Stomach ulcers

What are stomach ulcers?

-Stomach ulcers are also know as peptide ulcers
- It is an ulcer of an area of the gastrointestinal tract/gut that is usually acidic and thus extremely painful
-gastric ulcers are ulcers that form in the stomach
-stomach ulcers may be cancerous
-more peptic ulcers arise in the duodenum than in the stomach

-peptic ulcer may arise at various locations:stomach,duodenum,Oesophagus and Meckel's Diverticulum
What causes the disease?
-It is believed that4% of stomach ulcers are caused by cancer.
-Helicobacter pylori is also the most common cause for peptic ulcer disease
-Helicobacter pylori pylori infection occurs when these bacteria attach to the lining of the stomach or small intestine, multiply, and release toxins that cause mucosal inflammation and damage.
-Long-term use of non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin can damage the lining of the GI tract and cause peptic ulcer disease.

-What are the effects of the disease?
-Abdominal pains.(duodenal ulcers are classically relieved by food, while gastric ulcers are exacerbated by it)
-Water brush,which is the rush of saliva after an episode of regurgitation to dilute the acid in esophagus
-nausea, and lots of vomiting
-hematemesis(vomiting of blood);This is due to the damage to the Oesophagus from severe/continuing vomiting.

Other symptoms include the following:

• Heartburn (acid reflux)
• Indigestion (dyspepsia)
• Non-cardiac chest pain
• Weight loss

Interesting facts
-Stress is also a possible cause, or at least a complication in the development of ulcers.
-Good hygiene can help reduce the risk for peptic ulcer disease
-One to ten people at some point in their lives are affected by the duodenal ulcers, especially younger men

Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-aVA8mz4e4&feature=related