Stomach Ulcers: Causes, Symptoms & Recovery Tips
Verified By
KIMS-SUNSHINE
Specialist,
28 March, 2025
An ulcer literally means you have an open sore or wound and when it is located in the stomach lining, it is called a stomach or peptic ulcer. This tear or sore in the gastric lining can be painful, as the stomach gets attacked by its own potent acids. This manifests as a burning kind of pain that doesn’t go away easily. Ulcers are almost never a random occurrence and in some cases, if the substance causing it goes away, then the stomach lining may heal by itself. But, in other instances, some kind of help is needed, especially when the ulcer begins to bleed. If these are not addressed soon, you can lose quite a lot of blood in a short amount of time, which can be dangerous. The main thing to remember is that ulcers can be treated and you don’t need to deal with it forever.
What Causes Stomach Ulcers?
In India, duodenal ulcers are way more common when compared to gastric ulcers and they affect more men than women. The most common causes of ulcers include the chronic usage of NSAIDs or related painkillers, H. pylori infections and drinking and smoking often. It was previously thought that stress or spicy foods alone could cause ulcers but now studies have shown that these can act as factors to exacerbate symptoms, but are not capable of causing ulcers on their own.
Early Symptoms Of Stomach Ulcers You Shouldn’t Ignore-
Some of the early signs you should know about are as follows, while in other instances, people report that they feel fine and show no symptoms at all,
- Acid reflux
- Feeling nauseous and needing to vomit
- Belching a lot
- A sharp pain in the stomach because the acids are literally eating away at the lining. If it goes on for a long time, then you will have a hole or perforation to deal with.
- Indigestion
- Some people may have bleeding or blood in their poop
- They may feel dizzy and weak
- Severe abdominal pain may also be present in some cases
If bleeding persists, then some people may become anaemic too. If the hole in the lining becomes large enough, then fluids can leak out of the stomach into the abdomen and cause an infection in extreme cases.
Best Diet For Healing Stomach Ulcers Naturally-
Fermented foods are generally gut friendly, so you should have curd, salads and lots of fruits and vegetables- these are also rich in antioxidants and hence can help your body heal better. Acidic foods like coffee, tea, citrus fruits, tomatoes etc. should not be consumed on an empty stomach either as acidity or heartburn can get worse.
Treatment Options For Stomach Ulcers Without Surgery-
The root cause of the ulcers needs to be addressed for treatment to be successful. So, if you have an H. pylori infection, then antibiotics will clear it up. At other times, doctors may give you proton pump inhibitors – which are designed to make the stomach acids less acidic than usual. Urgent care includes downing some pepcid, which instantly neutralises stomach acid and eases pain.
Conclusion
Ulcers can become chronic and affect individuals adversely. In some people, silent ulcers may cause more harm as they have no symptoms and hence think that they are fine. Ulcers don’t go away on their own in most cases, but if they have been caused by continuous NSAID usage, then discontinuing the drug can help the stomach lining regenerate and mitigate issues. But, this is possible only if you catch it early on. The best way to deal with ulcers when you are getting treated is to eat light, eat home made meals as much as possible and avoid irritants like coffee or tea, even if you love your caffeine and can’t seem to get through the day without it.
