Learn about the diagnosis and treatment of peptic ulcers

What is a peptic ulcer?

The stomach can be divided into four areas: cardia, fundus, body, and pyloric antrum. Peptic ulcers include gastric ulcers and duodenal ulcers, of which duodenal ulcers are more common. This disease can be seen at any age and in any region, mostly between 20 and 50 years old, more often in men than in women (2-5:1). Clinically, duodenal ulcers are more common than gastric ulcers, with a ratio of about 3:1. Peptic ulcers are common and frequently occurring diseases.

Why do peptic ulcers occur?

To address this issue, we need to start from the two aspects of "cause" and "inducement":

Causes:

1. Helicobacter pylori infection. This is the main cause of peptic ulcer;

2. Drugs. Patients who take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (aspirin, pyraclostrobin, ibuprofen, headache powder, antipyretic and analgesic powder, etc.), glucocorticoids (phenylbutazone, prednisone, etc.), chemotherapy drugs, anticoagulants (clopidogrel, etc.) for a long time are more likely to develop ulcers;

3. Hereditary. Some patients with peptic ulcer have a family history of the disease, which is related to the number of parietal cells that secrete gastric acid;

4. Gastric emptying disorder: Duodenal-gastric reflux leads to gastric mucosal damage; delayed gastric emptying and prolonged retention of chyme cause continuous secretion of gastrin.

Causes:

1. Stress (such as sudden physical stimulation);

2. Long-term smoking and drinking;

3. Long-term mental stress, anxiety, staying up late, irregular living and eating habits, etc.

What are the symptoms of peptic ulcer?

"Upper abdominal pain" is the most common, which is rhythmic, cyclical and long-term. The pain is often dull pain, burning pain, bloating, hunger pain or severe pain. There are also people without pain (about 10% to 25%, especially the elderly). It may also be accompanied by increased salivation, heartburn, nausea, belching, nausea, vomiting and other symptoms.

What tests should be done for peptic ulcer?

1. Gastroscopy: the main method for diagnosing peptic ulcer;

2. X-ray barium meal examination;

3. Detection of Helicobacter pylori infection.

What are the dangers of peptic ulcer?

Peptic ulcer with bleeding, peptic ulcer with perforation, pyloric stenosis, obstruction and ulcer cancer may occur.

How to treat peptic ulcer?

Don't panic if you have peptic ulcer. You can treat it from the following aspects:

1. Drugs

1. Proton pump inhibitors: commonly used omeprazole, pantoprazole, rabeprazole, ilaprazole, etc.;

2. Gastric mucosal protective agents: aluminum carbonate magnesium chewable tablets (gel), sodium bicarbonate tablets, sucralfate tablets, etc.;

3. For regular anti-Helicobacter pylori treatment, the "quadruple therapy" (proton pump inhibitor + amoxicillin + clarithromycin + bismuth) is currently commonly used.

2. Lifestyle and diet

1. Eat regularly, don’t eat too fast, and avoid being too full or too hungry;

2. Quitting smoking and drinking is an important part of treatment;

3. Be cautious when using drugs that "hurt the stomach", such as the anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs and hormone drugs mentioned above;

4. Maintain a stable mood, relieve anxiety, stay in a good mood, and do moderate physical exercise.

3. Surgery

Surgical treatment should be considered in cases of acute ulcer perforation, cicatricial pyloric obstruction, ulcer and bleeding that have not responded to medical treatment, stubborn ulcer that does not heal repeatedly, and gastric ulcer canceration.

Tips:

Most ulcers have a good prognosis after regular clinical treatment. If you experience symptoms of "stomach disease", please seek medical attention in time. Do not believe in folk remedies or secret recipes. There is no need for preventive treatment at ordinary times.