What is a Ulcer | Indications of a Ulcer | Danger of Untreated Ulcers | Prevention | Home Remedies | Quiz

What is a Ulcer
Ulcers form when the mucus lining of the stomach or esophagus loses its acid-fighting ability. The stomach acids used to digest food begin to digest the esophageal or stomach lining instead. Until recently, ulcers were thought to be caused by stress, smoking, drinking too much caffeine or eating spicy foods. And while all of these can certainly contribute to ulcer pain, research shows that 90 percent of ulcers are caused Heliobacter Pylori.

H. pylori, is a bacterium that colonizes the lining of the stomach. It can easily wreak havoc with your intestine, but it can be just as easily detected and destroyed. Doctors screen for H. pylori using a simple finger-stick blood test. If test results indicate the presence of H. pylori, treatment calls for a combination of antibiotics and antacid medication. The antibiotics defeat the bacterium and and significantly reduce the chances of recurrence. The antacid relieves symptoms, such as nausea and burning.
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Indications of a Ulcer
Any of following symptoms may indicate an ulcer:

• Burning or gnawing sensation in upper abdomen
• Nausea and vomiting
• Heartburn or gas
• Loss of appetite
• Dark or bloody stools

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Danger of Untreated Ulcers
Most ulcers can be completely eradicated with treatment. Doing nothing or relying solely on antacids can jeopardize your health. Why? Because antacids temporarily mask pain, but without medical treatment 80 percent of ulcers will return within a year. Untreated ulcers may trigger internal bleeding or perforation. Get immediate medical attention if you are:

• Vomiting blood or a material resembling coffee grounds.
• Feeling faint, cold or clammy.
• Experiencing severe back pain. An ulcer may be perforating the wall of the stomach or small intestine.

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Prevention
Aside from H. pylori, a small percentage of ulcers can be linked to a hereditary predisposition, an over-active stomach, or too little mucus protecting the stomach walls. If you're at risk, don't set the stage for an ulcer. By reducing or eliminating these factors you can stay ulcer-free:

• Smoking
• Stress
• Caffeine
• Heavy drinking
• Anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen, which erode mucus and inhibit blood clotting.
• Fatty foods
• Dairy products, which appear to "coat" the stomach, but actually cause an increase in acid secretion.
• Peppermint
• Tomatoes
• Late night snacking
• Home remedy concoctions with baking soda. These can lead to calcium and alkali buildups, causing nausea, headache, weakness and possibly kidney damage.

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Home remedies
If symptoms persist for more than two weeks or recur, consult a physician for an H. pylori test. It's also a good idea to:

• Drink plenty of water
• Take antacids
• Eat lean meat and seafood, dried fruit, veggies, breads and cereals

Although 90 percent of ulcers are caused by H. pylori, Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) are responsible for their own fair share of ulcer problems. According to a USA TODAY article, more than 16,000 Americans died in 1997 from bleeding stomach ulcers brought on by NSAIDs.

For most people, NSAIDs pose no threat. Those at highest risk include severe arthritis sufferers who frequently take NSAIDs and men and women over 65. Increasing age seems to be a factor as the body begins to slow production of prostaglandin, a chemical which protects the stomach lining.
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Quiz
Risk-screening quiz developed by rheumatologist Gurkirpal Singh of Stanford University Medical School. Published in Tues., Dec. 1, 1998 USA TODAY.

Take this test to see if you're at risk for developing an ulcer from Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs).

Answer each question and track the points for each answer. When you've completed the quiz, tally your points. A risk level chart, based on point totals, appears at the end of the quiz.

1. How old are you?

 2. How do you rate your current health status?

3. Have you ever been told by a physician that you have rheumatoid arthritis?

4. If you are taking prednisone or other corticosteroids, for how many months have you taken them in the past year?

5. Have you ever been hospitalized for a stomach or intestinal problems such as bleeding or an ulcer?

6. If no, have you ever had gastrointestinal side effects* when taking NSAID pain relievers?

Risk level 1 - Up to 10 points
Your risk for a serious gastrointestinal side effect such as a stomach ulcer or bleeding is not significantly increased by taking NSAIDs if taken as recommended in the product labeling.

Risk level 2 - 11 to 15 points
Your risk of a serious gastrointestinal side effect such as a stomach ulcer or bleeding is moderately increased by taking NSAIDs. Consultation with a medical professional is recommended, especially if you need to take these medications regularly.

Risk level 3 - 16 to 20 points
Your risk of a serious gastrointestinal side effect such as a stomach ulcer or bleeding is significantly increased by taking NSAIDs. Consultation with a medical professional is advisable.

Risk level 4 - More than 20 points
Your risk of a serious gastrointestinal side effect is substantially increased by taking NSAIDs. Consultation with a medical professional is strongly encouraged.
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