What Is A Peptic Ulcer?

Peptic Ulcer Causes

What is a peptic ulcer? The goal of this article is to provide basic and introductory information about peptic ulcers to the general public, espoecially readers with no medical training or experience. We will answer the questions what is a peptic ulcer and what causes peptic ulcers?

A peptic ulcer is a general name for what most people simply call a stomach ulcer. Basically, it is an erosion or raw area in the tissue in the gastrointestinal tract. A peptic ulcer is a stomach problem that can occur inthe lower esophagus, the stomach itself, or the small intestine just below the stomach (also known as the duodenum). When the erosion occurs in the stomach, it's called a gastric ulcer. When it occurs in the duodenum, it's called a duodenal ulcer. When it occurs in the esophagus, it's called an esophageal ulcer.

A peptic ulcer that penetrates tissue so deeply that the tissue begins to bleed is known as a bleeding ulcer.

Regardless of the location, most people refers to any peptic ulcer as a "stomach ulcer."

Approximately two percent of the population of the United States has a active peptic ulcer at any given time, and about ten percent of the population will experience an ulcer problem during their life.

Peptic ulcer causes The stomach contains strong acids that help break down food and move it through the digestive tract. Normally, a protective lining prevents irritation of the stomach and small intestines by these acids.

But if there's a problem and the lining doesn't work the way it should, these acids cause an inflammation. This inflammation is called gastritis. Ulcers are a form of gastritis.

Most peptic ulcers occur in the first layer of the inner lining, but in some cases the lining is eroded all the way through. Such a condition is called a perforation, and it amounts to a medical emergency.

Blood leaks from some ulcers, or in some cases, the inflammation of the ulcer may cause erosion of a nearby blood vessel. This may result in a condition commonly known as a bleeding ulcer.

The most common cause of peptic ulcers is a type of bacteria called Helicobacter pylori, or H. pylori. These germs secrete an enzyme called urease, which converts urea to ammonia. When ammonia is present in the stomach, it limits the potency of stomach acid, allowing H. pylori to grow.

H. pylori is common and most people have it in their stomachs. But only a relatively small number develop peptic ulcers as a result.

Anti-inflammatory medications can be one of the causes of peptic ulcers. Anyone who takes a lot of medications like aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen is at greater risk to get a stomach ulcer.

Diet and lifestyle factors also contribute to peptic ulcers: alcohol abuse, smoking, and excessive caffeine intake raise your risk of getting an ulcer.

Less common peptic ulcer causes include

• Being on a breathing machine
• Radiation treatments
• A rare condition called Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. This condition occurs due to a tumor in the pancreas which releases high levels of a hormone which causes an increase in stomach acid.

Many people have grown up hearing that spicy foods or a living under a lot of psychological or emotional stress cause peptic ulcers. But recent research has found that this is not true. 

For additional, related articles, click on peptic ulcer symptoms and peptic ulcer treatments.