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The stomach defends itself from hydrochloric acid and pepsin by creating a mucus coating (that shields stomach tissue), by producing bicarbonate and by circulating blood to the stomach lining to aid in cell renewal and repair. If any of these functions are impaired it can lead to the formation of an ulcer.

The primary cause of ulcers is the bacterium called Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). H. pylori is a spiral-shaped bacterium found in the stomach. Unlike other bacterium, H. pylori is able to twist through the layer of mucous that protects the stomach cavity and attach to cells on the surface of the stomach wall, where it produces urease, an enzyme that generates ammonia.

Urease generates substances that neutralize the stomach's acid and allows H. pylori to thrive. H. pylori weakens the stomach's defenses by thinning the mucous coating of the stomach, making it more susceptible to the damaging effects of acid and pepsin; inflaming the area; poisoning nearby cells and producing more stomach acid.

Although H. pylori is the primary cause of ulcers, there are other factors that play a role in ulcer development. These factors are the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), a person's lifestyle and the stomach's inability to defend itself against digestive fluids, hydrochloric acid and pepsin.

NSAIDs such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, Nuprin), naproxen (Naprosyn, Anaprox), or piroxicam (Feldene) interfere with the stomach's ability to produce mucus and bicarbonate (a chemical produced in the stomach that neutralizes and breaks down the hydrochloric acid and pepsin into substances less harmful).

NSAIDs also affect blood flow to the stomach, hinder cell repair and cause the stomach's defense mechanisms to fail.

Lifestyle factors such as smoking, drinking caffeine, consuming alcohol and stress are also associated with ulcers.

Smoking slows the healing of ulcers and makes them likely to recur.

Caffeine stimulates acid secretion in the stomach, thus aggravating the pain of an existing ulcer.

Studies on alcohol consumption and ulcers have been less conclusive, although alcoholic cirrhosis has been linked to an increased risk of ulcers, and heavy drinking has been shown to delay the healing of ulcers.

Although emotional stress is no longer thought to be a cause of ulcers, people with ulcers often report that emotional stress increases ulcer pain. However, physical stress increases the risk of developing gastric ulcers.

Symptoms of

• A gnawing or burning pain in the abdomen between the breastbone and the navel. The pain is usually worse a couple of hours after a meal or in the middle of the night when the stomach is empty.
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Loss of weight
• Tiredness (a symptom of a bleeding ulcer)
• Weakness (a symptom of a bleeding ulcer)
• Blood in vomit or stool. When blood is in the stool, it appears tarry or black (symptom of a bleeding ulcer).

Diagnosis of Ulcer

If the doctor suspects ulcers, an upper GI (gastrointestinal) series (x-rays) of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum will usually be performed. The patient will swallow a chalky liquid that contains barium, which makes the ulcer visible on the x-ray.

The doctor may also order a gastroscopy, in which a flexible tube-shaped device with a special light-conducting properties will be put down the throat to enable the doctor to see the ulcer and obtain tissue samples for microscopic examination to determine if the ulcer is cancerous.

Confirming the presence of H. pylori is important in diagnosing an ulcer because elimination of H. pylori is likely to cure the ulcer. H. pylori can be detected using a blood, breath or tissue test. The blood test uses a blood sample to identify and measure H. pylori antibodies. Approved in 1996, the Meretek UBT Breath Test requires that a person first drink a liquid or swallow a capsule containing a small amount of a protein. The person is then asked to blow through a straw into a balloon. A lab technician checks the exhaled air for evidence of the H. pylori bacteria. If the doctor previously performed an endoscopy, the tissue obtained through that procedure is cultured and watched for growth of H. pylori organisms.

Treatment of Ulcer

Medications

H2-blockers reduce the amount of acid that the stomach makes. These medicines include cimetidine (Tagamet), ranitidine (Zantac), famotidine (Pepcid) and nizatidine (Axid). A single bedtime dose starts healing a duodenal ulcer in four weeks and a gastric ulcer in six to eight weeks.

Proton-pump inhibitors modify the stomach's production of acid by stopping the stomach's acid pump - the final step of acid secretion. The recently approved and now available drug, omeprazole (Prilosec), is 10 times more powerful in suppressing stomach acid production than the H2-blockers, able to promote duodenal ulcer healing in two to four weeks. This potent acid-inhibitor can suppress about 95 percent of stomach acid production. It is especially useful for treating people whose ulcers fail to respond to H2-receptor blockers or other medications and those with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.

Mucosal protective agents protect the stomach's mucous lining from acid. The prescription medications are sucralfate (Sulcrate or Carafate) and misoprostol (Cytotec). The non-prescription medications are antacids (such as Tums and Rolaids) and bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol).

Antibiotics. With the discovery of the link between ulcers and H. pylori peptic ulcers can be treated by a short course of combined high dose antibiotic therapy rather than acid-suppression alone. Without antibacterial therapy, there is a 75 percent chance of the ulcer reoccurring. With antibacterial therapy, there is a 1 percent chance of the ulcer reoccurring. There are two types of combination therapies currenly being used: triple therapy and dual therapy.

Triple therapy involves:

• Metronidazole (Flagyl)*, an antibiotic taken four times a day
• Tetracycline (Achromycin or Sumycin)**, an antibiotic taken four times a day
• Pepto-Bismol taken four times a day

This regimen lasts two weeks. This treatment is 90 percent effective in destroying the H. pylori bacteria and in reducing the risk of reoccurrence. (*doctor may substitute amoxicillin (Amoxil or Trimox); **doctor may substitute clarithromycin (Biaxin))

Dual therapy involves:

• Amoxicillin two to four times a day or Biaxin three times a day
• Prilosec two times a day

This regimen lasts two weeks. This treatment is 80 percent effective in destroying the H. pylori bacteria and in reducing the risk of reoccurrence.

Surgery

The most common types of surgery for ulcers are vagotomy, antrectomy and pyloroplasty.

Vagotomy involves cutting the vagus nerve that transmits messages from the brain to the stomach. This interruption reduces acid secretion.

Antrectomy removes the lower part of the stomach (antrum) which produces a hormone that stimulates the stomach to secrete digestive juices. This enlarges the opening into the duodenum and small intestine (pyloris), enabling contents to pass more freely from the stomach.

Pyloroplasty may be performed with a vagotomy.

Questions To Ask Your Doctor About Ulcer

Will you be prescribing any medications?

What are the side effects?

How much of the over-the-counter antacids can be taken daily?

What are the best antacids to take?

Does diet affect the ulcer?

Are there some foods that should be?

Do you have any printed pamphlets on the foods to avoid?

Is milk helpful in relieving ulcer pain?

Are there any symptoms that may be serious and should be reported right away?