An ulcerated lesion in the mucosal surface of the stomach. It may progress to involve the deeper layers of the gastric wall.

Symptoms of Gastric Ulcer

The following features are indicative of Gastric Ulcer:
  • upper abdominal pain
  • belching
  • vomiting
  • weight loss
  • poor appetite
  • heartburn
It is possible that Gastric Ulcer shows no physical symptoms and still is present in a patient.

Get TabletWise Pro

Thousands of Classes to Help You Become a Better You.

Common Causes of Gastric Ulcer

The following are the most common causes of Gastric Ulcer:
  • Helicobacter pylori bacteria
  • regular use of certain pain relievers

Risk Factors for Gastric Ulcer

The following factors may increase the likelihood of Gastric Ulcer:
  • smoking
  • untreated stress
  • alcohol consumption
  • eating spicy foods

Prevention of Gastric Ulcer

Yes, it may be possible to prevent Gastric Ulcer. Prevention may be possible by doing the following:
  • protect from H. pylori infections
  • use caution when taking pain relievers

Occurrence of Gastric Ulcer

Number of Cases

The following are the number of Gastric Ulcer cases seen each year worldwide:
  • Very common > 10 Million cases

Common Age Group

Gastric Ulcer can occur at any age.

Common Gender

Gastric Ulcer can occur in any gender.

Lab Tests and Procedures for Diagnosis of Gastric Ulcer

The following lab tests and procedures are used to detect Gastric Ulcer:
  • Physical Exam: To diagnose the peptic ulcer and detect bloating in the abdomen
  • Blood test: To determine if the results fall within the normal range for different disorders or infections
  • Urea breath test: To check the levels of carbon dioxide in the stomach or small intestine
  • Stool test: To detect the presence of Helicobacter pylori infection
  • Upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy and biopsy: To detect upper gastrointestinal tract problem
  • Computerized tomography (CT) scan: To diagnose the peptic ulcer

Doctor for Diagnosis of Gastric Ulcer

Patients should visit the following specialists if they have symptoms of Gastric Ulcer:
  • Gastroenterologist

Complications of Gastric Ulcer if untreated

Yes, Gastric Ulcer causes complications if it is not treated. Below is the list of complications and problems that may arise if Gastric Ulcer is left untreated:
  • internal bleeding
  • scarring

Procedures for Treatment of Gastric Ulcer

The following procedures are used to treat Gastric Ulcer:
  • Surgery: To treat the bleeding ulcers

Self-care for Gastric Ulcer

The following self-care actions or lifestyle changes may help in the treatment or management of Gastric Ulcer:
  • Choose a healthy diet: Provides relief from the pain of a stomach ulcer
  • Control stress: Prevents the worsening of the signs and symptoms of a peptic ulcer
  • Don't smoke: Lowers the stomach acid
  • Avoid alcohol: Prevents the inflammation and bleeding of the mucous lining in stomach and intestines
  • Try to get enough sleep: Reduces the stress

Alternative Medicine for Treatment of Gastric Ulcer

The following alternate medicine and therapies are known to help in the treatment or management of Gastric Ulcer:
  • Use turmeric, mastic, cabbage, deglycyrrhizinated liquorice, and neem bark extract: Help to treat peptic ulcers

Patient Support for Treatment of Gastric Ulcer

The following actions may help Gastric Ulcer patients:
  • Join eradication programs: Helps in eradicating the Helicobacter pylori infection

Time for Treatment of Gastric Ulcer

While time-period of treatment for each patient may vary, below is the typical time-period for Gastric Ulcer to resolve if treated properly under an expert supervision:
  • In 1 - 4 weeks

Is Gastric Ulcer Infectious?

Yes, Gastric Ulcer is known to be infectious. It can spread across people via the following means:
  • contaminated food
  • contaminated groundwater
  • through human saliva

Last updated date

This page was last updated on 2/04/2019.
This page provides information for Gastric Ulcer.

Sign Up



Share

Share with friends, get 20% off
Invite your friends to TabletWise learning marketplace. For each purchase they make, you get 20% off (upto $10) on your next purchase.