Ulcers Are No Laughing Matter

Peptic ulcers, which are in the stomach and the duodenum (the

first part of the intestine leading from the stomach) can occur

at any age and affect both men and women.  Untreated, sufferers

can look forward to a long siege with them.  But today's peptic

ulcer sufferers have a brighter prospect for relief than did

those of even a single generation ago.  There is now less than

1 chance in 18 that surgery will every be necessary and new

medications act faster and better and offer more relief than

ever before.

The warning sign of active ulcers you will most likely experience

(if you get any warning at all) is a gnawing discomfort in the

middle or upper abdomen that typically comes between meals or in

the middle of the night.  Food or liquids, including antacids and

milk, can provide some temporary relief, but milk might not be

all that good a remedy since it stimulates production of

hydrochloric acid and other digestive juices which further

aggravates the pain.

Antacids blended from aluminum, calcium or magnesium salts, have

long been the non prescription drugs most people quickly reach for

to get relief from their stomach pains.  But, because antacids

interfere with absorption of some medications, be sure to go over

this with your doctor and get his approval.

You should never ignore any warning signs of ulcers.  Ulcer

complications are serious and in some cases can be life-threatening. 

If paid from ulcers persists after more than 10 to 14 days of self-

treatment or comes back when treatment ends, you should see your

doctor.  The passing of blood through the bowels may be caused by

some other problem, but it can also be an urgent warning of a

bleeding ulcer.

Bleeding ulcers can cause anemia or, if the ulcer gets larger it

may expand into a major blood vessel, a leak can turn into a

hemorrhage, with only minutes available for life saving emergency

treatment.  Ulcers can also perforate and may erode completely

through the wall of the stomach or duodenum.  If this happens and

the stom§ach's contents flow into the abdominal cavity, severe

infection can result.  A perforated ulcer is an emergency that

requires immediate surgery.

It has been determined that smoking doubles a person's risk for

ulcer disease.  Physicians and researches have found that ulcers

heal a lot slower for smokers, and smokers also have a higher

relapse rate.

And you're definitely at risk for ulcers if you take aspirin and

any of the other products containing aspirin.  High-dose Aspirin,

Ibuprofen, Maproxen and Piroxicam are in wide use today for many

conditions, especially to relive pain and swelling among the

millions of people who have arthritis.  These medications can

irritate the stom§ach's lining and cause gastrointestinal bleeding.

Ulcers have frequently been the target for humor in describing

the stereotypical aggressive, pressured, goal-or-career-oriented

person.  But for those who have them, ulcers are certainly no

laughing matter.  Peptic ulcers strike 1 out of ever 50 Americans

each year.

As research continues, there is now mounting evidence that

something other than smoking, drinking, spicy meals, or a

possible battle with the boss may be associated with ulcers.  It

is now believed that ulcers are the result of a combination of

conditions, the dynamics of which researchers don't yet fully

understand.