The secret behind stomach pain: How much do you know about peptic ulcer?

Stomach pain, this seemingly simple symptom, may hide many complex medical problems. Among them, peptic ulcer, as one of the common causes of stomach pain, has always attracted much attention. So, what exactly is peptic ulcer? What are its symptoms, causes and treatments? Today, let us unveil the mystery of peptic ulcer and explore the secrets behind stomach pain.

1. Overview of peptic ulcer

Peptic ulcer, or ulcer for short, mainly refers to chronic ulcers that occur in the stomach and duodenum. It is a common disease. There are various factors that cause ulcers, among which the digestive effect of acidic gastric juice on the mucosa is the basic factor in the formation of ulcers, hence the name. Any part that is contacted by acidic gastric juice, such as the lower esophagus, anastomosis after gastrointestinal anastomosis, jejunum, and Meckel's diverticulum with ectopic gastric mucosa. Most ulcers occur in the duodenum and stomach, so they are also called gastric and duodenal ulcers.

2. Symptoms of peptic ulcer

Typical symptoms of peptic ulcer mainly include upper abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, belching, acid reflux, etc. Among them, upper abdominal pain is the most common symptom. The pain is mostly dull, burning or hunger-like, generally mild and tolerable. Continuous severe pain indicates ulcer penetration or perforation. The pain often has the following characteristics:

Chronic course: The disease history can last from several years to several decades;

Periodic attacks: Attacks alternate with spontaneous remissions. The attack period can last for weeks or months. The remission period also varies in length, from a few weeks to several years. Attacks are often seasonal, mostly occurring in autumn and winter or at the turn of winter and spring. They can be triggered by bad mood or overwork.

Rhythmic upper abdominal pain: manifested as postprandial pain (gastric ulcer) and hunger pain (duodenal ulcer) or night pain.

In addition to typical symptoms, peptic ulcer may also cause some complications, such as bleeding, perforation, pyloric obstruction and cancer, etc. The occurrence of these complications is often related to factors such as the severity of the ulcer and whether the treatment is timely.

3. Causes of peptic ulcer

The causes of peptic ulcer are complex and diverse, mainly including the following aspects:

Helicobacter pylori infection: Helicobacter pylori is one of the important causes of peptic ulcer. This bacterium can destroy the protective barrier of the gastric mucosa, causing gastric acid and pepsin to damage the gastric mucosa, thus causing ulcers.

Excessive secretion of gastric acid and pepsin: Gastric acid and pepsin are important substances for digesting food, but when they are secreted excessively, they can damage the gastric mucosa and lead to ulcer formation.

Drug factors: Long-term use of certain drugs, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, glucocorticoids, etc., may damage the gastric mucosa and increase the risk of ulcers.

Bad living habits: irregular diet, overeating, excessive drinking, smoking, etc. may cause damage to the gastric mucosa and induce ulcers.

4. Diagnosis of peptic ulcer

The diagnosis of peptic ulcer is mainly based on the patient's medical history, symptoms, signs and auxiliary examination results. Common auxiliary examination methods include gastroscopy, X-ray barium meal examination, Helicobacter pylori detection, etc. Among them, gastroscopy is the most intuitive and accurate method for diagnosing peptic ulcer, which can directly observe the shape, size, location and complications of the ulcer.

5. Treatment of peptic ulcer

The treatment of peptic ulcer mainly includes drug therapy, endoscopic therapy and surgical treatment. Drug therapy is the first choice for the treatment of peptic ulcer, mainly including drugs that inhibit gastric acid secretion, drugs that protect gastric mucosa and drugs that eradicate Helicobacter pylori. Endoscopic therapy is mainly used to treat some special types of ulcers or complications, such as hemostasis, dilation and stricture. Surgical treatment is suitable for some severe or complicated ulcer cases, such as heavy bleeding, perforation, canceration, etc.

During the treatment process, patients should also pay attention to adjusting their living habits and dietary structure, avoid excessive fatigue and mental stress, and maintain a happy mood; meals should be eaten at regular times and in fixed quantities, and overeating and excessive drinking should be avoided; quit smoking and limit alcohol consumption to reduce irritation to the gastric mucosa.

6. Prevention of peptic ulcer

The key to preventing peptic ulcers is to eliminate the causes and avoid the triggers. First, maintain a good living habit and diet structure, avoid overwork and mental stress; second, pay attention to dietary hygiene and avoid infection with Helicobacter pylori; in addition, avoid taking drugs that are harmful to the gastric mucosa for a long time. If you really need to take them, you should use them under the guidance of a doctor; finally, for patients who already have peptic ulcers, they should actively treat and regularly review to prevent recurrence or complications.

VII. Daily care for patients with peptic ulcer

For patients with peptic ulcers, in addition to actively cooperating with the doctor's treatment plan, daily care is equally important. Good care can not only promote the healing of ulcers, but also reduce the risk of recurrence. Here are some suggestions:

Diet adjustment: Patients should choose easily digestible and nutritious foods, such as lean meat, fish, eggs, milk, etc. At the same time, eat more fresh vegetables and fruits to supplement vitamins and minerals. Avoid spicy, greasy, raw, cold, and irritating foods to avoid aggravating gastric mucosal damage.

Regular work and rest: Get enough sleep, avoid staying up late and overwork. Arrange work and rest time reasonably, and avoid being in a state of tension for a long time.

Appropriate exercise: moderate exercise can help improve physical fitness, promote gastrointestinal motility, and relieve indigestion symptoms. However, it should be noted that the intensity of exercise should not be too high to avoid burdening the body.

Psychological adjustment: Patients with peptic ulcers often have negative emotions such as anxiety and depression. Therefore, patients should learn to adjust their mentality and maintain a positive and optimistic attitude towards life. They can relieve psychological pressure by communicating with family and friends, participating in interest groups, etc.

Regular check-ups: Patients should follow the doctor's advice and have regular check-ups so that the doctor can keep up with any changes in the condition and adjust the treatment plan. If there are any changes in the condition or worsening of symptoms, seek medical attention immediately.

8. TCM Treatment for Peptic Ulcer

TCM believes that the occurrence of peptic ulcer is related to factors such as spleen and stomach weakness, qi stagnation and blood stasis. Therefore, during the treatment process, TCM emphasizes regulating the spleen and stomach, soothing the liver and regulating qi. Patients can choose appropriate Chinese medicine for conditioning according to their personal constitution and condition. At the same time, TCM also advocates the use of acupuncture, massage and other therapies to improve gastrointestinal function and promote ulcer healing.

Conclusion

In short, peptic ulcer is a common cause of stomach pain, with various symptoms and easy to relapse. Understanding the cause, diagnosis, treatment, prevention and care methods of peptic ulcer is of great significance to maintaining our gastrointestinal health. In daily life, we should pay attention to our physical condition, detect and treat peptic ulcer in time, so as not to bring unnecessary troubles to our lives. At the same time, we should also maintain good living habits and dietary structure to prevent the occurrence of peptic ulcer.

Author: Wu Haiqun, Jieyang Huilai County People's Hospital