MerckSource received the 2006 WebAward for Outstanding Website Development from the Web Marketing Association at the annual WebAward competition.
MerckSource was honored at the Healthcare Internet Conference in Atlanta, receiving the 2006 Gold eHealthcare Leadership Award for best health/healthcare content.
MerckSource received the 2006 WWW site Award of Excellence from the Health Improvement Institute. This award honors excellence in health communications.
A peptic ulcer is a sore or erosion on the lining of the stomach or duodenum. Peptic ulcers occur when stomach acid and digestive juices eat away this protective lining. The incidence of peptic ulcer disease is greater among people who test positive for the presence of Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) bacteria in the stomach.
Show Full Description
Peptic ulcer is the term for the development of an ulcer, or sore, on the mucosal lining of the stomach or duodenum--the first few inches of the small intestine just below the stomach. The cells lining the stomach secrete mucus, which coats the stomach lining to protect it from being damaged by digestive acids and enzymes. Any disruption of this layer of mucus can result in damage and development of a stomach ulcer.
Peptic ulcers occur when stomach acid and digestive juices eat away the lining of the stomach or duodenum. A peptic ulcer of the upper curve of the stomach is called a gastric ulcer; a peptic ulcer of the duodenum (the first part of the small intestine just below the stomach) is called a duodenal ulcer. Duodenal ulcers are the most common type of peptic ulcer.
The presence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacteria in the stomach is one of the most common causes of peptic ulcers. Infection with H. pylori bacteria is often contracted during childhood. Because H. pylori grows only in the intestines and weakens the protective coating of the stomach and duodenum, it plays a large role in the incidence of peptic ulcer disease. Smoking and excessive alcohol intake can also be associated with peptic ulcers. Rarely, some cancers cause peptic ulcers.
Peptic ulcers often improve and recur, causing periods of pain and then relief. Common symptoms of a peptic ulcer include pain, which is characterized as gnawing, burning, aching, and soreness; the pain is usually located in the upper abdomen or behind the chest bone. Other symptoms include hunger and an empty feeling, indigestion, nausea, vomiting, belching, or loss of appetite. Increased stomach acid typically increases symptoms of peptic ulcer. As eating a meal stimulates acid secretion by the stomach, peptic ulcer symptoms, particularly from gastric ulcers, often 'act up' after eating. However, pain from a duodenal ulcer may be relieved by eating. Gastrointestinal bleeding ("internal bleeding") can complicate both types of peptic ulcers. Any symptoms suggestive of peptic ulcer disease should be evaluated by a physician.
The information provided in the Peptic Ulcer Condition Guide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. A licensed healthcare professional should be consulted for diagnosis of peptic/duodenal or gastric ulcers and treatment of any and all medical conditions.
Stay up-to-date on this condition Register now to receive a periodic Source Report newsletter on Digestive Disorders.
The information provided is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. A licensed healthcare professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.
FDA Urges More Caution Over Tnf Blocker Infections Reuters Health - September 04, 2008 WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. health regulators ordered stronger warnings for prescription drugs to treat rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease and other conditions on Thursday after dozens of patients contracted severe fungal infections and died....
Inflammatory Bowel Disease Linked to Depression Reuters Health - September 04, 2008 NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Rates of depression, and possibly some types of anxiety disorder, are high among people with inflammatory bowel disease or IBD -- conditions such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis -- Canadian researchers report....
Gastric Bypass Anatomy Leads to Diabetes Control Reuters Health - September 02, 2008 NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The rapid and substantial control of diabetes seen after gastric bypass surgery is due, at least in part, to the intestinal rearrangement involved in the procedure, the results of an animal study suggest....
