Learn How to Detect Stomach Ulcers and How to Treat It

Learn how to detect stomach ulcers and how to treat it in a simple and natural way. Furthermore, it is a myth that ulcers are caused by stress and poor diet. Instead, doctors nowadays know that these painful sores that develop in the stomach, esophagus, and upper part of the small intestine are caused by bacterial infections and even prescriptions.

So now that a light has been shone on the main questions surrounding this painful problem, you can learn what causes ulcers and how to properly treat them.

What Causes Ulcers to Form? We know that ulcers are the result of an infection the single cause has not yet been identified. Doctors know that ulcers are the end result of an imbalance in your digestive fluids. But, there are some problems and factors that can increase your risk of developing ulcers, including:

Use of pain relievers called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as: aspirin, naproxen (Aleve, Anaprox, Naprosyn and others), ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, some types of Midol, among others).

• Excessive acid production in the stomach;
• Excessive alcoholic beverages ;
• Tobacco smoking;
• Serious illness;
• Radiation treatment in the area where the ulcers appear (stomach, esophagus, small intestine)

How do I know if I have an ulcer?  Symptoms of an ulcer are:

• Burning pain that only gets worse with stomach acid coming in contact with this organ;
• Burning through the shoulder to the breast bone;
• Burning when the stomach is empty;
• Burning at night;
• Temporary relief from eating certain foods, or taking antacids ;

But there are also serious signs of an ulcer and if you get one of these, you need medical attention right away:

• Vomiting blood – which may appear red or black
• Dark blood in stools or black stools;
• Nausea and/or vomiting;
• unexplained weight loss;
• Changes in appetite;

How to Treat an Ulcer? If you recognize these symptoms and your doctor has diagnosed you with an ulcer, the first step is to treat the infection causing the ulcer. The doctor may also prescribe medication to block acid production, which can make the ulcer less agitated and promote healing.

There is also a medication that can protect the lining of the stomach and small intestine but this depends on how the ulcer is affecting your body.

It is also important to note that most of the time these treatments work. But sometimes the symptoms can persist. So don’t let them go on – talk to your doctor right away if the ulcer isn’t healing.

Can I Prevent an Ulcer? You can try to prevent an ulcer by eating and living healthily, not smoking, avoiding alcohol, and changing pain relievers that upset your stomach. But sometimes, preventing an ulcer is impossible due to medications or underlying illnesses.