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.
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.
