1 in 5 Americans struggle with ulcers and stomach pain. It was thought at first that stress caused ulcers, and then research came out that showed us otherwise. The main cause of peptic ulcers includes the use of NSAID pain relievers such as aspirin, poor lifestyle choices, medical history, and infection from the H. Pylori bacteria. If you’ve been looking for an ulcer doctor near you, The Gut Authority can help you heal your ulcers and make the right choices so they don’t return.

What Is an Ulcer?

Occasionally, bacteria, stomach acids, or medications eat a hole through the mucosa’s stomach lining, which can cause peptic ulcers to form. This mucosa is a thick layer of mucus that is designed to protect the lining of your stomach and small intestine. When this layer is compromised, then small sores (called ulcers) develop on the lining of your stomach and small intestine. Sometimes a peptic ulcer (an ulcer in the lining of the digestive tract) can occur as well. Peptic ulcers in the stomach can also be referred to as gastric ulcers.

What Are the Symptoms?

A little over half of the people who have gastric ulcers have no symptoms. Outside of occasional dull pain, they don’t have the usual side effects associated with ulcer complications. Some common side effects of a stomach ulcer include:

• Abdominal pain and burning sensation, sometimes from stomach acid, similar to the feeling when spicy foods don’t sit well.
• Bloody vomit
• Dark stools
• Changes in body weight or loss of appetite
• Nausea/Vomiting
• Helicobacter Pylori (H Pylori) infection can occur when H Pylori bacteria are present in the lining of your stomach.

Another common symptom is heartburn which is located between the abdomen and the sternum. Your doctor may run tests to determine your symptoms and root causes of abdominal issues. This health information will allow our team to begin helping you feel better!

How The Gut Authority Can Help

The best way to prevent ulcers and reduce ulcer pain is by making lifestyle changes by avoiding certain medications and toxins as well as changing what you eat. However, if you already have developed ulcers, your doctor may recommend dietary and lifestyle counseling to help you get rid of them. The first step of treatment for peptic ulcers is helping your body heal by addressing the reasons that you got them. Anti-inflammatory options are extremely helpful for reducing inflammation.

Call Us Today

You don’t have to deal with the pain of an ulcer any longer. The team here at The Gut Authority wants to help you make the right lifestyle changes so your ulcers can heal. Call us today if you need medical advice from an ulcer doctor, and we’d be happy to schedule an appointment for you.