The modern rhythm of life is such that sometimes it does not allow us to eat properly and on time. Frequent snacking, dry food, and the abuse of fast foods lead to the fact that almost half of the adult population suffers from diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
What can we say about adults, when children's departments of hospitals are full of small patients who are treated for gastritis, ulcers and other pathologies. Therefore, it is probably not surprising that for most, the symptoms of stomach and duodenal ulcers are quite familiar.
Peptic ulcer - what is it?
An ulcer is a lesion of the mucous membranes of internal organs. If we are talking about the stomach or duodenum, then pathological changes can be observed in them. The widest part of the digestive system contains a strong acid - hydrochloric acid, which helps to neutralize bacteria that enter with food. It also activates gastric enzymes.
The mucous membrane on the inner walls of the stomach protects it from the corrosive action of acid. If for some reason thisthe layer is broken, the acid begins to contact the tissues, irritate them and gradually leads to the appearance of ulcers. This is how a stomach ulcer is formed. We will try to analyze the symptoms, treatment in our article.
Causes of intestinal diseases
If we talk about the reasons that can provoke the development of these diseases, we can name the following:
- Inaccuracies in nutrition: dry food, eating spicy, s alty, very hot food.
- Lack of vitamins and iron.
- Infection with the bacterium Helicobacter pylori.
- Taking antibiotics without a doctor's prescription.
- Impaired metabolism.
- Predisposition to disease.
Many doctors are of the opinion that our stressful life is also the culprit of the fact that we often begin to worry about the symptoms of stomach and duodenal ulcers. Some diseases of the internal organs can also provoke the development of peptic ulcers, such as cholecystitis, pancreatitis, cholelithiasis.
Signs of disease
The symptoms of gastric and duodenal ulcers are slightly different, so they should be discussed separately. The following signs are characteristic of damage to the gastric mucosa:
- Persistent pain just above the navel.
- Pain goes away or becomes significantly less if you take antacids, which envelop the walls of the stomach and prevent them fromcontact with hydrochloric acid.
- Weight loss.
- Appetite may decrease.
- After eating, there may be a feeling of nausea, and sometimes vomiting.
- Blood clots can be seen in the vomit.
- The stool changes color and becomes darker, sometimes even bloody.
Duodenal ulcer symptoms are as follows:
- Frequent heartburn.
- Sharp pain in the upper abdomen, which often overtakes a person at night. After eating, it passes or becomes weaker.
- Nausea and frequent vomiting.
- Constipation, especially during an exacerbation.
What is surprising is that these diseases have periods of exacerbation and remission. When the ulcer subsides, the person feels quite comfortable, even if he makes errors in nutrition.
Diagnosis of disease
If you have a question about how to cure a stomach ulcer, then first you need to make the correct diagnosis, because many diseases can have similar symptoms. First of all, the doctor will talk to you and examine you. After that, he will take an interest in your well-being.
Recently, more and more often you can hear that helicobacter pylori bacterial cells are blamed for the development of peptic ulcer. Detecting their presence is quite simple - you just need to do a blood or stool test.
If you are sure that you urgently need treatment for stomach ulcers. The doctor will be able to prescribe you drugs only after an endoscopic examination. This method is currently consideredmost accurate in making such a diagnosis.
The procedure is not pleasant, but it will give an accurate answer to all questions about whether you have an ulcer, whether there are other changes. If a duodenal ulcer is diagnosed, treatment will be slightly different from gastric ulcer therapy.
During endoscopy, you can even take a piece of tissue for analysis if there is a suspicion of cancer.
Treatment
If you ask a doctor how to cure a stomach ulcer, then a competent specialist will always tell you that the treatment consists of several components:
- Taking antibiotics, especially if bacteria are found to be the cause.
- Drugs that will reduce the acidity of gastric juice.
- If gastric ulcer treatment begins, drugs should be taken and enveloping action.
- Following a strict diet.
- Daily routine.
- Stop drinking alcohol and smoking.
There are times when the disease is advanced or complications arise, then you have to resort to surgical intervention.
Features of the treatment of peptic ulcer
Treats for stomach ulcers may differ depending on the underlying cause:
- If you suspect the presence of the bacterium Helicobacter pylori, treatment should begin with antibiotics to prevent the appearance of new foci. With the slightest improvement, the medication should not be stopped, the course of treatment must be completed.
- Often the cause of the disease is the intake of anti-inflammatory nonsteroidal drugs. In this case, they must be cancelled.
- Increased production of gastric juice can provoke the development of an ulcer, therefore, with the help of drugs, it is necessary to reduce its secretion.
- If the cause could not be established, then acid-lowering drugs should be taken. The duration of treatment depends on the course of the disease, the presence of complications, the size of the ulcer.
The effectiveness of therapy can be determined by tests and repeated endoscopy.
Factors contributing to the development of ulcers
There are some factors that can contribute to the development of peptic ulcers. Many doctors believe that the body's own defenses play an important role in preventing disease. These defense mechanisms include mucous membranes, which are the first barrier:
- Mucin.
- Bicarbonates.
- Back diffusion of hydrogen protons.
- Blood supply.
When the defense mechanisms are disrupted, negative factors have a stronger effect on the body.
Traditional medicine in the treatment of ulcers
If you have a duodenal ulcer, folk remedies are quite able to help you. The most effective are:
- Celandine.
- Sea buckthorn oil.
There are also many recipes for treating ulcers with herbs. The following fees are considered the most famous and effective:
- Take calendula,chamomile, yarrow in equal amounts. 2 tbsp. l. mixture pour boiling water in a volume of 0.5 liters, insist and take 50 ml 3 times a day for a month. Then take a break for two weeks and repeat the course.
- In a half-liter jar, collect poplar buds up to half, pour vodka and leave for 2 weeks. After that, you can take tincture of 1 tbsp. spoon half an hour before meals.
- In the morning after waking up (before meals) take 1 tsp. sea buckthorn oil. After that, you need to lie down for an hour, turning over periodically from one side to the other.
- 1 tsp celandine brew 400 ml of boiling water and insist, and then strain and drink warm 130 grams three times a day half an hour before meals.
You can list folk recipes for a long time that will help you get rid of diseases of the stomach and intestines.
Diet for duodenal ulcer
In the treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, a strict diet is indispensable. The main recommendations in this regard include:
- Reduce the consumption of meat and protein products, as they increase the acidity of the gastric juice.
- During periods of exacerbation, food should be warm and pureed, such as cereals, mashed potatoes, potatoes.
- It is better to eat more often, but in small portions.
- Exclude coffee, hot sauces, smoked foods, fatty meats from your diet.
- Eat vegetables only boiled.
- Don't eat sour fruits likeapples, oranges. You can eat bananas.
- It is useful to take vitamin rosehip infusions, fruit juices, only with pulp.
If you follow the doctor's recommendations, stick to a diet and take appropriate medications, then the symptoms of stomach and duodenal ulcers will soon stop bothering you.
Complications of the disease
If you do not start treatment in time, then peptic ulcer can cause complications. The most common is bleeding. It is quite difficult to determine internal bleeding, but there are some signs that may indirectly indicate them:
- Nausea.
- Dizzy.
- "Flies" before the eyes.
- Weakness.
- Tachycardia.
- Dry mouth.
A perforated ulcer, or perforation, as doctors call it, is a dangerous and serious complication. In this case, a through hole appears in the wall of the stomach or duodenum, through which their contents enter the abdominal cavity.
What can be observed in patients:
- Severe sharp pains in the upper abdomen.
- He turns to stone.
- Pain gradually spreads to the entire abdomen.
- May vomit.
If a person is not provided with urgent assistance, most often surgical, then this can end badly. If a peptic ulcer is not treated, then over time the ulcers heal a little, a scar appears. This leads to disruptionstomach or intestines, food stagnates as the lumen narrows.
Don't risk your he alth, if you have frequent stomach pains, you should consult a doctor. Although we got acquainted with the symptoms of a stomach ulcer, the doctor should still prescribe treatment.
Prevention of peptic ulcer disease
Any disease is easier to prevent than to waste time, effort and money on its treatment. Of course, in our time it is quite difficult to constantly eat right, follow all the recommendations on the daily routine. Sometimes we, adults, ourselves teach our children to malnutrition when we buy them chips, crackers, instead of pampering them with natural juices or fruits.
In order to prevent the disease, it is necessary:
- Stick on a diet.
- Try to eat less smoked and fatty foods.
- Do not abuse fast food.
- Minimize carbonated drinks.
- Get rid of bad habits (smoking and drinking alcohol).
- Try to avoid stress, if you can't do it then don't take it personally.
Only in this case, peptic ulcer will not bother you. Take care of yourself and stay he althy.
