The modern rhythm of life is such that sometimes it does not allow us to eat right and on time. Frequent snacks, dry food, abuse of fast foods lead to the fact that almost half of the adult population suffers from diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
What can we say about adults, when children's wards of hospitals are full of small patients who are treated with gastritis, ulcers and other pathologies. Therefore, it is probably not surprising that for most, the symptoms of stomach ulcers and 12 duodenal ulcers are quite familiar.
Peptic ulcer - what is it?
An ulcer is a lesion of the mucous membranes of the internal organs. If we are talking about the stomach or duodenum, then pathological changes can be observed in them. In the widest section of the digestive system contains a strong acid - hydrochloric acid, which helps to neutralize bacteria that enter the food. It also activates the enzymes of the gastric juice.
The mucous membrane on the inner walls of the stomach protects it from the corrosive effects of acid. If for some reason this layer is broken, the acid begins to come into contact with the tissues, irritate them and gradually leads to the appearance of ulcers. This is how a stomach ulcer forms. We will try to make out the symptoms and treatment in our article.
Causes of intestinal diseases
If we talk about the reasons that can provoke the development of these diseases, then we can call these:
- Errors in the diet: dry meat, eating spicy, salty, very hot food.
- Lack of vitamins and iron.
- Helicobacter pylori infection.
- Taking antibiotics without a doctor's prescription.
- Impaired metabolism.
- Predisposition to the disease.
Many doctors are of the opinion that our stressful life is also the culprit of the fact that often we are worried about the symptoms of stomach ulcers and duodenal ulcers. Some diseases of the internal organs can also provoke the development of peptic ulcer, for example, cholecystitis, pancreatitis, gallstone disease.
Signs of the disease
Symptoms of a stomach ulcer and duodenal ulcer are slightly different, so it is worth mentioning them separately. The following symptoms are characteristic of damage to the gastric mucosa:
- Constant pain just above the navel.
- The pain goes away or becomes much weaker if you take antacids that envelop the walls of the stomach and prevent them from contacting with hydrochloric acid.
- Weight loss.
- Appetite may decrease.
- After eating, you may experience a feeling of nausea, sometimes vomiting.
- You can see blood clots in the vomit.
- The stool changes color and becomes darker, sometimes even with an admixture of blood.
Duodenal ulcer symptoms have the following:
- Frequent heartburn.
- Acute pain in the upper abdomen, which often overtakes a person at night. After eating, it passes or becomes weaker.
- Nausea and frequent vomiting.
- Constipation, especially during exacerbation.
What is surprising is that these diseases have periods of exacerbation and remission. When the ulcer subsides, the person feels quite comfortable, even if he makes mistakes in nutrition.
Diagnosis of the disease
If you have a question, how to cure a stomach ulcer, then first you need to make the correct diagnosis, because many diseases can have similar symptoms. First, the doctor will talk with you and examine you. After that, he will be interested in your well-being.
Recently, it is increasingly possible to hear that Helicobacter pylori bacterial cells are accused of developing peptic ulcer. To detect their presence is quite simple - you just need to do a blood test or feces.
If you are sure that you urgently need treatment for a stomach ulcer. A doctor can prescribe drugs only after an endoscopic examination. Currently, this method is considered the most accurate in making such a diagnosis.
The procedure is not pleasant, but it will give an accurate answer to all the questions about whether you have an ulcer, whether there are other changes. If a duodenal ulcer is diagnosed, the treatment will be slightly different from the treatment of gastric ulcer.
During endoscopy, you can even take a piece of tissue for analysis if there is a suspicion of the presence of cancers.
Treatment
If you ask your doctor how to cure a stomach ulcer, then a competent specialist will always tell you that treatment consists of several components:
- Taking antibiotics, especially if it turns out that the cause is bacteria.
- Medicines that will reduce the acidity of the gastric juice.
- If treatment begins for gastric ulcers, drugs must be taken and the enveloping action.
- Following a strict diet.
- Daily regime.
- Stop drinking alcohol and smoking.
There are cases when the disease is started or complications arise, then you have to resort to surgical intervention.
Features of the treatment of peptic ulcer
The means of treating a stomach ulcer may differ depending on the reason that provoked it:
- If a helicobacter pylori is suspected, treatment should be started with antibiotics to prevent the appearance of new foci. With the slightest improvement, you should not stop taking the medicine, the course of treatment must be completed.
- Often the cause of the disease is the use of anti-inflammatory non-steroidal drugs. In this case, they must be canceled.
- Increased production of gastric juice can provoke the development of ulcers, so with the help of drugs it is necessary to reduce its secretion.
- If the cause could not be established, acid-lowering drugs should be taken. The duration of treatment depends on the course of the disease, the presence of complications, the size of the ulcer.
The effectiveness of therapy can be determined by analysis and repeated endoscopy.
Factors contributing to the development of ulcers
There are some factors that can contribute to the development of peptic ulcer. Many doctors believe that the body's own defense plays an important role in preventing the disease. These protective mechanisms include mucous membranes, which are the first barrier:
- Mucin.
- Bicarbonates
- Reverse diffusion of hydrogen protons.
- Blood supply.
If the protective mechanisms are disturbed, negative factors have a stronger effect on the body.
Traditional medicine in the treatment of ulcers
If you have a duodenal ulcer, folk remedies are quite able to help you. The most effective are:
- Celandine.
- Sea buckthorn oil.
There are also many herbal ulcer recipes. The following charges are considered the most famous and effective:
- Take calendula, chamomile, yarrow in equal quantities. 2 tbsp. l pour the mixture with boiling water in a volume of 0.5 liter, insist and take 50 ml 3 times a day for a month. Then take a break for two weeks and repeat the course.
- In a half-liter jar, collect poplar buds to half, pour vodka and insist 2 weeks. After that, you can take tincture of 1 tbsp. spoon half an hour before meals.
- In the morning after waking up (before eating) take 1 tsp. sea buckthorn oil. After this, it is necessary to lie down for an hour, turning over periodically from one side to another.
- 1 tsp celandine brew 400 ml of boiling water and insist, and then strain and drink warmly at 130 grams three times a day half an hour before meals.
You can still list popular recipes that will help you get rid of diseases of the stomach and intestines.
Diet for duodenal ulcer
In the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases can not do without a strict diet. The main recommendations in this regard include:
- Reduce the consumption of meat and protein products, as they increase the acidity of gastric juice.
- During periods of exacerbation, food should be warm and mashed, such as cereal, mashed soup, potatoes.
- It is better to eat more often, but in small portions.
- Exclude coffee, spicy sauces, smoked foods, fatty meats from your diet.
- Use vegetables only in boiled form.
- Do not eat sour fruits, such as apples, oranges. You can eat bananas.
- It is useful to take vitamin extracts of rose hips, fruit juices, only with pulp.
If you follow the doctor’s recommendations, follow a diet and take appropriate medications, then the symptoms of a stomach ulcer and 12 duodenal ulcer will soon cease to bother you.
Disease complications
If you do not start treatment in time, then peptic ulcer can give complications. The most common is bleeding. Internal bleeding is difficult to determine , but there are some signs that may indirectly indicate them:
- Nausea.
- Dizzy.
- "Flies" before the eyes.
- Weakness.
- Tachycardia.
- Dry mouth.
Dangerous and serious complications include a perforated ulcer, or perforation, as doctors call it. In this case, a through hole appears in the wall of the stomach or duodenum, through which their contents enter the abdominal cavity.
What can be observed in patients with this:
- Extreme sharp pains in the upper abdomen.
- It becomes as if stone.
- Pain gradually spreads to the entire abdomen.
- Vomiting may occur.
If a person is not provided with urgent help, most often surgical, this can end in failure. If a peptic ulcer is not treated, then over time the ulcers heal a bit, a scar appears. This leads to disruption of the stomach or intestines, food stagnates, as the lumen narrows.
Do not risk your health, with the appearance of frequent pain in the stomach, you should consult a doctor. Although we got acquainted with the symptoms of a stomach ulcer, the doctor should prescribe treatment anyway.
Peptic ulcer prophylaxis
Any disease is easier to prevent than to waste time, effort and money on its treatment. Of course, in our time it’s quite difficult to constantly eat right, to follow all the recommendations on the daily regimen. Sometimes we, adults, teach our children to unhealthy when we buy chips, crackers, instead of treating them with natural juices or fruits.
In order to prevent the disease, it is necessary:
- Adhere to the diet.
- Try to eat less smoked and fatty foods.
- Do not abuse fast food.
- Minimize the consumption of carbonated drinks.
- Get rid of bad habits (smoking and drinking).
- Try to avoid stress, if this cannot be done, then do not take everything to heart.
Only in this case, peptic ulcer will not bother you. Take care of yourself and be healthy.