Is stomach ulcer serious?

Written by Zhu Dan Hua
Gastroenterology
Updated on June 20, 2025
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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.

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Written by Zhu Dan Hua
Gastroenterology
1min 16sec home-news-image

What should I do if I have a stomach ulcer?

Gastric ulcers are generally treated with internal medicine medications in clinical settings, primarily through oral medications. Patients may select from antacid and stomach-protecting drugs for a course of 6-8 weeks, after which most ulcers can be healed. It is advised that patients eat clean, easily digestible foods, and avoid intake of spicy, stimulative, and pickled foods, as well as foods like raw fish and strong coffee. If the patient has a habit of drinking alcohol, it is advised to abstain from alcohol for these two months. It is also important to focus on resting and maintaining adequate sleep. Gastric ulcers are relatively common in clinical settings and generally improve with active treatment. Patients typically seek treatment for abdominal pain or complications, with the pain usually manifesting as upper abdominal pain. The most common complication is gastrointestinal bleeding, presenting as vomiting blood or bloody stools. Therefore, it is recommended that patients experiencing such discomfort should actively seek a comprehensive gastroscopy examination.

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Written by Wang Hui Jie
Gastroenterology
1min 17sec home-news-image

Symptoms of gastric ulcer

The clinical manifestations of stomach ulcers can vary from person to person. Some patients are asymptomatic and present to the clinic due to stomach bleeding or perforation. Generally, there are three main characteristics of peptic ulcers: First, they tend to be a chronic, recurrent condition. Second, they exhibit periodicity. Third, they have rhythmic manifestations. The primary symptom is periodic, rhythmic upper abdominal pain, often described as burning, dull, or bloating pain. This usually occurs in the upper abdomen, possibly on the left or right side, and typically manifests as post-meal pain. Nighttime pain is uncommon, and there may be localized tenderness. If the ulcer occurs in the pyloric canal, it may lack some of these typical symptoms. Post-meal intense pain is possible, and the effectiveness of medication is generally poor. This condition can easily lead to vomiting or pyloric obstruction and is also prone to perforation and bleeding. A minority of stomach ulcers may potentially become cancerous.

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Written by Zhu Dan Hua
Gastroenterology
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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.)

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Written by Li Xue Qing
Gastroenterology
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Complications of gastric ulcers

The main complications of gastric ulcers are fourfold: one is upper gastrointestinal bleeding; the second is perforation; the third is pyloric obstruction; the fourth is malignant transformation. Upper gastrointestinal bleeding is the most common complication of gastric ulcers. If a patient has experienced bleeding, there is a high likelihood of recurrence. Perforations mainly occur in elderly individuals. Pyloric obstruction is primarily caused by ulcers in the pyloric canal and pre-pyloric area. It is divided into mechanical obstruction and functional obstruction. Mechanical obstruction results from scarring after the ulcer heals, which narrows the pyloric opening. Functional obstruction is due to congestion and edema of the mucosa after the ulcer, causing relative narrowing of the pylorus. As for malignant transformation, it is still controversial, but it is generally believed to be around 1%-7%.

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Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
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Does gastric ulcer require hospitalization?

Whether a stomach ulcer requires hospitalization depends on the condition. For minor ulcers, if the pain is mild and there are no significant symptoms of vomiting or nausea, treatment can be managed with medication, such as drugs that inhibit stomach acid secretion and protect the gastric mucosa. It is also important to regulate diet, eat soft foods, avoid cold, spicy foods, and alcohol, as symptoms can gradually ease. If the ulcer is larger and exhibits perforation or bleeding, hospital treatment is necessary, usually involving a significant portion of the stomach being surgically removed to completely cure the ulcer. (Medication should be taken under the guidance of a doctor.)