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Monday, March 16, 2009

What is Peptic Ulcer Disease?

By Katie A. Price

When you have peptic ulcer disease, the linings of your stomach called mucus layers are disrupted due to the increased acidity in the stomach. A peptic ulcer disease can show no symptoms in the beginning when the condition is not yet grave or the disruptions are not yet deep. Peptic ulcer disease is said to be idiopathic but a lot of experts would associate it to many predisposing factors. Helicobacter Pylori, a bacterium found in the stomach is also believed to contribute to the occurrence of peptic ulcer disease.

Peptic ulcer disease occurs when there is a significant increase in the amount of acid in the stomach. This acid is specifically hydrochloric acid. Hydrochloric acid, if excessive in amount, will cause an irritability in the mucus layers that lines the stomach. When the mucous layer can no longer tolerate the excessive amounts of acid in the stomach, the protective layer will be destroyed causing ulcerations in the stomach lining.

A person with peptic ulcer disease will experience a sharp gnawing pain in the epigastric area of the abdomen. This pain is experienced every after eating and is not relieved by food intake, when it is gastric in origin. There are a lot of predisposing factors for the occurrence of peptic ulcer disease, and one of them is stress.

Increased gastric motility is present in people who are stressed out because the body tends to relax to compensate for the fatigue that it is experiencing. When a person is in a relaxed state, there is an increased movement of gastric contents or the food that was previously ingested. To complete the process of digestion, hydrochloric acid is secreted in the stomach so that the foods are broken down into nutrients needed by the body.

Aside from stress, people who are fond of drinking alcohol and cigarette smoking have greater chances of developing peptic ulcer. This happens because nicotine from cigarette smoking is a stimulant and vasoconstrictor. Stimulants are known to activate the parasympathetic nervous system that causes increased gastric motility. Alcohol is an irritant and causes further irritability in the linings of the stomach. Vasoconstrictors such as alcohol and nicotine cause the constriction of blood vessels that could also cause increased gastric motility.

Aside from alcohol and smoking, another factor for peptic ulcer disease is caffeine. Coffee drinkers who drink excessive amounts of coffee per day are also at risk for developing peptic ulcer. This happens because caffeine is also a stimulant and a vasoconstrictor just like nicotine in cigarettes. Coffee should also be not taken as a replacement for a meal.

Symptoms of peptic ulcer would include nausea, vomiting, and gnawing pain that is not relieved by eating. For more advanced ulcers, it can cause bleeding. Vomiting of blood is very typical and also the presence of blood in the stools. Patients with peptic ulcer are also exhibiting feelings of tiredness and weakness.

In order to prevent the chances of developing peptic ulcer disease, a person should take necessary precautions and some lifestyle modifications. If a peptic ulcer becomes progressive, it can lead to bleeding ulcers. These ulcers could cause internal hemorrhage which is very harmful if no prompt medical attention is given. Peptic ulcers can also lead to serious illnesses such as gastric cancer. - 17273

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