Symptoms of Peptic Ulcers

In medicine, ulcers are a common issue that can develop throughout your digestive tract. Peptic ulcers in particular are open sores that can form on the tissues lining the digestive tract, especially on the stomach, esophagus and small intestine. Depending on where the sore develops, peptic ulcers have different names — esophageal ulcers for those that form on the tissue of the esophagus, gastric ulcers for those that form inside the stomach and duodenal ulcers for those that form on the small intestine. When an ulcer forms, certain side effects occur that may result in noticeable symptoms.

One of the most common and noticeable symptoms of a peptic ulcer is abdominal pain. Pain from an ulcer takes on a burning sensation which is typically felt above the navel. This pain can be intensified during times when your stomach is empty, or sometimes after eating foods that can irritate the stomach, such as spicy foods, or beverages like alcohol or caffeinated drinks. Pain may also be worse at night before bed. Burning may be constant, or may disappear for a few hours or days, only to come back.

With severe cases, other more serious symptoms can develop. These symptoms include vomiting blood, bloody stools, nausea, changes in appetite and unexplained weight loss. If you experience any of these symptoms, see your doctor as soon as possible for both an accurate diagnosis as well as options to help treat the problem.

Treatment for your symptoms can vary depending on how severe the sore is. Over-the-counter acid blockers or antacids can provide temporary relief from pain and discomfort. However, the relief from these products is only temporary. For more permanent relief, your doctor can prescribe other medications, such as antibiotics for ulcers associated with the H. pylori bacteria. Prescription acid-blockers may also be used to help reduce stomach acid to encourage faster healing.