A gastric ulcer, also known as a peptic ulcer, is a sore in the lining of the digestive tract. Gastric ulcers can cause symptoms such as stomach pain which occurs between meals and early in the morning. Other symptoms include gas, bloating, nausea and vomiting which can all lead to a decreased appetite and weight loss. Left untreated, ulcers can lead to more serious complications, including bleeding or the formation of a hole in the stomach wall that allows food to spill into the abdominal cavity.
Bacteria
The presence of the bacterium Helicobacter pylori, or H. pylori, causes more than half of all peptic ulcers worldwide, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. H. pylori can be spread through contaminated food or water, or through contact with an infected person's stool or vomit.
H. pylori damages the mucus membrane lining the stomach, which allows stomach acid to leak into the sensitive stomach wall. The mixture of stomach acid and bacteria cause an irritation that leads to an ulcer. Not everyone who's infected with H. pylori will develop an ulcer, however, since the presence of additional factors also plays a role.
NSAIDs
Certain medications can damage the lining of the stomach and allow an ulcer to form. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, abbreviated as NSAIDs, are a class of medications used to treat fever, pain and inflammation, and include over-the-counter medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen. Prescription NSAIDs, such as diclofenac, suldinac and celecoxib, treat chronic conditions like arthritis. Although not all patients taking NSAIDs will develop an ulcer, those who regularly take these drugs are five times more likely to develop an ulcer than those who do not, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse.
Smoking
Although smoking alone may not be enough to cause an ulcer, the University of Maryland Medical Center indicates that research confirms that those who smoke are more likely to develop an ulcer. For those taking prescription NSAIDs for a chronic condition, smoking increases the likelihood of an ulcer forming. Smoking also slows the healing process of present ulcers and contributes to the recurrence of ulcers.
Caffeine
Caffeine stimulates the production of stomach acid. Ingesting too much caffeine can therefore contribute to the formation of an ulcer.
Stress
Prior to the discovery that H. pylori bacteria cause most ulcers, doctors believed that stress caused ulcers. Although emotional stress can increase stomach acid production, stress alone rarely causes an ulcer.
