Causes of gastric ulcer

Written by Jiang Guo Ming
Gastroenterology
Updated on September 15, 2024
00:00
00:00

It is currently believed that Helicobacter pylori infection is closely related to gastritis activity, ulcer formation, and tumors. Therefore, the main cause of gastric ulcers is the infection of Helicobacter pylori. Other factors, such as drugs, long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or steroid medications, often lead to gastric mucosal damage and result in peptic ulcers. Psychological factors, such as long-term excessive tension or high stress, often lead to peptic ulcers as well. Poor dietary and living habits, such as excessive drinking, consuming raw, irritating, greasy food, or binge eating, also promote the occurrence of peptic ulcers.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Hui Jie
Gastroenterology
1min 17sec home-news-image

Symptoms of gastric ulcer

The clinical manifestations of stomach ulcers can vary from person to person. Some patients are asymptomatic and present to the clinic due to stomach bleeding or perforation. Generally, there are three main characteristics of peptic ulcers: First, they tend to be a chronic, recurrent condition. Second, they exhibit periodicity. Third, they have rhythmic manifestations. The primary symptom is periodic, rhythmic upper abdominal pain, often described as burning, dull, or bloating pain. This usually occurs in the upper abdomen, possibly on the left or right side, and typically manifests as post-meal pain. Nighttime pain is uncommon, and there may be localized tenderness. If the ulcer occurs in the pyloric canal, it may lack some of these typical symptoms. Post-meal intense pain is possible, and the effectiveness of medication is generally poor. This condition can easily lead to vomiting or pyloric obstruction and is also prone to perforation and bleeding. A minority of stomach ulcers may potentially become cancerous.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhu Dan Hua
Gastroenterology
54sec home-news-image

Gastric ulcer clinical symptoms

Gastric ulcers are a common clinical manifestation, with diverse symptoms. Typical symptoms include abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, vomiting, or early satiety. Typically, the abdominal pain is more noticeable after eating and presents as postprandial abdominal pain, but it can naturally subside after several hours. Of course, when accompanied by complications such as decreased appetite, nausea, and vomiting, it can manifest as vomiting blood or bloody stools, with the stools often being loose and black in color. Therefore, clinically, if you encounter situations like bleeding stools or vomiting blood accompanied by abdominal pain, ulcers should be considered, and it is recommended to seek timely treatment at a local hospital. If these conditions are relatively stable, they can be managed with medication.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Jiang Guo Ming
Gastroenterology
58sec home-news-image

Is bleeding from a gastric ulcer serious?

Upper gastrointestinal bleeding is one of the common complications of peptic ulcers. If gastric ulcers cause vomiting blood, it often indicates that the bleeding is not minor and the condition is generally severe. It is usually considered that when about 250-300mL of blood accumulates in the stomach, vomiting blood may occur. Clinically, if vomiting blood occurs, it is firstly necessary to promptly hospitalize for treatment, including establishing venous access, nutritional support, and hemostatic treatment. Proton pump inhibitors or somatostatin analogs are commonly used. Additionally, if the bleeding does not stop, endoscopic treatment can be performed, such as spraying hemostatic drugs, electrocoagulation, or mechanical hemostasis. It is also necessary to monitor the patient's vital signs. If repeated bleeding occurs, a comprehensive treatment plan may be needed.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Jiang Guo Ming
Gastroenterology
1min 1sec home-news-image

Treatment of gastric ulcer with bleeding

For the treatment of gastric ulcers with bleeding, it is primarily necessary to determine the treatment plan based on the amount of bleeding. If the bleeding is minor, it can be treated with oral medication, and whether there is an infection with Helicobacter pylori must be considered. If there is an infection of Helicobacter pylori, the typical treatment is a quadruple therapy, which includes a proton pump inhibitor, two antibiotics, and a bismuth agent. If there is no Helicobacter pylori infection, symptomatic treatment is sufficient, commonly using proton pump inhibitors. If the bleeding is severe, timely hospitalization is needed. The treatment usually involves the intravenous use of proton pump inhibitors primarily, and if the medication is ineffective, endoscopic treatment might be necessary. This could include the application of hemostatic medications, electrocoagulation, or the use of titanium clips, etc. (Please use medication under the guidance of a doctor.)

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhu Dan Hua
Gastroenterology
1min 23sec home-news-image

How is a gastric ulcer diagnosed?

Gastric ulcers can generally be diagnosed through gastroscopy. They are commonly found in middle-aged and elderly patients, particularly those between the ages of 30-40. Some patients present with abdominal pain, bloating, and general discomfort, while a small number of patients might not experience abdominal pain but present with gastrointestinal bleeding, indicated by black stools or blood in stool. Therefore, if abdominal pain is suspected, it is generally recommended that patients undergo routine blood tests and gastroscopy, among other examinations. The abdominal pain from gastric ulcers usually manifests as upper abdominal pain, occurring in episodic attacks, with chronic and recurrent episodes and a long history of illness. Symptoms typically worsen after eating but may gradually alleviate on their own. Of course, taking some stomach-protecting medication can help manage the condition. A small portion of patients may also experience nausea and belching, which are nonspecific gastrointestinal symptoms. If gastric ulcers are suspected, further screening for Helicobacter pylori is usually conducted. (The use of medication should be under the guidance of a professional doctor.)