Stomach ulcers are a fairly common problem. Such diseases bring a lot of trouble to a person's life. And the question of what the first signs of a stomach ulcer look like is becoming more and more relevant. After all, the sooner therapy is started, the less likely it is to develop complications.
What is a stomach ulcer?
It's no secret that an ulcer often develops against the background of gastritis. Nevertheless, there are many reasons that can cause such a disease or provoke its exacerbation. And before you know what the main symptoms of a stomach ulcer look like, you should find out the main risk factors.
Enzymes secreted by specific cells have proteolytic properties - they can break down protein molecules. But the activation of these biologically active substances occurs only in the presence of hydrochloric acid. In turn, the gastric mucosa protects tissues from the effects of an acidic environment. Ulcers are formed when the balance between the levelhydrochloric acid and the amount or properties of mucus.
Such disorders can occur under the influence of toxins and poisons, as well as against the background of the activity of certain bacteria. Risk factors also include unhe althy diet, smoking and alcohol abuse, uncontrolled intake of certain medications, and constant stress.
Main signs of a stomach ulcer
The clinical picture largely depends on the stage of the disease. And patients often write off the deterioration of he alth on errors in nutrition. So what signs of a stomach ulcer should you definitely look out for?
As a rule, in the initial stages of the disease, pains appear in the upper abdomen - they can be either dull or sharp, of different intensity. Over time, the patient begins to notice bouts of pain at night, which, of course, affects the quality of sleep and leads to the development of constant fatigue and drowsiness.
Most often, the pain is in one way or another associated with meals. For example, patients report soreness that occurs when the stomach is empty - it disappears 40-60 minutes after eating.
Regularly occurring nausea followed by vomiting are also signs of stomach ulcers. Along with this, there is a decrease in appetite and, as a result, rapid weight loss.
As the disease progresses, the pain may decrease or even disappear, but this does not indicate a cure. At this stage, there may be an increase in body temperature, rapid pulse, bloating andprotrusion of the abdomen, dry mouth.
The most dangerous is the perforation of the ulcer, which is accompanied by severe pain, fever, bloody vomiting, a sharp deterioration in well-being - a person in this condition needs urgent medical care.
In any case, if you have the above problems, you should contact a gastroenterologist. Only a doctor knows what the signs of a stomach ulcer look like. Treatment should only be started after an accurate diagnosis has been made. Of course, this requires additional research, in particular probing, radiography, and sometimes biopsy. In most cases, properly selected medication, as well as following an appropriate diet, helps to cure the disease.
