Gastric Ulcer

A Gastric Ulcer, also called a stomach ulcer, is a raw, eroded area in the lining of the stomach.

A gastric ulcer develops when stomach acids and digestive juices injure the stomach's lining of protective mucus. Gastric ulcers, most commonly, are caused by the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen. Aspirin is the NSAID most likely to cause ulcers.

Gastric ulcers may also develop from the presence of bacteria called Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), decreased resistance of the lining of the stomach to gastric acids, increased production of gastric acids and infection, certain types of medication, and disorders that cause over secretion of stomach juices. Ulcer can also be caused by the use of tobacco, alcohol, and caffeine.

The symptoms of gastric ulcers include indigestion and heartburn in the middle of the upper abdomen, nausea and loss of appetite, weight loss and repeated episodes of gastrointestinal bleeding. About 30% of patients with gastric ulcers are awakened by pain at night. Many patients have periods of chronic ulcer pain alternating with symptom-free periods that last for several weeks or months. The pain may be relieved by eating or taking antacids, and may get worse a couple of hours after meals or before meals.

If the gastric ulcer is bleeding, the patient may vomit bright red blood or digested blood that looks like brown coffee grounds and have black, tarry bowel movements.


[External Links]
Information on gastric ulcer from an educational site
Information on gastric ulcer from Medline Plus
Information on gastric ulcer from foundationsurgery.com
Information complete with Radiographic images from emedicine.medscape.com
Endoscopy of two giant gastric ulcers from youtube.com