Peptic Ulcer Disease: It's process and prevention

By Katie A. Price

When you have peptic ulcer disease, the linings of your stomach called mucus layers are disrupted due to the increased acidity in the stomach. A peptic ulcer disease can show no symptoms in the beginning when the condition is not yet grave or the disruptions are not yet deep. Peptic ulcer disease is said to be idiopathic but a lot of experts would associate it to many predisposing factors. Helicobacter Pylori, a bacterium found in the stomach is also believed to contribute to the occurrence of peptic ulcer disease.

The excessive amounts of acid in the stomach cause peptic ulcer disease. This happens because the protective coverings in the linings of the stomach can no longer function properly because they are already irritated. The acid that causes the irritation in the mucosal lining of the stomach is none other than hydrochloric acid. This hydrochloric acid causes the disruptions and erosions in the mucosal tissues of the stomach.

A person with peptic ulcer disease will experience a sharp gnawing pain in the epigastric area of the abdomen. This pain is experienced every after eating and is not relieved by food intake, when it is gastric in origin. There are a lot of predisposing factors for the occurrence of peptic ulcer disease, and one of them is stress.

Increased gastric motility is present in people who are stressed out because the body tends to relax to compensate for the fatigue that it is experiencing. When a person is in a relaxed state, there is an increased movement of gastric contents or the food that was previously ingested. To complete the process of digestion, hydrochloric acid is secreted in the stomach so that the foods are broken down into nutrients needed by the body.

Alcoholics and chain smokers can't escape peptic ulcer disease because they have a greater risk for developing it. Alcohol is known to be an irritant. This component causes increased irritability in the protective layers of the stomach aside from the increased hydrochloric acid. Alcohol is also a potent vasoconstrictor that causes increased blood pressure and blood flow to the stomach causing increased gastric motility. This in turn causes additional secretion of hydrochloric acid that will add to the stomach's irritability.

Aside from alcohol and smoking, another factor for peptic ulcer disease is caffeine. Coffee drinkers who drink excessive amounts of coffee per day are also at risk for developing peptic ulcer. This happens because caffeine is also a stimulant and a vasoconstrictor just like nicotine in cigarettes. Coffee should also be not taken as a replacement for a meal.

Patients with peptic ulcer disease often experience nausea and vomiting. Aside from that, the typical sign is the presence of pain in the stomach after or during eating. When peptic ulcers become bleeding or perforated ulcers, this will cause the patient to vomit blood and to defecate with blood. Blood will be colored black because of the blood mixed with stools. This condition is called melena.

Prevention of peptic ulcer includes the changing of habits such as alcohol drinking and smoking. Patients who are alcoholics are advised to undergo rehabilitation to fully drop the habit of alcohol drinking. Drinking coffee should also be done in moderation and should never replace a meal. - 17274

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