve disturbing complaints such as pain and nausea.
What could be the reasons if the ulcer does not heal? If the patient does not take his medications properly and according to the prescription, if the helicobacter pylori bacteria that causes ulcers is resistant to antibiotics, if the patient does not quit smoking and alcohol habits, and if he continues to take painkillers that can cause ulcers, the ulcer will not heal. In addition, classical treatment methods do not help in cases such as the presence of multiple ulcers called Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome, where many ulcers occur due to excessive acid secretion, the presence of a microbe other than Helicobacter pylori, and the stomach ulcer being a malignant ulcer (stomach cancer).
Does diet matter in ulcer treatment? Strict diet has lost its former importance in ulcer treatment. Staying away from long-term fasting, foods such as coffee, tea, carbonated drinks, fried foods, spices, sherbet and cocoa desserts, chocolates, sour fruit and fruit juices, pickles and pickle juice, alcohol, and cigarettes, which increase stomach acid, will be beneficial in terms of healing and reducing complaints. .
Dear readers, I wish you a disease-free, problem-free, healthy, happy and long life.
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