Recognizing the Signs of Peptic Ulcer Disease

If you have an open wound on your hand, you do everything that you can to protect it. However, you can’t slap a band-aid on a wound inside your stomach or small intestine. This means it’s constantly exposed to stomach acid and food, resulting in constant — sometimes excruciating — pain. 

Peptic ulcer disease (PUD) is a condition that causes painful sores, or ulcers, to develop in the lining of your stomach or the first part of your small intestine. These sores form when the protective layer of mucus lining the stomach is weakened or broken down, exposing the tissue to stomach acid. 

While many of us experience a run-of-the-mill stomach ache occasionally, the pain caused by peptic ulcers is persistent, sharp, and often accompanied by other symptoms like nausea, bloating, or vomiting. If this sounds all too familiar, it’s time to get help from Dr. Jack Husney, a board-certified gastroenterologist in Brooklyn, New York. 

With years of experience diagnosing and managing digestive conditions, Dr. Husney is in the best position to determine if your symptoms are caused by PUD. Here, he discusses some of the most common signs to help you recognize the condition more quickly.

What is peptic ulcer disease?

Your stomach produces acid to help it digest food. However, it also has a protective mucus layer to protect its tissues from exposure to this acid, which could cause damage. 

Some medications or infections can cause this acid to eat at the stomach or intestinal lining, causing ulcers to form. The two main types of peptic ulcers are gastric ulcers, which develop in your stomach lining, and duodenal ulcers, which occur in the upper part of the small intestine.

While PUD can affect anyone, certain factors can increase your risk. These include an infection with H. pylori, long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen or aspirin, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and high levels of stress.

How to differentiate peptic ulcer pain

Gas, bloating, food poisoning, or even indigestion can all make your stomach hurt. However, the pain from peptic ulcers has distinct features that set it apart. First, the pain tends to be sharp, burning, or gnawing, and it’s often felt in the upper abdomen, just below the ribs. 

Unlike typical stomach aches, ulcer pain tends to flare up when your stomach is empty, such as between meals or in the middle of the night, and may temporarily improve after you eat.

PUD also doesn’t cause just pain. Many people with the condition experience nausea, bloating, and a feeling of fullness even after a small meal. Others may lose their appetite entirely or experience significant, unintended weight loss. 

In more severe cases, peptic ulcers can cause vomiting, sometimes with traces of blood, or black, tarry stools, which points to bleeding in your digestive tract.

Treatment for peptic ulcer disease

Treatment for PUD depends on the underlying cause of your ulcers. If your ulcers are caused by H. pylori, Dr. Husney will prescribe a course of antibiotics to kill the bacteria. The antibiotics are often combined with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) or H2-receptor blockers, which reduce stomach acid, allowing you to heal better. 

For ulcers caused by NSAID use, stopping or reducing the medication is critical. Dr. Husney may recommend switching to alternative pain relievers and also using the above acid-reducing medications to protect the stomach lining.

Managing PUD 

If you have PUD, lifestyle changes are also essential to healing and recovery. These might include:

• Quitting smoking: Tobacco weakens your stomach’s protective lining, increasing the risk of developing an ulcer
• Reducing alcohol consumption: Alcohol irritates the stomach lining and can worsen symptoms
• Managing stress: While stress isn’t a direct cause of peptic ulcers, it can exacerbate symptoms

Dr. Husney works closely with each patient to ensure that their treatment plan addresses the immediate problem as well as any factors that could lead to ulcer recurrence.

Many people ignore the symptoms of PUD, assuming their stomach pain is minor or temporary. However, untreated ulcers can lead to more serious complications that further undermine your health and well-being. 

If you’ve been dealing with persistent stomach pain, especially if it’s accompanied by nausea, vomiting, or changes in your stool, don’t wait to get help. Call or click online to schedule a visit with Dr. Husney in Brooklyn, New York, today.