What is peptic ulcers?

A peptic ulcer is a sore in the inner lining of the stomach or upper small intestine. Ulcers form when the protective layer of the intestine or stomach is broken down. When this happens, digestive juices—which contain hydrochloric acid and an enzyme called pepsin—can damage the intestine or stomach tissue.

Common symptoms of a peptic ulcer include:

• A burning, aching, or gnawing pain between the belly button (navel) and the breastbone. Some people also have back pain. The pain can last from a few minutes to a few hours. It may come and go for weeks.
• Pain that usually goes away for a while after you take an antacid or acid reducer.
• Loss of appetite and weight loss.
• Bloating or nausea after eating.

Less common symptoms include:

• Vomiting.
• Vomiting blood or material that looks like coffee grounds.
• Passing black stools that look like tar, or stools that contain dark red blood.

Different people have different symptoms.

Some ulcers don't cause symptoms. These are known as silent ulcers.

Your doctor will ask you questions about your symptoms and your general health. The doctor will do a physical exam.

Your doctor may test you for an H. pylori infection. This is done using your breath, blood, or stool.

The only way for you and your doctor to know for sure if you have an ulcer is to do an endoscopy. An endoscopy allows the doctor to look inside your esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. It's done to look for an ulcer and to test for an H. pylori infection.

You may get other tests to find problems that are caused by peptic ulcers. Tests may include blood tests or X-rays.

To treat peptic ulcers, most people need to take medicines that reduce the amount of acid in the stomach. If you have an H. pylori infection, you will also need to take antibiotics.

You can help speed the healing of your ulcer and help prevent it from coming back if you quit smoking and avoid alcohol. If you keep using medicines such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen, you may increase the chance of your ulcer coming back.

Surgery is rarely used to treat an ulcer. But if your ulcer doesn't heal, or if you have life-threatening complications, you may need surgery.

Ignoring symptoms of an ulcer isn't a good idea. An ulcer needs to be treated. While symptoms can go away for a short time, you may still have an ulcer. Left untreated, an ulcer can cause life-threatening problems. Even with treatment, some ulcers may come back and may need more treatment.

• Be safe with medicines. Take your medicines exactly as prescribed. Call your doctor if you think you are having a problem with your medicine.
• Do not take aspirin or other NSAIDs such as ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve). Ask your doctor what you can take for pain.
• If you smoke, try to quit. Smoking can make ulcers worse. If you need help quitting, talk to your doctor about stop-smoking programs and medicines. These can increase your chances of quitting for good.
• Avoid drinking alcohol as much as you can.
• Eat a balanced diet of small, frequent meals. See a dietitian if you need help planning your meals. Avoid foods that make your symptoms worse.