Gastric Ulcer
A Gastric ulcer is a type of peptic ulcer that can occur within the body. However a gastric ulcer is a type of ulcer specific to the gastric (stomach) part of the body. Unlike a terminal disease, gastric ulcers can be managed and most patients live a healthy but cautious lifestyle. Doctors have developed certain aspects that should be added into a patient’s diet that has been diagnosed with a gastric ulcer. There are also certain medicines that when coupled with the right eating habits can ultimately make living with an ulcer easier. Gastric ulcers are a disease that doctors are continuing studied the prognosis of to better understand how the disease effects the gastric part of the body, and the medicines required to treat the unique symptoms associated with the disease.
A Gastric ulcer is a disease consisting of a hole in the lining of the gastrointestinal system. The hole in the lining can be formed as a result of corrosion of the lining by juices containing acid, excess use of aspirin-containing medicines, spicy foods, stress, and caffeinated beverages. According to Susan Turley (2011), “Gastric ulcers are most commonly caused by the bacterium Helicobacter pylori.” Helicobacter pylorus is a microaerophilic bacteria found in the gastric part of the body. Although, the health factors listed are known conductors of gastric ulcers they are not the only primary concerns when diagnosing someone with a gastric ulcer.
The body displays numerous symptoms when a gastric ulcer is present. The symptoms of a gastric ulcer are abdominal pain, nausea, abnormal indigestion, hematemesis, hematochezia, and unintentional weight loss. Abdominal pain is pain within the thorax and the inguen, and abnormal indigestion is not being able to properly digest food. The presence of vomiting blood and bloody stool is a result of blood coming from the upper part of the gastrointestinal tract. Unintentional weight loss takes place as the body loses the appetite for food as a result of gastric discomfort. The size of a gastric ulcer can range from 1/8 of an inch to ¾ of an inch in diameter in size. Doctors use these symptoms to determine the intensity of the ulcer and the proper diagnostic procedures. In order for a doctor to properly diagnose a patient with a gastric ulcer after reviewing all symptoms certain tests have to be administered to ensure the correctness of the diagnosis. An endoscopy is a test that uses a small flexible tube with a light on the end of it to obtain a closer look into the gastric system. While performing the endoscopy the doctor can use an endoscope to take samples of tissue for further lab testing. Barium x-ray or also called Barium swallow is a solution mixed with barium that is administrated orally. The patient drinks the solution which will coat the upper digestive tract wall lining so it can be examined under a diagnostic x-ray. Another test to detected is someone has a gastric ulcer is a Noninvasive test for Gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding, this test can include the rectal blood count and fecal occult blood test (FOBT). The patient has to supply up to six stool samples, in which is tested by smearing the feces on a treated paper that reacts to hydrogen peroxide. When conducting the GI test if the tests strip turns blue the patient has tested positive for internal bleeding. Gastric ulcers affect the body’s systems in different ways resulting in discomfort. According to” Mama’s Health Simply Easy Healthy You” (2000) “Gastric ulcers affect the nerves surrounding it. The nerve become agitated and causes a great amount of pain.” Ulcers can cause hemorrhages from erosion of the major blood vessels from tears in the gastro or intestine lining. The GI tract system can become obstructed as a result of spasms or edema (swelling) surrounding the ulcer area. A bleeding gastric ulcer can cause iron deficiency anemia or low blood pressure as a result
