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Gastric Ulcer
Is stomach ulcer serious?
Stomach ulcers are relatively common in clinical practice, so they are not necessarily very serious and do not require too much concern. Generally, through active treatment, the vast majority can be guided to heal. Clinically, there are mainly two most common manifestations of stomach ulcers: the first is abdominal discomfort, and the second is complications such as gastrointestinal bleeding. For the first type of patients, the symptoms generally include chronic, recurrent epigastric pain, accompanied by a decrease in appetite, etc. Gastroscopy in these patients indicates stomach ulcers, but at this time, the ulcers generally do not involve complications such as gastrointestinal bleeding or perforation, so oral medication treatment can typically be chosen in an outpatient setting. For the second type of patients, where the stomach ulcer is complicated by gastrointestinal bleeding, symptoms can manifest as vomiting blood and bleeding in the stool. It is not recommended for these patients to be treated in an outpatient setting; instead, hospitalization is advised.
Can stomach ulcers be contagious?
Gastric ulcers are viewed as inflammatory defects of the gastric mucosa related to gastric acid and digestive action; they are not infectious and do not have contagious properties. Typical symptoms include pain that recurs or appears periodically, worsening after eating, and gradually easing one to two hours after meals. Common causes include infection by Helicobacter pylori, the digestive action of gastric acid and pepsin, and long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which damage the gastrointestinal mucosa. The main treatment involves medication that suppresses gastric acid secretion and protects the gastric mucosa, along with enhanced health education, strict rest, regular meals, and cessation of smoking and alcohol consumption. (Specific medication use should be carried out under the guidance of a doctor.)
Symptoms after gastric ulcer bleeding
The typical symptoms of a bleeding gastric ulcer include vomiting blood or passing blood in the stool. In cases of minor bleeding, the symptoms may solely manifest as black stools or bloody stools. Some patients may also exhibit symptoms of hypovolemia such as dizziness, fatigue, palpitations, chest tightness, and more. Therefore, bleeding associated with gastric ulcers corresponds to the symptoms of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. The diagnosis of gastric ulcer bleeding primarily relies on gastroscopy, which typically reveals the ulcers and allows for further assessment of their size, location, and number. Treatment options include conservative medication therapy, recommending that the patient rest and eat. Medications such as acid reducers and gastroprotective drugs can be used, with a treatment course of 6-8 weeks being appropriate. Of course, if the medication is not effective, surgical treatment options may be considered.
Is bleeding from gastric ulcers easy to treat?
Patients with gastric ulcer bleeding should undergo emergency gastroscopy within 24-48 hours after bleeding to perform differential diagnosis, confirm the bleeding status, and conduct endoscopic treatment. The first choice of medication is drugs that suppress gastric acid secretion, commonly using PPI preparations or H2 receptor antagonists. However, PPI preparations and intravenous administration should be preferred in cases of major bleeding. If bleeding persists or recurs after pharmacological treatment, endoscopic treatment can be performed, including spraying hemostatic drugs, injecting sclerosing agents, and using hemostatic clips. If endoscopic treatment is unsuccessful, vascular interventional embolization or gastroduodenal artery treatment can be pursued. In cases where the patient repeatedly bleeds and both medical and endoscopic treatments are ineffective, surgical intervention may be considered.
Are stomach ulcers prone to recurrence?
After healing from a gastric ulcer, it is not easy to relapse if health education is strengthened. Usually, it is important to rest more, reduce stress, as excessive tension can lead to excitement of the vagus nerve, stimulate gastric acid secretion, and easily induce ulcers. Additionally, improving dietary habits, strictly quitting smoking and drinking, minimizing consumption of strong tea and coffee, and ceasing the use of medications that irritate the gastric mucosa when necessary, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroid hormones, are essential. Meals should be on a regular schedule and in controlled portions, avoiding overeating and overdrinking. If gastrointestinal irritation symptoms occur, treatment should be proactive, and if infected with Helicobacter pylori, the bacteria should be actively eradicated. (Use of medications should be under the guidance of a doctor.)
What can you eat with a gastric ulcer?
If a gastric ulcer is in the recovery phase, there are generally no special dietary restrictions. It is advisable to choose easily digestible, bland foods. Of course, it is recommended that patients avoid intake of spicy and stimulating foods such as coffee, strong tea, and alcohol, as well as avoiding pickled foods like salted fish and cured meat. Therefore, if a gastric ulcer is well-controlled, dietary restrictions can be relaxed somewhat. However, if the patient also has gastrointestinal bleeding, such as bleeding from the gastric ulcer, it is advised for the patient to fast initially. After temporarily fasting, if symptoms are controlled, a liquid diet can be adopted, such as drinking soups and eating porridge. If this regimen is effective over a regular period, a gradual return to a normal diet can be considered.
Can stomach ulcers bleed?
Gastric ulcers can cause gastrointestinal bleeding, as gastrointestinal bleeding is a common complication of gastric ulcers. Clinically, gastric ulcers may present as gastrointestinal bleeding or simply as rhythmic pain, typically manifested as upper abdominal pain related to eating. Bleeding caused by gastric ulcers may present as vomiting blood in some patients. Of course, if the bleeding is minor and there is no vomiting blood, there might only be blood in the stool. The diagnosis of gastric ulcers primarily relies on gastroscopy; therefore, for patients suspected of having gastric ulcers, we generally recommend an early gastroscopy to confirm the diagnosis and assess the condition. The treatment of gastric ulcers mainly depends on medication, with options including acid-reducing and stomach-protecting drugs. The treatment duration is about 6 weeks, and most patients can be well controlled. Of course, attention should be paid to diet, rest, and regular follow-up appointments in the future. (The use of drugs should be under the guidance of a doctor.)
Can you eat lamb with a stomach ulcer?
People with gastric ulcers can eat mutton, as it is rich in protein and can provide heat and nutrients. Additionally, it is suggested to consume other types of nutritious foods such as soy products, other lean meats, eggs, milk, etc. It is also advisable to eat more green vegetables and fruits to supplement vitamin C. Avoid spicy, greasy, and irritating foods as much as possible and actively use medications for treatment, commonly including those that inhibit gastric acid secretion and protect the gastric mucosa. If there are complications like bleeding or perforation, active treatment such as endoscopic hemostasis or vascular interventional hemostasis should be sought. After treatment, it is important to strengthen exercise, maintain a good mood, and avoid emotional stress. (Please use medications under the guidance of a doctor.)
Can early-stage gastric ulcers be cured?
Gastric ulcers are a disease characterized by defects in the gastric mucosa. The main symptoms include stomach pain, bloating, nausea, vomiting, belching, and acid reflux. These defects in the gastric mucosa can be observed through gastroscopy, allowing for a diagnosis of gastric ulcers. The treatment primarily focuses on suppressing acid, protecting the stomach, and enhancing gastric motility. Additionally, it is important to test for Helicobacter pylori. If the test for Helicobacter pylori is positive, standardized treatment against Helicobacter pylori should be administered. This bacterium is a primary cause of gastric ulcers. With proper treatment, gastric ulcers generally heal within six to eight weeks. During the treatment period, dietary considerations are crucial; it is important to consume easily digestible foods and avoid fatty, rich, and hard-to-digest foods to aid in the recovery from gastric ulcers.
Causes of gastric ulcers
Gastric ulcers refer to inflammatory defects in the gastric mucosa, with several common causes as follows: First, infection with Helicobacter pylori is directly related to the development of peptic ulcers. Second, various drugs that damage the gastric mucosa, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroid hormones, etc. Third, dietary factors. Long-term alcohol consumption, spicy foods, strong tea, and coffee can all cause gastric ulcers. Fourth, the digestive actions of gastric acid and pepsin damage the gastric mucosa, leading to a decline in the protective barrier function of the mucosa and causing ulcers. Fifth, abnormalities in gastric motility and decreased emptying ability, leading to food retention in the stomach, continuously irritating the gastric mucosa, causing increased gastric acid secretion and resulting in ulcers.