A peptic ulcer is a hole in the gut lining of the stomach, duodenum, or esophagus. A peptic ulcer of the stomach is called a gastric ulcer; of the duodenum, a duodenal ulcer; and of the esophagus, an esophageal ulcer. An ulcer occurs when the lining of these organs is corroded by the acidic digestive juices which are secreted by the stomach cells.
What are the causes of peptic ulcers?
For many years, excess acid was believed to be the major cause of ulcer disease. Accordingly, treatment emphasis was on neutralizing and inhibiting the secretion of stomach acid. While acid is still considered significant in ulcer formation, the leading cause of ulcer disease is currently believed to be infection of the stomach by a bacterium called Helicobacter pylor (H. pylori). Another major cause of ulcers is the chronic use of non steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, (commonly referred to as NSAIDs), including aspirin. These inhibit prostaglandin production by epithelial cells. NSAIDs are medications for arthritis and other painful inflammatory conditions in the body. Aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin), naproxen (Naprosyn), and etodolac (Lodine) are a few of the examples of this class of medications. Prostaglandins are substances which are important in helping the gut linings resist corrosive acid damage.
Aggressive factors like cigarette smoking and alcohol can also play an important cause of ulcer formation and ulcer treatment failure.
The H. pylori bacterium is very common, and it is estimated that around 80% of us are carriers, with infection usually persisting for many years, leading to ulcer disease in only 10 % to 15% of those infected. H. pylori is found in more than 80% of patients with gastric and duodenal ulcers. While the mechanism of how H. pylori causes ulcers is not well understood, elimination of this bacterium by antibiotics has clearly been shown to heal ulcers and prevent ulcer recurrence in the majority of cases.
Strains of H. pylori vary in pathogenicity and virulence, and so both host factors and the bacterial strain determine the outcome of infection.
Contrary to popular belief, alcohol, coffee, colas, spicy foods, and caffeine have no proven role in ulcer formation. Similarly, there is no conclusive evidence to suggest that life stresses or personality types contribute to ulcer disease.
The Super Peptic Ulcer Pack comprises one bottle of Helicobactrin; one bottle of Lactoferrin Xtra 60 capsules, one bottle of Colostrum, one bottle of Pylopass and one bottle of Happy Gut Be Cool.
Helicobactrin has been shown to reduce ulcer niche size.
Pylopass has been shown to help eradicate H. pylori.
Colostrum is known for its healing and repairing properties.
Lactoferrin is a well proven anti-bacterial immune protein, which studies have shown to be effective against H.pylori.
Happy Gut Be Cool is a natural antacid that allows for continued digestion of food (unlike any other antacid).
Symptoms of ulcer disease are variable. Many ulcer patients experience minimal indigestion or no discomfort at all. Some report upper abdominal burning or hunger pain one to three hours after meals and in the middle of the night. These pain symptoms are often promptly relieved by food or antacids. The pain of ulcer disease correlates poorly with the presence or severity of active ulceration. Some patients have persistent pain even after an ulcer is completely healed by medication. Others experience no pain at all, even though ulcers return. Ulcers often come and go spontaneously without the individual ever knowing, unless a serious complication (like bleeding or perforation) occurs.
Patients with ulcers generally function quite comfortably. Some ulcers probably heal even without medications. Therefore, the major problems resulting from ulcers are related to ulcer complications, including ulcer bleeding, ulcer perforation, and gastric obstruction.
Patients with ulcer bleeding may report black tarry stools (melena), weakness, a sense of passing out upon standing (orthostatic syncope), and vomiting blood (hematemesis). Initial treatment involves rapid replacement of lost body fluids intravenously. Patients with persistent or severe bleeding may require blood transfusions. An upper endoscopy is performed to establish the site of bleeding and to stop active ulcer bleeding with the aid of heated instruments.
Ulcer perforation leads to the leakage of gastric contents into the abdominal (peritoneal) cavity, resulting in acute peritonitis (infection of the abdominal cavity). These patients report a sudden onset of extreme abdominal pain, which is worsened by any type of motion. Abdominal muscles become rigid and board-like. Urgent surgery is usually required.
Patients with gastric obstruction often report increasing abdominal pain, vomiting of undigested or partially digested food, diminished appetite, and weight loss. The obstruction usually occurs at or near the pyloric canal. The pyloric canal is a naturally narrow part of the stomach joining the upper part of the small intestine called the duodenum.
Upper endoscopy is useful in establishing the diagnosis and excluding gastric cancer as the cause of the obstruction. In some patients, gastric obstruction can be relieved with tube suction of the stomach contents for 72 hours, along with intravenous anti-ulcer medications, such as cimetidine (Tagamet) and ranitidine (Zantac). Patients with persistent obstruction require surgery.
Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy is the best diagnostic test, but ulcers can also be detected by barium contrast X-rays. They can also be detected by the urease breath test in which C-labelled urea is taken orally and the resultant C02 released by the urease enzyme is measured on the breath.