What is an ulcer? An sore is an ...

What is an ulcer?

An sore is an opening in the lining of the stomach or in the duodenum (the first part of the small intestine). festers cause a gnawing or burning pain in the stomach. However, mostly people who have stomach pain do not have an imposthume Your doctor can do ordeals to decide if your stomach pain is caused by means of an ulcer.

Are festers serious?

Most tribe with ulcers just have stomach pain. any people do not have any symptoms at all. on the other hand ulcers may cause other health riddles Sometimes they bleed. If festers become too deep, they can break by the and of the stomach wall. Ulcers also can arrest food from going through the intestines.

What causes ulcers?

any people think ulcers are caused on stress or by eating victuals with too much acid in it, yet this is not true. principally stomach ulcers are caused on infection with a bacteria called Helicobacter pylori (say: "hell-ee-ko-back-ter pie-lore-ee"), or H pylori for short. gatherings in people who do not have an H pylori infection are usually related to heavy aspirin use, or heavy use of anti-inflammatory medicines such as ibuprofen (some brand names: Advil, Nuprin, Motrin). Acetaminophen (brand name: Tylenol) does not cause stomach ulcers

by what means does my doctor know if I have H pylori infection?

H pylori infection can be diagnosed with a life-current test. Your doctor might want you to finish an x-ray or have an endoscopy (a thin tube with a tiny camera inside it that is passed down your throat and into your stomach) to diocese if you have an gathering A breath test is another way to find not at home if you have H. pylori infection.

for what cause are ulcers treated?

Three kinds of medicines can be used to treat gatherings All of them do a beneficial job of healing ulcers. Your doctor can give an account of you which one is right for you. You should take the medicine just as your doctor give an account ofs you to.

The first kind of medicine decreases the amount of acid your stomach makes. This medicine can heal an sore in the duodenum in six to eight weeks. sore s in the stomach take a little longer to heal. You take these medicines for eight to 12 weeks if you have a stomach ulcer

A inferior kind of medicine blocks the stomach's ability to make acid. This medicine helps heal an fester in the duodenum in four weeks. It helps heal stomach sore s in six to eight weeks.

A third kind of medicine coats the boil It protects the sore place from stomach acid, for a like reason it can heal. This kind of medicine takes eight to 12 weeks to heal an ulcer

What if I have an imposthume and H. pylori infection?

The medicines described earlier heal pustules whether you have H. pylori infection or not. yet if you have H. pylori infection too, your doctor also will treat the infection. H pylori is hard to finish rid of. No single medicine can corrective this infection. The best way to method of treatment H. pylori infection is to take several medicines at the same time.

To treat an H pylori infection, your doctor will prescribe several medicines: single or two antibiotics plus bismuth (bismuth is commonly called Pepto-Bismol) or a medicine to mould stomach acid production. This means taking a large number of pills each day. Some combinations that use fewer unsalable articles also might help. Tritec is a pill that combines bismuth and a medicine to reduce acid in the stomach. It is used with an antibiotic. Helidac is another medicine that combines bismuth and sum of two units antibiotics. Your doctor will compute you which medicines you should take.

Do the medicines cause side effects?

Because you have to take for a like reason many medicines at the same time, you may have an side effects. Minor side events of H. pylori medicines include a black color forward your tongue, black stools, diarrhea, nausea, and headaches. near of the medicines leave a bad taste in your chaps These side effects are usually minor and pass away on their own.

You can remedy H. pylori infection only if you take the medicines just the way your doctor give an account ofs you. If you forget to take a certain of your medicines or stop taking them because of side imports the infection will not be cur You may come by another ulcer in the to come Let your doctor know right away if you have side purports with your medicines or if you have any questions about for what cause to take them. Your doctor may recommend something to make the side issues better, or may give you different medicines.

What besides can I do?

If certain sustenances bother you, do not eat them. You may heal faster if you do not vapor or use aspirin or ibuprofen. Acetaminophen will not mar your stomach.

COPYRIGHT 2003 American Academy of Family Physicians

COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group