When your stomach ulcers, open sores that develop on the lining of the stomach or upper intestine. Also known as peptic ulcers, they aren't caused by stress or spicy food like many think—they're usually linked to a bacterial infection or long-term use of certain painkillers. The main culprit? Helicobacter pylori, a type of bacteria that weakens the protective mucus layer in the stomach. This bug hides in the stomach lining, ignores acid, and slowly eats away at the tissue. It’s responsible for up to 80% of cases. The other big cause? NSAIDs, common pain relievers like ibuprofen and aspirin that block the enzymes your stomach needs to protect itself. Take them daily for months? You’re putting yourself at risk.
Stomach ulcers don’t always scream for attention. Some people feel nothing. Others get a burning pain between meals or at night, bloating, nausea, or vomiting. In serious cases, you might see blood in your stool or vomit. If you’ve had recurring indigestion that won’t go away, don’t just reach for antacids. Get tested. A simple breath, stool, or blood test can confirm if Helicobacter pylori is the problem. And if it is? Treatment isn’t complicated—it’s usually a two-week combo of two antibiotics and a proton pump inhibitor to shut down acid production. This isn’t guesswork. It’s science-backed, and it works in most cases. But if you’re still using NSAIDs daily, even after treatment, the ulcer will come back. That’s why doctors ask: What are you taking for pain? And why?
There’s no magic diet that cures ulcers, but some foods make things worse—coffee, alcohol, spicy meals, and smoking. Cutting back helps, but it won’t fix the root cause. What does? Proper diagnosis and the right meds. You’ll find posts here that break down how antibiotics like clindamycin and tetracycline are used in stubborn cases, how acid reducers like proton pump inhibitors really work, and what alternatives exist when standard treatment fails. You’ll also see how these treatments connect to broader issues like antibiotic resistance and long-term medication safety. This isn’t about quick fixes. It’s about understanding what’s really going on inside your stomach—and how to fix it for good.
Ulcers and gastritis are often confused, but they're different conditions with the same root causes. Learn how they're linked, how doctors tell them apart, and why treating one early can prevent the other.
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