The main cause of peptic ulcers

Written by Jiang Guo Ming
Gastroenterology
Updated on May 15, 2025
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Peptic ulcer is a common gastrointestinal disease, and the primary cause should primarily be Helicobacter pylori infection. Extensive research has proven that Helicobacter pylori infection is closely related to gastric inflammation activity, the formation of peptic ulcers, and gastric cancer. Secondly, drugs are a factor; many drugs can damage the gastric mucosa, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids, which often lead to the occurrence of peptic ulcers. Additionally, mental stress is often a catalyst for stomach diseases, with numerous studies showing that a person's emotions, personality, and mental stress are related to peptic ulcers. Furthermore, poor dietary and living habits can also damage the gastric mucosa, leading to the occurrence of peptic ulcers.

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Written by Jiang Guo Ming
Gastroenterology
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Can peptic ulcers be cured completely?

Peptic ulcers, including gastric ulcers and duodenal bulb ulcers, can generally be completely cured in most cases. Treatment plans are usually determined based on the presence of Helicobacter pylori infection. If there is an infection with Helicobacter pylori, quadruple therapy is typically used to eradicate the bacteria. If there is no Helicobacter pylori infection, symptomatic treatment is sufficient. Some patients may experience recurrent peptic ulcers, which are usually caused by several factors. Firstly, the failure to completely eradicate Helicobacter pylori can lead to recurrent ulcers. Additionally, the recurrence of ulcers might also be facilitated by poor dietary and lifestyle habits after the ulcers have healed, such as long-term alcohol abuse, smoking, or consumption of spicy and irritating foods.

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Written by Zhu Dan Hua
Gastroenterology
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Can peptic ulcers become cancerous?

Peptic ulcers generally refer to gastric ulcers and duodenal ulcers. It is generally believed that most gastric ulcers are benign, but a small portion of patients may develop cancer, approximately 3%-5%, especially in middle-aged and elderly patients. If the ulcers recur and continue to enlarge, there needs to be vigilance for potential malignancy. However, duodenal ulcers generally do not become cancerous and are more common in young people, presenting symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, and bloody stools. Therefore, for peptic ulcers, most are benign, but a small fraction of patients may have ulcers that evolve into cancerous ones, presenting as benign peptic ulcers, which calls for caution, especially in middle-aged and elderly patients. Therefore, it is recommended that patients regularly treat gastric and duodenal ulcers. If the treatment period is prolonged and peptic ulcers recur frequently with poor outcomes, patients should be alert to the potential for cancer and are advised to undergo gastroscopic examination and biopsy for further clarification.

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Written by Jiang Guo Ming
Gastroenterology
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How is peptic ulcer treated?

The treatment of peptic ulcers mainly depends on their cause. It is generally believed that infection with Helicobacter pylori is most closely related to peptic ulcers. In such cases, the first step is to check for Helicobacter pylori infection. If there is an infection, antibacterial treatment is generally used, with the common regimen being quadruple therapy: a proton pump inhibitor plus two antibiotics and a bismuth agent. If there is no Helicobacter pylori infection, symptomatic treatment is generally sufficient. The preferred method is to use acid-suppressing and stomach-lining-protecting medications, combined with symptomatic treatment. At the same time, it is helpful to develop good dietary and living habits, opt for a light and easy-to-digest diet, and eat regularly in fixed amounts. Avoid overeating and excessive fatigue; abstain from smoking and alcohol, and maintaining a good mood all help. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a professional doctor.)

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Written by Jiang Guo Ming
Gastroenterology
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Principles of treatment for peptic ulcers

The principles of treatment for peptic ulcers, if malignant ulcers are present, surgical treatment is preferred. For benign peptic ulcers, it is first necessary to cultivate good dietary and living habits, quit smoking and drinking, avoid excessive fatigue, and adhere to a light diet with regular and measured meals, strictly avoiding overeating and binge eating. Meanwhile, the medication treatment should be determined based on whether there is a Helicobacter pylori infection; if there is an infection, standard antibacterial treatment is required, commonly involving quadruple therapy. If there is no Helicobacter pylori infection, symptomatic treatment usually yields satisfactory results. Proton pump inhibitors are the preferred drugs, such as rabeprazole and lansoprazole, combined with gastric mucosal protectants, prokinetic agents, etc. (Medication use should be conducted under the guidance of a professional doctor.)

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Written by Li Xue Qing
Gastroenterology
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Peptic ulcer is what?

Peptic ulcers are a recurrent, periodic, and rhythmic disease characterized by upper abdominal pain. They mainly occur in the stomach and duodenum. The causes include excessive secretion of gastric acid, reduced protective function of the gastric mucosa, and infections caused by Helicobacter pylori. In terms of symptoms, there is mainly a tenderness in the upper abdomen. For diagnosis, gastroscope can be used to examine the mucosa for the presence of ulcers.