Gastric ulcer is one of the most common diseases affecting the gastrointestinal tract. The disease is irreversible, since it is characterized by the formation of a scar on the site of the mucosa. And he does not have a functional ability (does not secrete gastric juice) even after treatment.
What are the symptoms of an ulcer? For what reasons does it occur? How to cure an ulcer, in what ways? This and much more will now be discussed.
Pathology development
An ulcer is a defect in the gastric mucosa that is surrounded by inflammation. Certain factors provoke the formation of an imbalance between aggressors, gastric mucosa and defense (mucous-epithelial barrier, secretin, gastric mucus, bicarbonates, gastrin, etc.).
The result is always the same. Protective factors are weakened, aggressive ones are strengthened. As a result, inflammation occurs on the resistant site, the consequence of which is the defect. After treatment, it overgrows with connective tissue, and then a scar forms.
Causes
Before figuring out how to cure an ulcer, you need to discuss the reasons why it occurs. There are two of them:
- Increased acidity. It develops as a result of intense release of hydrochloric acid, which corrodes the mucous membrane of the stomach, which is why a defect forms.
- Exposure to the bacteria Helicobacter pylori. It destroys the gastric mucosa, its protection. A person is infected by it through the saliva of another patient. About 60% of people who have this bacterium in their bodies live on Earth. But not everyone is sick. Because for the development of bacteria, predisposing factors are needed. About them - further.
The provoking factors, due to which the process of ulcer development begins, include:
- Stress, neuro-emotional overstrain.
- Genetic predisposition.
- The abuse of nicotine, alcohol, caffeine.
- Chronic gastritis and other pre-ulcerative conditions.
- Failure to comply with the diet (dry man, long breaks between meals).
- Abuse of rough, spicy and sour foods.
- Long-term use of drugs that destroy the mucous membrane. These are Ibuprofen, Aspirin, Prednisolone, etc.
Manifestations of the disease
In brief, it is worth talking about the symptoms of stomach ulcers in adults. As a rule, the following manifestations indicate an ailment:
- Stitching, cutting, dull pain, which is observed in the upper abdomen, in the middle. Strengthens about an hour after eating.
- Discomfort in the left hypochondrium.
- Heartburn.
- Constipation.
- Nausea and vomiting. It usually occurs immediately after pain.
- Sour burps.
- Unreasonable weight loss.
- Constant feeling of thirst.
- Change in appetite.
- Irritability and sleep disturbance.
- Anemia.
- Slow heartbeat due to abnormalities in the parasympathetic nervous system.
Symptoms of stomach ulcers in adults can be called specific. Therefore, having noticed at least 2-3 of them, you need to urgently go to a gastroenterologist.
Drug therapy: contraindications
Of course, every person who is suspected of this disease is interested in - how can a stomach ulcer be cured? You can get acquainted with this information, but it is strongly not recommended to prescribe medications yourself. This can lead to irreparable consequences.
Here are some contraindications to drug therapy:
- Allergy to the proposed medicine (existing or transferred).
- Bleeding at the time of exacerbation of an ulcer.
- Personal susceptibility to any trace element or drug.
- Pregnancy or lactation.
- HIV infection.
- Hepatic or renal failure.
- Young age.
- Recently vaccinated against infections.
- Viral systemic diseases.
Antibacterial drugs
Now you can talk in detail about how to cure an ulcer. Combined therapy can not do without taking antimicrobials. Their task is to eliminate the notorious helicobacter pylori, which are the causative agents of ulcers.
Means are prescribed in the form of injections or tablets. The most popular are Clarithromycin, Tetracycline, and Erythromycin.
Another doctor may prescribe "Trichopolum", which provides not only antimicrobial, but also antiprotozoal effect.
It is necessary to carefully select an antibacterial medicine for an ulcer. Each drug has its own purpose. "Clarithromycin", for example, is prescribed in unreleased cases, as well as for the purpose of prevention.
Amoxicillin is considered particularly effective. This is a penicillin, which is resistant to the damaging effects of enzymes. That is why it is absorbed by the body by more than 90%.
Antacids
These drugs help to cope with any acid-dependent gastrointestinal diseases, as they neutralize hydrochloric acid, which is a component of gastric juice.
An antacid medication is a medicine for an ulcer, used as an antiseptic, or as an absorbent, enveloping agent. Each drug belonging to this subgroup performs a number of actions:
- Protects the mucosa from the effects of aggressive factors.
- Removes toxic substances.
- It softens inflammatory processes.
- Reduces the activity of enzymes and hydrochloric acid, due to which the mucous membrane corrodes.
Popular drugs include drugs like Almagel, Maalox, Fosfalugel, Gastal, and sodium bicarbonate. To improve learning, you can take "Festal".
The use of these funds is much more appropriate than the use of polysorb or activated carbon. Having greater efficiency, they sparingly affect the body.
Histamine receptor blockers
Continuing to talk about how to cure an ulcer, histamine receptor blockers need to be discussed. These are tools that are intended for acid-dependent gastrointestinal diseases.
They, like the drugs of the previous group, also reduce the production of hydrochloric acid. Only these drugs do this by blocking histamine receptors. They are antisecretory drugs.
The most popular drugs belonging to this group are:
- "Ranitidine." 2nd generation medication. Normalizes the pH level, minimizes the activity of such a digestive enzyme as pepsin. Protects the mucous membrane and inhibits the synthesis of hydrochloric acid.
- "Nizatidine." Suppresses both excess and intrinsic acid synthesis. Positive effect on pepsin activity and pH.
- "Roxatidine." In addition to the above actions, it normalizes the acid-base balance and suppresses the basal synthesis of gastric juice. The effect is noticeable only an hour after consumption.
- "Famotidine." Provides the body with reliable protection against acetylcholine, histamine, gastrin and pepsin.
- "Cimetidine." The cheapest drug listed, as it belongs to the 1st generation. He has not lost its relevance. It has the same effect as the previously mentioned drugs, but its effect passes through 6-8 hours.
Proton pump inhibitors
These drugs are also antisecretory. But they block the proton pump - N / K-ATPase. So called membrane integral protein.
And if a person has been diagnosed with gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer, he cannot do without taking these drugs. Usually prescribed medications:
- "Lansoprazole." The drug inhibits the production of hydrochloric acid immediately before its release into the gastric cavity.
- Omeprazole. It inhibits the activity of an enzyme such as H + -K + -ATPase.
- "Rabeprazole." In addition to the above actions, the notorious bacteria also destroy, because of which an ulcer forms.
- Esomeprazole. This is a dextrorotatory isomer of omeprazole, which also inhibits the synthesis of hydrochloric acid before it is released into the stomach.
It is important to note that the listed drugs are especially effective for ulcers of the duodenum 12. Omeprazole is often prescribed for the prevention of this ailment.
Gastroprotectors
As mentioned earlier, an ulcer greatly weakens the body. The stability of the gastrointestinal tract really decreases to damaging factors. And therefore, gastroprotectors cannot be dispensed with. They have a pronounced anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and analgesic effects.
These include the following drugs:
- Sucralfat. It has a protective, antacid, adsorbing, enveloping and antiulcer action. Valid for about 6 hours.
- "Solcoseryl." It is a powerful cytoprotector and reporter. It not only restores the mucous membrane, but also promotes the healing of ulcers, positively affects cell metabolism. The analogue is Actovegin.
- Misoprostol and Enprostil. In terms of composition, these substances are similar to hormones, and they are produced by most body tissues. These substances regulate blood pressure, have a good effect on muscle tone, inhibit the secretion of gastric juice, and also significantly reduce acidity.
- "Biogastron." Its active ingredient is an analog of glycyrrhizic acid, called carbenoxolone.
- Bismuth dicalitrate tripotassium. This substance immediately after administration forms a protective film on the mucous membrane. It also positively affects the production of prostaglandin E2.
In addition to the above, Amigluracil, Methyluracil, Romazulan, histidine hydrochloride and sodium oxyferriskarbon are often prescribed. These are powerful drugs, they are used both in chronic and in acute form. For the treatment of duodenal ulcers, these drugs are also effective.
Use of Vegetable Oils
Now it’s worth talking about how to treat an ulcer at home. For this, many use vegetable oils, because they are widely known for their enveloping properties.
The most effective is sea buckthorn. It contains many vitamins, minerals and other biologically active substances. Here is the effect it has:
- Envelopment of the gastric mucosa.
- Effective pain relief.
- Regeneration, accelerated healing of ulcers.
- Improving the digestive tract (choleretic effect).
- Inhibition of bacterial growth.
- Prevention of the inflammatory process and its elimination.
How to quickly cure an ulcer in this way? Take every day 3 times sea buckthorn oil, sold in each pharmacy, half an hour before meals in the amount of 1 tsp.
Not inferior to him and olive. This oil prevents the formation of malignant tumors and destroys Helicobacter pylori. It must be taken within one month in the same amount and with the same frequency as sea buckthorn.
Flaxseed decoction
Another well-known effective tool. If a person is interested in how to cure an ulcer at home, then he should try it.
The benefits of flax decoction are as follows:
- Soft enveloping of the walls of the stomach (there is a lot of mucus in the seeds).
- Prevention of damage to the epithelium for the same reason.
- Regulation of acidity.
- Acceleration of metabolic processes.
- Healing ulcers.
Interestingly, all of the above is proved by science.
Prepare a decoction only in one portion. It oxidizes too quickly, and therefore cannot be stored.
How to make it? Need 1 tsp. pour seeds into a glass container and pour boiling water (100 ml). Leave the mixture to infuse under the lid. Enough 15 minutes. During this time, it needs to be shaken 4-5 times. After 15 minutes, strain. Drink the resulting infusion half an hour before a meal.
The treatment course lasts 1 month. On the day you need to drink this infusion three times - before breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Propolis
This is also a very effective tool, according to reviews. How did many people cure propolis ulcer? What is the secret of this miraculous bee glue?
The fact is that propolis has a powerful antimicrobial effect. He is also able to relieve pain and cramps, heal injuries. It also gently minimizes acidity and envelops the walls of the stomach. Not surprisingly, his appointment is prescribed by doctors.
It is better, of course, to use an aqueous extract of propolis. However, it is difficult to find, because most often patients take 10% tincture. It is necessary to dissolve 50 drops in half a glass of milk or water, and then consume before meals. And so three times a day.
After a week, if such treatment does not cause discomfort, a transition to a drug with a concentration of 20% is allowed.
Herbal infusions
Many people, interested in the question of how to cure an ulcer with folk remedies, think specifically about herbal decoctions and infusions.
There are many recipes, but the most popular are the following:
- Take 2 tbsp. l dried marigold flowers, pour cold water (500 ml). Send to the fire, boil for 5-6 minutes. Then let it brew for 3 hours. Use the broth during the day in equal portions. The course is 2 weeks.
- Pour dried milk in the amount of 15 g with a glass of boiling water. Let it brew under the lid for about 15 minutes. Take 1 tbsp. l the resulting composition three times a day 40 minutes before meals.
- In an enameled container, combine calendula flowers, marshmallow root, yarrow, chamomile, elecampane root, licorice, and pharmacy blueberries. All in equal proportions. Take 2 tsp., Pour into a thermos, pour boiling water. Give 1 hour to infuse. Then drink the infusion in half a glass before meals.
- Put one fennel fruit, peppermint (40 g) and caraway seeds (20 g) in a liter enameled container. Pour boiling water, let it brew for half an hour. Drink 50 grams in small sips three times a day.
- Horsetail and yarrow (1 tbsp each) mix with the root of the erect cinquefoil and wormwood (1 tsp each). Brew in a thermos. Take 50 grams before meals.
Can an ulcer be cured forever? No, because the scar formed due to the disease remains. But to achieve long-term remission, which in most patients lasts until the end of life, is quite realistic. It is only necessary to follow medical recommendations, take the prescribed drugs, lead a healthy lifestyle, and also regularly carry out preventive measures.