Stomach ulcers, also known as gastric ulcers, are a type of peptic ulcer disease that causes painful sores in the lining of the stomach. They occur when the thick layer of mucus protecting your stomach from harsh digestive acids reduces. As a result, the digestive acids destroy the tissues of the stomach lining, causing ulcer sores. Without proper treatment, stomach ulcers can become a severe threat to good health and healthy living.
The common causes of stomach ulcer are:
Note that, unlike popular beliefs, spicy foods and stress can NOT cause stomach ulcers. However, they can worsen your symptoms.
There are so many symptoms associated with stomach ulcers. The severity of the ulcer determines how severe the symptoms will be. Some people with stomach ulcers don’t even have any symptoms.
The most common symptom is a burning sensation in the stomach. The sensation typically worsens when the stomach is empty and can last anywhere from a few minutes to several hours. The sensation can be temporarily relieved by the consumption of foods that can neutralize stomach acids or using acid-reducing drugs.
Other less common symptoms include: