A peptic ulcer is an open sore on the lining of the stomach, at the beginning of the small intestine, or just above the stomach in the esophagus, the tube that connects the stomach and mouth. About 500,000 Americans develop this condition each year, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. The most common cause is a bacterial infection, but the disease can also be caused by anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin and sometimes by a tumor, according to NDDIC.
Stomach Pain
The most common symptom of an ulcer is stomach pain, which can be felt anywhere between the navel and the breastbone, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. This pain can be dull or burning and tends to occur when the stomach is empty. It may flare up at night. A patient may experience temporary relief when he eats or takes antacids. The pain lasts for minutes to hours. The discomfort also comes and goes and can disappear for days or weeks before returning.
Digestive Symptoms
Other symptoms include loss of appetite and weight, bloating, belching, nausea and vomiting. Some people can live with an ulcer for a long time because their symptoms are mild. But even if symptoms are mild, peptic ulcers can get worse if left untreated, according to the NDDIC.
Emergency Symptoms
Some ulcer symptoms require immediate treatment, according to the NDDIC. These include sharp, sudden, severe stomach pain; black or bloody stool; and vomiting blood or vomit, which may look red or black like coffee grounds. These symptoms are a sign that the ulcer has started to bleed or has poked a hole through the wall of the stomach or intestine or has blocked food from leaving the stomach. These are serious problems that require emergency medical care.
Anemia
Sometimes ulcers bleed so slowly that they don't cause noticeable symptoms until a patient has a serious hemorrhage or other emergency, according to the American College of Gastroenterology. But these slow-bleeding ulcers can cause anemia from the loss of blood. The symptoms of anemia are tiredness, shortness of breath, and pale skin color.
References
- National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse: H. Pylori and Peptic Ulcers
- National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse: What I Need To Know About Peptic Ulcers
- MayoClinic.com: Peptic Ulcer
- The American College of Gastroenterology: Peptic Ulcer Disease
- American Gastroenterological Association: Understand Peptic Ulcer Disease
