patient stomach ulcer medical report

Common tests & procedures

Your doctor will use information from your medical history, a physical exam, and tests to diagnose an ulcer and its cause. The presence of an ulcer can only be determined by looking directly at the stomach with endoscopy or an X-ray test.

How do doctors diagnose stomach ulcers?

The main symptom caused by a stomach ulcer is having a pain in the upper tummy (abdomen). Other symptoms may include: Bloating. This means your tummy swells because your stomach is full of gas or air.

What are the symptoms of a stomach ulcer?

Healthcare providers treat uncomplicated ulcers with a combination of medicines to reduce stomach acid, coat and protect the ulcer during healing and kill any bacterial infection that may be involved. Medicines may include: Antibiotics.

How do you treat a stomach ulcer?

It's not known exactly how common stomach ulcers are. They have become much less common since the 1980s because of much more effective treatments. So people with stomach ulcers now usually get better much more quickly. The term 'peptic ulcer' is used to describe ulcers that are caused by too much acid in the stomach.

How common are stomach ulcers?

How are ulcers described medically?

(UL-ser) A break on the skin, in the lining of an organ, or on the surface of a tissue.

How do you confirm a stomach ulcer?

The only way your doctor can tell for sure if you have an ulcer is to look. They may use a series of X-rays or a test called an endoscopy. This test allows them to pass a thin, bendy tube down your throat and into your stomach and small intestine.

What blood test shows stomach ulcer?

If the diagnosis of peptic ulcer disease is suspected, obtaining a complete blood cell (CBC) count, liver function tests (LFTs), and levels of amylase and lipase may be useful.

How do you describe stomach ulcer pain?

The classic symptoms of peptic ulcers are stomach pain and indigestion. Ulcer pain feels like burning or gnawing inside your stomach, which is between your breastbone and your belly button. It may improve temporarily when you eat or drink or when you take an antacid, medication to reduce stomach acid.

What is ulcer and its symptoms?

The most common symptom is a burning sensation or pain in the middle of your abdomen between your chest and belly button. Typically, the pain will be more intense when your stomach is empty, and it can last for a few minutes to several hours. Other common signs and symptoms of ulcers include: dull pain in the stomach.

What is the best treatment for ulcers?

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) PPIs work by reducing the amount of acid your stomach produces, preventing further damage to the ulcer as it heals naturally. They're usually prescribed for 4 to 8 weeks. Omeprazole, pantoprazole and lansoprazole are the PPIs most commonly used to treat stomach ulcers.

What is the best test for stomach problems?

Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (also called EGD or upper endoscopy). An EGD (upper endoscopy) is a procedure that allows the healthcare provider to examine the inside of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum with an endoscope. This is guided into the mouth and throat, then into the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum.

Can blood tests show ulcers?

A blood test can reveal if a person has a Helicobacter Pylori infection, which is an indicator of stomach ulcers and could put a person at greater risk of stomach cancer.

Can CT scan detect ulcer?

CT scanning has no part in the primary detection of gastric ulcers; however, this modality has a role in the detection of subphrenic and other collections that may occur after a perforation of a gastric ulcer.

What are the types of ulcer?

The different types of ulcersarterial ulcers.venous ulcers.mouth ulcers.genital ulcers.

What causes stomach ulcers?

Stomach ulcers are usually caused by an infection of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacteria, or from taking anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen and aspirin.

Is a stomach ulcer serious?

Peptic ulcers can eat a hole through (perforate) the wall of your stomach or small intestine, putting you at risk of serious infection of your abdominal cavity (peritonitis).

What is the gas used in a breath test?

Urea breath test. For a urea breath test, you will drink a special liquid that contains urea, a waste product that your body makes as it breaks down protein. If H. pylori are present, the bacteria will change this waste product into carbon dioxide—a harmless gas. Carbon dioxide normally appears in your breath when you exhale.

What is the procedure called when you see the upper GI tract?

Upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy and biopsy. In an upper GI endoscopy, a gastroenterologist, surgeon, or other trained health care professional uses an endoscope to see inside your upper GI tract. This procedure takes place at a hospital or an outpatient center.

How to test for H pylori?

A health care professional will take a sample of your breath by having you breathe into a bag at your doctor’s office or at a lab. He or she then sends your breath sample to a lab for testing. If your breath sample has higher levels of carbon dioxide than normal, you have H. pylori in your stomach or small intestine.

How to tell if you have an ulcer?

The presence of an ulcer can only be determined by looking directly at the stomach with endoscopy or an X-ray test.

What is the purpose of a physical exam?

A physical exam may help a doctor diagnose a peptic ulcer. During a physical exam, a doctor most often

How does an endoscope work?

The endoscope pumps air into your stomach and duodenum, making them easier to see. The doctor may perform a biopsy with the endoscope by taking a small piece of tissue from the lining of your esophagus. You won’t feel the biopsy. A pathologist examines the tissue in a lab. Read more about Upper GI Endoscopy.

What is the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases?

This content is provided as a service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), part of the National Institutes of Health. The NIDDK translates and disseminates research findings to increase knowledge and understanding about health and disease among patients, health professionals, and the public. Content produced by the NIDDK is carefully reviewed by NIDDK scientists and other experts.

How do NSAIDs help with peptic ulcers?

To understand how NSAIDs cause peptic ulcer disease, it is important to understand how NSAIDs work. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs reduce pain, fever, and inflammation, or swelling. Everyone has two enzymes that produce chemicals in your body’s cells that promote pain, inflammation, and fever. NSAIDs work by blocking or reducing the amount of ...

What is the name of the cancerous tumor in the stomach?

an infection with the bacteria Helicobacter pylori ( H. pylori) rare cancerous and noncancerous tumors in the stomach, duodenum, or pancreas —known as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. Sometimes peptic ulcers are caused by both NSAIDs and H. pylori.

What does it mean when you have blood in your stool?

have sudden, sharp stomach pain that doesn’t go away. These symptoms could be signs that a peptic ulcer has caused a more serious problem. Call your doctor if the pain gets worse.

How to tell if you have a peptic ulcer?

What are the symptoms of a peptic ulcer? 1 bloating 2 burping 3 feeling sick to your stomach 4 poor appetite 5 vomiting 6 weight loss

What is the name of the condition where a tumor forms in the pancreas?

Zollinger-Ellison syndrome is a rare disorder that happens when one or more tumors form in your pancreas and duodenum. The tumors release large amounts of gastrin, a hormone that causes your stomach to produce large amounts of acid. The extra acid causes peptic ulcers to form in your duodenum and in the upper intestine.

What does it mean when your stomach hurts?

A dull or burning pain in your stomach is the most common symptom of a peptic ulcer. You may feel the pain anywhere between your belly button and breastbone. The pain most often. happens when your stomach is empty—such as between meals or during the night. stops briefly if you eat or if you take antacids.

How long does it take for a peptic ulcer to come and go?

comes and goes for several days, weeks, or months. Less common symptoms may include. bloating. burping. feeling sick to your stomach. poor appetite. vomiting. weight loss. Even if your symptoms are mild, you may have a peptic ulcer.

What is the Forrest classification scheme?

During endoscopy, gastric ulcers are graded using the Forrest classification scheme; this provides the estimated risk of ulcer bleeding and helps to distinguish which ulcers need endoscopic management, such as injection therapy, cautery, or metal or absorbable clip placement.

How long does it take for gastric ulcers to heal after PPI?

These patients need to be on PPI therapy twice daily for 8 weeks and then undergo a repeat endoscopy to confirm for healing.

What is the most harmful physiological damage to the gastric mucosa?

Overall, the most harmful physiological damage results from the decrease in gastric blood flow and the mild ischemia it causes in the gastric mucosa. Overall, the pathophysiology of gastric ulcer development depends on the etiology, but they all lead to the loss or damage of the gastric mucosal integrity. Histopathology.

How big is a gastric ulcer?

They are a break in the mucosal barrier of the stomach lining that penetrates through the muscularis mucosa and are greater than 5 mm in diameter.

What bacteria are in the stomach?

First, regarding Helicobacter pylori - these bacteria colonize about 45-50% of the stomach mucosa worldwide. It is a bacterium that people are inoculated with at an early age, especially in developing countries with lower socioeconomic status and crowded households. These bacteria induce an inflammatory response in the host that leads to an epithelial response, degeneration, and injury, known as gastritis. Typically, patients with this infection develop pan-gastritis. This damages the antral somatostatin release, which leads to an increase in gastrin secretion, which stimulates increased acid production. Patients who develop gastric ulcers are those in whom the bacteria has remained in the antrum. Parietal cells of the more proximal gastric body still have full production capabilities preventing ulcer genesis in this area. Of note, not all patients with this infection are symptomatic; this depends on the virulence of the bacteria and other host risk factors. A common bacterial virulence factor is the production of cagA, which leads to more cytokine cell destruction and mucosal damage.[3]

How many people have gastric ulcers?

Epidemiology. Gastric ulcers are a part of peptic ulcer disease, which carries a lifetime prevalence of 5 to 10% of patients, which is likely an underestimation of the disease as some patients may remain asymptomatic.

What is the best treatment for a gastric ulcer?

If the gastric ulcer is bleeding or has a higher Forrest classification, different modalities to stop and prevent future bleeding can be employed. Epinephrine injection with either cautery or metal or absorbable clip placement is usually effective.

How to check if you have H pylori?

pylori infection, your doctor will test your blood, breath, or stool. Your doctor also may look inside your stomach and duodenum by doing an endoscopy or x-ray. Peptic ulcers will get worse if not treated. Treatment may include medicines to reduce stomach acids or antibiotics to kill H. pylori.

What is a peptic ulcer?

Definition and Facts for Peptic Ulcers (Stomach Ulcers) (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Peptic Ulcer Disease (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish. Peptic Ulcer Disease (American College of Gastroenterology)

Why does my stomach hurt when I eat?

Peptic ulcers happen when the acids that help you digest food damage the walls of the stomach or duodenum. The most common cause is infection with a bacterium called Helicobacter pylori.

Why do I have ulcers on my stomach?

The most common cause is infection with a bacterium called Helicobacter pylori. Another cause is the long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) such as aspirin and ibuprofen. Stress and spicy foods do not cause ulcers, but can make them worse.

Can antacids heal peptic ulcers?

Treatment may include medicines to reduce stomach acids or antibiotics to kill H. pylori. Antacids and milk can't heal peptic ulcers. Not smoking and avoiding alcohol can help. You may need surgery if your ulcers don't heal. NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

What is Robert's formula?

Robert’s Formula is an herbal combination that was formulated by Captain Frank Roberts, a British Medical Herbalist practicing in the earlier half of the 20 th century. Though the formulation has a number of iterations, the original formula contained the following herbs: Althea officinalis, Echinacea angustifolia, Hydrastis canadensis, Geranium maculatum, and Phytolacca decandra. 13 Though there isn’t current data demonstrating efficacy, there exists much folklore and anecdotal evidence that supports its use for the treatment of ulcers. The demulcent in the formula, Althea officinalis (marshmallow), is high in mucilage, soothing the mucus membranes of the gastrointestinal tract and reducing inflammation. Echinacea purpurea (echinacea) and Hydrastis canadensis (goldenseal) are anti-microbial, treating an H pylori infection if present and reducing infection of the ulcerated tissue as it heals. The Eclectic herbalists describe Phytolacca decandra (poke root) as indicated for ulcerated mucosal tissues. 14 And lastly, Geranium maculatum (cranesbill) is known for its astringent and styptic properties, addressing any possible bleeding from the ulcerated tissue. Historically, the original formulation was prescribed as a tincture, though the patient was given an equivalent formula made of encapsulated dry herbs. Most newer formulations omit the potentially toxic poke root due to safety concerns, but otherwise there have been no reported side effects. 15

What is PUD in a patient?

Jennifer Brusewitz, ND. Peptic Ulcer Disease (PUD) occurs when the mucosal lining of the stomach and/or duodenum becomes inflamed, leading to a well-defined mucosal ulceration.

What is cabbage used for?

Cabbage has been used for centuries as a medicine. Ancient Greeks and Romans used cabbage to fight infection and treat ulcers, and records appearing in the Greco-Roman era documented the healing properties of cabbage. Dr Garnett Cheney, professor of medicine at Stanford Medical School, published several positive studies in the 1950s on the use of fresh cabbage juice in the treatment of gastric ulcers. 8 Cheney identified an anti-ulceragenic factor in cabbage juice, “vitamin U” (S-methylmethionine), which protects cells by increasing mucin production in the stomach mucosa. 9,10 Around the same time, Dr William Shive at the University of Texas extracted glutamine from cabbage and performed a study that demonstrated a high rate of cure using the glutamine to treat patients with both gastric and peptic ulcers. 11 Cabbage contains high amounts of glutamine, an amino acid that is an energy source for the enterocytes of the stomach lining and is specific for healing the gut lining. 12

How do ulcers develop?

Gastric ulcers develop when detrimental factors overcome the stomach’s protective mechanisms. 2 This patient’s history included multiple risk factors, such as a significant smoking history, chronic alcohol use, and recent stressful life events. Cigarette smoking and alcohol use have been shown to increase basal acid output and affect the stomach mucosa. 5 Stress was also likely to be an important contributing factor. 6,7 The patient had been living abroad until 3 months prior. Moving was stressful, as his new wife was coming to United States for the first time, and he was in the process of looking for work. The decades-long research on stress and its relationship to ulcer formation has been challenging due to methodological limitations, though most studies demonstrate an increased risk of ulcer formation especially when correlated to pathophysiological factors such as smoking and alcohol consumption. The patient’s elevated blood pressure may have been due to the acute pain, and necessitated monitoring in successive visits.

What foods are used to lower blood pressure?

The patient’s state of acute pain had subsided, but because the patient’s blood pressure still wasn’t optimal, dietary recommendations were made to include celery, garlic and parsley to his diet, all known to help lower blood pressure. 16-20 Support was also given to help the patient manage his current stress levels.

Is cabbage good for peptic ulcers?

Due to the timing of his pain subsiding, it appears that the freshly juiced cabbage was effective in healing his suspected ulcer. Con temporary research is warranted regarding this treatment for peptic ulcer disease.

Where is Jennifer Brusewitz?

Jennifer Brusewitz, ND is a 2000 graduate of the National College of Naturopathic Medicine. She currently practices in Portland, Oregon and is a clinical supervisor at NCNM’s teaching clinics. She also investigates, develops and implements Quality Assurance standards in the NCNM Medicinary.