Can early-stage gastric ulcers be cured?

Written by Si Li Li
Gastroenterology
Updated on April 11, 2025
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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.

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Written by Zhu Dan Hua
Gastroenterology
1min 5sec home-news-image

Does gastric ulcer cause vomiting?

Gastric ulcers are a common disease in gastroenterology, especially prevalent among outpatient clients. The symptoms of gastric ulcers vary widely, and some patients may not show any symptoms, only presenting with a decrease in appetite, which can lead to nausea and vomiting. Common symptoms of gastric ulcers include nausea, vomiting, abdominal distension, abdominal pain, and even a decrease in appetite. The abdominal pain is typically felt in the upper abdomen, can worsen after eating, and may resolve on its own without fever. However, if a gastric ulcer is accompanied by bloody stools, especially black stools or even vomiting blood, it is recommended that the patient seek further treatment at a local hospital. Therefore, for patients with gastric ulcers who experience symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain, it is suggested to provide protective gastric treatment, typically lasting four to eight weeks.

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Written by Jiang Guo Ming
Gastroenterology
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What should I do if there is bleeding from a gastric ulcer?

If there is only a small amount of bleeding in gastric ulcer bleeding, manifested as black stool without any other special discomfort symptoms, this condition can be treated with oral medication in an outpatient setting. The treatment plan is usually determined based on the presence or absence of Helicobacter pylori infection. For those with Helicobacter pylori infection, a quadruple therapy is generally used for eradication treatment. For those without the infection, proton pump inhibitors are the preferred choice, combined with medications that protect the gastric mucosa, and so on. If there is a significant amount of bleeding, with symptoms like vomiting blood, this situation requires timely hospital treatment, usually involving fasting and intravenous fluid therapy. If medical treatment is ineffective, a combined medical and surgical approach may be necessary. (The use of medications should be under the guidance of a doctor.)

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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.)

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Written by Zhu Dan Hua
Gastroenterology
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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.

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Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
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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.)