Symptoms of peptic ulcers

Written by Jiang Guo Ming
Gastroenterology
Updated on September 24, 2024
00:00
00:00

Upper abdominal pain is a symptom common to peptic ulcers, including dull, mild, or bloating pain, which is generally tolerable and varies in characteristics. For instance, the pain from a gastric ulcer is usually located in the upper abdomen, predominantly on the upper left side, and sometimes extends to the lower abdomen. It typically occurs about half an hour to an hour after meals and gradually eases after two to three hours. For duodenal bulb ulcers, the pain is generally around two fingers to the right of the belly button. It often presents as hunger-like pain in the upper abdomen, accompanied by nighttime pain. If it is a post-bulbar ulcer, it often causes back pain. Complex ulcers may exhibit characteristics of both types. Additionally, ulcers are generally associated with excessive stomach acid, leading to symptoms like acid reflux, heartburn, and abdominal bloating. If there is bleeding, it is often accompanied by black stools or even vomiting blood.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Jiang Guo Ming
Gastroenterology
57sec home-news-image

Clinical characteristics of peptic ulcer

Peptic ulcer is a common and frequently occurring upper gastrointestinal disease. The most likely cause may be infection by Helicobacter pylori, with other potential causes including irritation from smoking and alcohol, poor dietary and living habits, severe psychological stress, or medications, among others. The primary change is usually an excessive secretion of gastric acid, which irritates the gastric mucosa leading to self-digestion and the appearance of gastric or duodenal erosion and ulcers. Clinically, it often presents as long-term, periodic, rhythmic upper abdominal pain, which may be located in the upper left abdomen or slightly right of the navel, and is often accompanied by regurgitation, belching, acid reflux, nausea, etc. If there is ulcer bleeding, it often presents as black stools or even vomiting blood, among other symptoms.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Jiang Guo Ming
Gastroenterology
53sec home-news-image

Peptic ulcer clinical symptoms

Helicobacter pylori infection is considered the primary cause of peptic ulcers, often leading to excess stomach acid, abnormal gastric motility, and other symptoms. Excess stomach acid can cause acid reflux, heartburn, and a burning sensation, while abnormal gastric motility may lead to nausea, belching, and even vomiting and bloating, with stomach acid irritation likely causing upper abdominal pain. Gastric ulcer pain is generally located in the upper left abdomen or below the sternum, typically presenting as postprandial pain. Duodenal bulb ulcers generally cause pain to the upper right of the navel, typically fasting pain that eases upon eating, sometimes accompanied by menstrual-like pain, with pain from ulcers behind the bulb potentially radiating to the back.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Jiang Guo Ming
Gastroenterology
49sec home-news-image

Asymptomatic peptic ulcer

Peptic ulcers typically include duodenal bulb ulcers and gastric ulcers. They more or less have typical related symptoms, such as long-term, recurrent, regular upper abdominal pain related to eating, along with symptoms like acid reflux. Diagnosis can be confirmed through gastroscopy. A small portion of patients, especially middle-aged and elderly patients with a history of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, often take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) year-round. This situation can easily lead to the occurrence of acute gastric mucosal lesions and often results in asymptomatic gastric ulcers. Many patients present with symptoms like vomiting blood and black stools when they seek medical advice.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Jiang Guo Ming
Gastroenterology
46sec home-news-image

Can people with peptic ulcers exercise?

The primary cause of peptic ulcers is usually Helicobacter pylori infection, though other factors can also trigger the onset of peptic ulcers, such as tobacco and alcohol irritation, poor dietary habits, and emotional issues. Additionally, excessive fatigue is also one of the causes that can trigger or cause a recurrence of peptic ulcers. Therefore, whether or not a person with peptic ulcers can exercise depends on the specific condition of the illness. If it is an acute active phase or a subacute peptic ulcer that has not fully healed, strict rest is necessary in such cases. If a gastroscopy shows that the ulcer has completely healed, moderate and light activities are permissible, but excessive fatigue should still be avoided.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Jiang Guo Ming
Gastroenterology
51sec home-news-image

Etiology of Peptic Ulcer

Peptic ulcers include gastric ulcers, duodenal bulb ulcers, complex ulcers, and so on. It is currently believed that about 80% of peptic ulcers are related to infection with Helicobacter pylori. Additionally, poor dietary and living habits are closely linked to the formation of peptic ulcers, such as excessive smoking and drinking, overeating cold, greasy, spicy, and irritating foods, as well as strong tea, coffee, etc. Moreover, many medications can cause damage to the gastric mucosa, leading to gastric ulcers, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Furthermore, emotional excitement and major trauma and other stress responses can also lead to acute gastric mucosal lesions, resulting in peptic ulcers.