Symptoms and diagnosis of peptic ulcers

Peptic ulcers are open sores that develop inside the lining of the stomach and upper part of your small intestine (called the duodenum). Your stomach is protected by a thick layer of mucus to protect it from digestive juices. WE get ulcers when the protective layer is reduced.
There are two types of peptic ulcer:-
• Gastric ulcers occur in your stomach.
• Duodenal ulcers occur in the upper part of your small intestine.
Peptic ulcers are a common disease and can be a persistent problem. A healed ulcer can reoccur. A peptic ulcer can be caused due a bacterial infection bacterium Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and anti-inflammatory drugs. Stress and spicy food do not cause ulcers, though they can aggravate the symptoms.
Symptoms
Symptoms of peptic ulcers can vary, you may or may not have symptoms. Common symptoms of ulcer are:-
• Burning pain in the stomach.
• Feeling full, bloated or belching.
• Intolerance for fatty food.
• Heartburn.
• Nausea
Your symptoms can worsen with an empty stomach. The pain may stop briefly when you have an anti-acid or after eating.
More severe symptoms of peptic ulcer include:-
• Vomiting or vomit that appears red.
• Dark, bloody stool or black stool.
• Breathing problem.
• Appetite changes.
• Unexplained weight loss.
Book a gastroenterologist in Patna if you have any severe symptoms. You should also see the doctor if the over-the-counter anti-acids stop the pain temporarily.
Causes
Peptic ulcers are caused by an imbalance between the digestive fluid in your stomach (hydrochloric acid) and pepsin in your stomach and duodenum due to:-
• Infection with a bacterium called Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). Researchers are not sure how the bacteria spread. We can transmit it from person to person personal contact or from food and water.
• Using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) such as Aspirin, ibuprofen, Naproxen, and celecoxib. These medicines can irritate the lining of your stomach and duodenum. Peptic ulcers are more common with the elderly who take pain medication or medication for osteoarthritis.
• A condition called Zollinger-Ellison syndrome causes excessive production of stomach acid. Gastrinoma a tumor of the acid-producing cells increases the production of acid. Smoking, drinking alcohol, untreated stress, and eating spicy food make your ulcers more difficult to treat.
Diagnosis
The best gastroenterologist in Patna will start by looking at your medical history and performing a comprehensive medical examination. They may order the following tests:-
• Upper endoscopy:- the gastroenterologist uses a tube equipped with a camera to probe your upper digestive tract.
• A barium upper gastrointestinal GI X-ray is used to make the ulcer visible.
• Laboratory tests to determine H. pylori bacteria through stool tests or blood tests at home, or breath tests. Doctors consider the breath test to be more accurate than blood tests. If you have the bacteria, your breath sample will contain radioactive carbon in the form of carbon dioxide.
Treatment
The best gastroenterologist in Patna will treat your peptic ulcers by suggesting lifestyle changes, prescribing medication or surgically.
They may prescribe:-
• Antibiotics to kill H.pylori.
• Proton pump inhibitors (PPI) reduces stomach acid by blocking the cells that produce acid. There are some side-effects of the medication.
• Acid blockers to reduce acid production.
• Anti-acids.
• Medication to protect your stomach lining and intestine.
The gastroenterologist near me may perform a simple endoscopy procedure. They may opt to treat the ulcer surgically if there is a hole in the stomach or serious bleeding.