Ulcers are open sores in your digestive tract, most commonly in the stomach and small intestine, but also sometimes in the esophagus. They are often caused by H. pylori bacteria, although not all people infected with this bacteria develop ulcers. People with ulcers experience a variety of symptoms, which can include weight loss.
Ulcers and Weight Loss
Ulcers can cause you to feel worse after eating or drinking, make you feel full faster when you are eating and make you vomit or feel nauseous, all of which can lead to weight loss. Treating your ulcers will get rid of these symptoms and stop the weight loss they cause.
Signs of a Serious Problem
If you keep losing weight after you start treating your ulcers, or if you vomit blood, have sudden pains in your stomach that reach your back, have blood in your stools or feel very weak or dizzy, and your medication does not help your symptoms, your ulcers may have caused your stomach to become blocked or may have perforated your stomach. Contact your doctor right away, as these are serious problems.
Treatment
Ulcers are usually treated with a combination of antibiotics to kill the H. pylori bacteria and antacids to lower the amount of acid your stomach produces. Lowering the amount of acid in your stomach helps the ulcers to heal, since the acid can irritate your ulcers. Sometimes doctors also prescribe Pepto-Bismol to coat your stomach and further limit irritation of your ulcers.
Considerations
Speak with your doctor if you suspect you have ulcers, as you cannot treat them on your own. Although antacids may help with the pain, they do not get rid of the cause of the ulcers, the H. pylori bacteria. Another common home remedy, milk, actually increases stomach acid and makes ulcers worse, although initially it may make them feel better.
Member Comments