{"id":1044,"date":"2017-07-17T08:40:19","date_gmt":"2017-07-17T08:40:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/?p=1044"},"modified":"2021-05-13T18:48:33","modified_gmt":"2021-05-13T18:48:33","slug":"16-common-symptoms-ulcer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/16-common-symptoms-ulcer\/","title":{"rendered":"16 Most Common Symptoms of an Ulcer"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Certain conditions cannot be seen and this of course makes them significantly more difficult to spot and diagnose. While your body might be telling you that something is wrong, many conditions have similar symptoms and often it\u2019s very difficult to pinpoint the cause to the right thing.<\/p>\n

Such is the case with stomach ulcers which cannot be seen but certainly allow themselves to be known. The difficulty is knowing whether you have a stomach ulcer or another kind of stomach upset \u2013 and then taking the necessary steps to treat the problem.<\/p>\n

Stomach ulcers are a type of sore that will form inside the stomach lining or sometimes in the small intestine. Specifically, stomach ulcers occur when the thick mucus layer that protects the stomach from its own digestive juices is reduced. This then causes those same juices to burn away at the tissues lining the stomach and the reaction is the angry and painful ulcer.<\/p>\n

As for what causes the mucus layer to become reduced, this can boil down to a number of causes \u2013 ranging from bacterial infections (commonly helicobacter pylori) and excess acid in the stomach. Smoking and stress make matters worse, as do some other medical conditions such as Zollinger-Ellison.<\/p>\n

Of course, the discomfort could be caused by a number of other factors however. Perhaps you have acid reflex? Maybe it\u2019s a stomach infection?<\/p>\n

The good news is that stomach ulcers are easy to treat and cure. The problem is that if they go untreated, they can become more severe. For these reasons, it\u2019s important to learn how to identify the symptoms of a stomach ulcer and to differentiate them from other potential causes of discomfort.<\/p>\n

Here are some of the symptoms you should be on the look-out for\u2026<\/p>\n

1. \u00a0Pain<\/h3>\n

The most common symptom of a stomach ulcer is the pain that it causes. This tends to specifically be felt as a kind of burning sensation<\/a> that will usually be located somewhere between the chest and the belly button.<\/p>\n

This is one symptom that might appear similar to indigestion but the difference is partly that it tends to be a little lower and also that the pain is generally worse when the stomach is empty. It will often come on in waves and can last from a few minutes to several hours.<\/p>\n

\"\"2. \u00a0Dull Ache<\/h3>\n

While the burning sensation is one kind of pain that can be caused by ulcers, another is a duller ache. This is felt in the stomach and is caused generally by the irritation and swelling<\/a> that surrounds the ulcer.<\/p>\n

You again might find that this is worse at certain times, such as when you have just eaten or when the stomach is empty and thus there is less in between the ulcer and the stomach acids.<\/p>\n

\"\"3. \u00a0Loss of Appetite<\/h3>\n

One of the common symptoms is a loss of appetite<\/a>. This can have a number of causes and as such might point to a number of different illnesses and conditions. However, it will regularly occur alongside a stomach ulcer simply because the condition can make it painful and difficult to eat.<\/p>\n

If you notice that you don\u2019t want to eat and that eating itself becomes painful, then you might consider several factors. If it occurs alongside other items on this list, then an ulcer becomes an increasingly likely culprit.<\/p>\n

\"\"4. \u00a0Bloating<\/h3>\n

You might find that you feel generally \u2018bloated<\/a>\u2019 while you have a stomach ulcer. It\u2019s common to feel bloated after drinking too much fluid or eating a large meal, but you can feel a similar sensation when you have an ulcer which is sending confused signals to the brain. This can contribute to the general loss of appetite and make you feel uncomfortable.<\/p>\n

There are many other causes for bloating to consider too however. One common one is a food sensitivity\/intolerance.<\/p>\n

Commonly, lactose intolerance is known to cause bloating as the lactose isn\u2019t broken down and then sits around in the digestive tract releasing gasses as it decomposes.<\/p>\n

\"\"5. \u00a0Acid Reflux<\/h3>\n

You might notice that you have acid reflux<\/a> symptoms if you are experiencing an ulcer. This will cause the stomach acids to enter the esophageal sphincter that normally closes off the entrance to the food pipe. When this happens, it can cause a burning sensation and great discomfort. In some cases, food might also travel up the wrong way.<\/p>\n

Many other things can also cause acid reflux, including stomach infections and simply eating too quickly or not efficiently chewing your food.<\/p>\n

To treat the reflux in the short term, try drinking plenty of water and taking antacids to help neutralize the acid that has made its way into the food pipe.<\/p>\n

\"\"6. \u00a0Burping<\/h3>\n

You might also find that you burp more if you have a stomach ulcer. This may be caused by the body misreading the signals from the ulcer as signs that you have trapped gas<\/a>. It can also be a side effect of acid reflux and bloating.<\/p>\n

In general, you might feel like there is something in your stomach that shouldn\u2019t be there and you might then find yourself retching, burping and struggling to eat.<\/p>\n

\"\"7. \u00a0Vomiting<\/h3>\n

Of course, it follows that all this can also cause vomiting<\/a> and you might find yourself regurgitating food and struggling to keep things down. This can also cause further pain as the vomit passes through the esophagus and over the ulcer and it can make it harder still to eat and to keep food down.<\/p>\n

There are many causes for vomiting and nearly any stomach infection can cause these kinds of symptoms. However, no matter what the cause is, it\u2019s important that you visit your physician and have it looked into, as constant vomiting can be very hard on the body and actually damage the throat even.<\/p>\n

\"\"8. \u00a0Weight Loss<\/h3>\n

All these symptoms combined might lead to rapid weight loss<\/a>. This is caused by the lack of appetite and by the inability to keep food down. Combine that with general illness and you might find that you seem to grow rapidly much thinner.<\/p>\n

Again, there are many different causes and you might even consider this a good thing at first! But if this is rapid and unusual, then it likely points to a problem so speak with a doctor soon.<\/p>\n

\"\"9. \u00a0Pain Improves During Certain Activities<\/h3>\n

As mentioned, many of these symptoms can also point to a host of other conditions ranging from general indigestion, to stomach infections and even some forms of cancer.<\/p>\n

This is why you need to look at all the different signs and consider all the information available to you. For instance, you may find that the pain actually gets better during certain activities.<\/p>\n

In particular, a stomach ulcer will likely subside somewhat when you eat or when you drink and might also be helped by antacids<\/a>. All of these provide more barrier and protection from the stomach acids that can irritate and exacerbate the ulcer.<\/p>\n

\"\"10. \u00a0Fever<\/h3>\n

A stomach ulcer does not cause a fever<\/a> itself, however it might lead to a fever if the ulcer was caused by an infection or if the ulcer should happen to become infected. In either scenario, this can then cause a number of other symptoms which might include a high temperature.<\/p>\n

This is not a bad thing in itself unless the temperature gets too high. It\u2019s important to make sure that you keep drinking plenty of water however to avoid dehydration and to cool the body where possible.<\/p>\n

It can also be helpful to keep the immediate environment cool.<\/p>\n

\"\"11. \u00a0Bleeding When Vomiting<\/h3>\n

Of course, it is possible that a stomach ulcer can get damaged and this can cause it to bleed, just like you might sometimes accidentally bite down on a mouth ulcer and cause that to bleed<\/a> \u2013 we\u2019ve all been there!<\/p>\n

We also have already seen that vomiting can be painful as the bile damages the ulcer on the way out and so of course it should come as no surprise that this might cause the appearance of blood in the vomit.<\/p>\n

\"\"12. \u00a0Darker Stool<\/h3>\n

It\u2019s also possible that this blood and pus<\/a> caused by the ulcer might cause changes in the stool. This can also be caused by changes to stomach acids, as well as changes to the diet.<\/p>\n

If blood is bright red in the stool, this suggests it came from an external source such as hemorrhoids. If the blood is darker, then this suggests the source was internal and that it might have come from the stomach. While this might be worrying, it\u2019s useful to remember that this could have relatively harmless causes \u2013 such as an ulcer.<\/p>\n

\"\"13. \u00a0Difficulty Sleeping<\/h3>\n

The pain, bloating and vomiting can all make it very difficult to sleep if you have a stomach ulcer. This in turn causes more tiredness<\/a>, which might also make it more difficult for the body to stay healthy and prevent an infection.<\/p>\n

If you struggle to sleep when you have a stomach ulcer, then take measures to try and ease the discomfort just prior to going to bed. Drink water and take antacids and try eating something dry and plain such as bread.<\/p>\n

\"\"14. \u00a0Perforation of Organs<\/h3>\n

In rare cases, a stomach ulcer might lead to perforation of the organ lining. This is a potentially life-threatening condition and it will require urgent surgery<\/a> that will repair the openings in the lining of the GI tract.<\/p>\n

This is another reason it is so important to learn to identify the signs and symptoms of an ulcer and to act quickly if you think you do notice them. If the condition worsens, then see a doctor immediately.<\/p>\n

\"\"15. \u00a0Dehydration<\/h3>\n

Dehydration<\/a> can occur as a result of changes to the diet, as well as vomiting and more. All this can leave you not only dehydrated but also weakened and fatigued.<\/p>\n

While the ulcer itself might seem to be a relatively simple and straightforward problem, the position that it is in can lead to a range of other problems as it interrupts with your usual digestion and appetite.<\/p>\n

\"\"16. \u00a0General Malaise and Other Symptoms<\/h3>\n

Finally, all these symptoms can cause a general weakness<\/a>. As mentioned, it is possible to experience a fever with a stomach ulcer and especially where a bacterial infection is also present.<\/p>\n

This can then cause muscle ache and tiredness. At the same time, you are likely to feel weaker and more tired from changes in the diet and from the physical strain of reflux.<\/p>\n

Other symptoms can also occur, such as headache and brain fog and in 35% of cases, there will be further complications. Treatment will usually involve a medication designed to lower stomach acid and if you combine this with the right diet, then you should notice the symptoms begin to subside in around 2-3 weeks.<\/p>\n\r\n

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