Peptic Ulcers Explained
A peptic ulcer is a condition is which a lesion or open sore develops within
the stomach lining because the natural protective lining of the digestive tract has been broken down.
A stomach ulcer is a very well know term that most of us have heard of. Contrary to popular belief it is not spicy food that actually causes the peptic ulcer, rather the condition is brought on by a particular type of bacteria.
Peptic ulcers gain momentum in you digestive tract primarily due to an insufficient supply or production of mucus. Mucus is your body’s natural coating of your its tissue that offers protection. Also, your body may not be producing natural bicarbonates that are chemically the opposite of acid (in this case your natural stomach acids) that help neutralize the effects of your natural stomach acids.
When these natural defenses fall short, the acid that your stomach naturally uses in the digestive process will become an irritant to the tissue of your stomach and/or digestive tract and ultimately can lead to sores or small openings developing. It is the development of these sores or openings that radiate the stomach pain.
The physical location of the (peptic) sore itself determines the actual definition assigned (whether in the stomach, the small intestine, or the esophagus), but it is an ulcer nonetheless.
The leading medical cause of this ulcer is from a bacterium called Heliobacter Pylori. This particular bacteria works to weaken the stomach’s natural defenses and as such allows the natural stomach acid to come in contact with the digestive walls that will eventually work to cause the damage to the soft tissue.
For your body, gastric acids and pepsin are necessary in the digestive process. However, as you can imagine (or have experienced) an over production of these fluids can cause the damages known better as ulcers.
Anyone who has experienced the pain of an ulcer is quite familiar with the ‘burning’ sensation associated with an ulcer. You may have initially associated the cause of the ulcer with foods that you ate, but in reality it is the food that you consume that naturally triggers your digestive acids, which in turn (not so gently) reminds you that there is an open sore in your digestive tract.
Research has shown that people who smoke and/or consume alcohol increase their risk of developing peptic ulcers because of the increased production of digestive acids that are associated with these lifestyle activities.
Remember that a peptic ulcer is a sore of wound to your digestive system and should not be left untreated or ineffectively treated, as serious complication can develop as a result.
If you are feeling persistent pain and burning sensations in your digestive tract particularly after eating, or perhaps you’ve noticed these symptoms after as a result of being on some type of medication, you should consult with your doctor for a complete examination and diagnosis that in most cases can lead to an effective treatment.
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