Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWho It AffectsSymptomsCausesWhen to Call 911Frequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Who It Affects
Symptoms
Causes
When to Call 911
Frequently Asked Questions
Peptic ulcerscan cause some discomfort but are rarely life-threatening. With that said, severe ulcers can sometimes lead toperforationand internal bleeding. These types of ulcers often require urgentendoscopyand/or emergency surgery to prevent serious illness or death.
This article discusses the complications of peptic ulcers, warning signs, and when to get medical help.
A peptic ulcer is a sore in the lining of either the stomach or theduodenum, the first part of the small intestine. About 10% of Americans develop at least one peptic ulcer during their lifetime. Approximately 4.6 million people are diagnosed with a peptic ulcer every year in the United States.
Ulcers can develop at any age but are rare in teenagers and even rarer in children.
Stomach ulcers are more likely to develop in people older than 60. Duodenal ulcers occur more frequently in men than women. Stomach ulcers develop more frequently in women than men.
Causes and Risk Factors of Peptic Ulcer Disease
Symptoms and Complications
The symptoms of a peptic ulcer can often be vague, manifesting with pain or discomfort in the upper abdomen as well as heartburn, indigestion, nausea, and gas.
In some cases,complicationscan occur, leading to more severe symptoms. For example, overusingnonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)likeAdvil (ibuprofen)can cause peptic ulcer bleeding to turn from mild to severe.
There are three serious complications of a peptic ulcer that may require emergency intervention:
Perforation affects around five of every 100,000 people with peptic ulcers in the United States. Internal bleeding affects up to 57 of 100,000 people with peptic ulcers. Both account for the majority of peptic ulcer-related deaths.
RecapSymptoms of a peptic ulcer include pain in the upper abdomen, heartburn, nausea, indigestion, and gas. It can sometimes cause serious complications, such as perforation, internal bleeding, or a blockage, requiring emergency care.
Recap
Symptoms of a peptic ulcer include pain in the upper abdomen, heartburn, nausea, indigestion, and gas. It can sometimes cause serious complications, such as perforation, internal bleeding, or a blockage, requiring emergency care.
How Peptic Ulcer Disease Is Diagnosed
Ulcers form when the lining of the stomach or duodenum becomes eroded. Small ulcers may not cause any symptoms, but large ulcers can cause serious bleeding.
Most ulcers occur in the first layer of the inner lining. If the ulcer erodes beyond that, a hole can open that goes all the way through the intestine, causing perforation. A perforation is always considered a medical emergency.
Most ulcers can be treated with medications, includingantibioticsifH. pyloriis present. Other treatments may be required if a peptic ulcer is bleeding. Most of these types of bleeds can be treated endoscopically using cauterization—a technique in which tissue is burnt to close off a bleeding blood vessel. Surgery may be required if the bleeding cannot be controlled or there is a perforation.
Peptic Ulcer Disease Treatment
When to Seek Medical Attention
Most peptic ulcers are not a medical emergency and can be treated on an outpatient basis. But if there has been a perforation, severe internal bleeding, or obstruction, you’ll need to seek immediate medical care.
Call 911 for any of these warning signs:
If left untreated, intestinal perforation and internal bleeding can lead toshock, coma, multiple organ failure, and death.
Summary
Peptic ulcers usually cause only discomfort, but sometimes, they can worsen and lead to life-threatening complications. Call 911 for any warning signs of perforation, internal bleeding, or intestinal obstruction. These include vomiting blood, bloody stools, severe pain in the upper abdomen, clammy skin, fast heartbeat, and fainting.
A bleeding stomach ulcer symptoms include vomiting blood or passing stools that look like black tar. A bleeding ulcer can cause a drop in blood pressure and symptoms like dizziness, weakness, pale skin, rapid heartbeat, and fainting.
Over-the-counter NSAIDs include Advil and Motrin—both ibuprofen—and Aleve (naproxen sodium). Prescription NSAIDs include Celebrex (celecoxib), meloxicam, Toradol (ketorolac), and others.
Contrary to popular belief, stress and spicy foods do not cause ulcers, however, they can contribute to symptoms.
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Di Saverio S, Bassi M, Smerieri N, et al.Diagnosis and treatment of perforated or bleeding peptic ulcers: 2013 WSES position paper.World J Emerg Surg.2014;9:45. doi:10.1186/1749-7922-9-45National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Peptic ulcers (stomach ulcers).Ocasio Quinones GA, Woolf A.Duodenal ulcer. In: StatPearls [Internet].Malik TF, Gnanapandithan K, Singh K.Peptic ulcer disease. In: StatPearls [Internet].Drini M.Peptic ulcer disease and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.Aust Prescr. 2017 Jun;40(3):91–3. doi:10.18773/austprescr.2017.037Søreide K, Thorsen K, Harrison EM, et al.Perforated peptic ulcer.Lancet. 2015;386(10000):1288-1298. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(15)00276-7Ya LJ, Sung J, Hill C, Henderson C, Howden CW, Metz DC.Systematic review of the epidemiology of complicated peptic ulcer disease: Incidence, recurrence, risk factors, and mortality.Digestion. 2011;84:102–13. doi:10.1159/000323958American College of Gastroenterology.Peptic ulcer disease overview.
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Di Saverio S, Bassi M, Smerieri N, et al.Diagnosis and treatment of perforated or bleeding peptic ulcers: 2013 WSES position paper.World J Emerg Surg.2014;9:45. doi:10.1186/1749-7922-9-45National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Peptic ulcers (stomach ulcers).Ocasio Quinones GA, Woolf A.Duodenal ulcer. In: StatPearls [Internet].Malik TF, Gnanapandithan K, Singh K.Peptic ulcer disease. In: StatPearls [Internet].Drini M.Peptic ulcer disease and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.Aust Prescr. 2017 Jun;40(3):91–3. doi:10.18773/austprescr.2017.037Søreide K, Thorsen K, Harrison EM, et al.Perforated peptic ulcer.Lancet. 2015;386(10000):1288-1298. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(15)00276-7Ya LJ, Sung J, Hill C, Henderson C, Howden CW, Metz DC.Systematic review of the epidemiology of complicated peptic ulcer disease: Incidence, recurrence, risk factors, and mortality.Digestion. 2011;84:102–13. doi:10.1159/000323958American College of Gastroenterology.Peptic ulcer disease overview.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Di Saverio S, Bassi M, Smerieri N, et al.Diagnosis and treatment of perforated or bleeding peptic ulcers: 2013 WSES position paper.World J Emerg Surg.2014;9:45. doi:10.1186/1749-7922-9-45National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Peptic ulcers (stomach ulcers).Ocasio Quinones GA, Woolf A.Duodenal ulcer. In: StatPearls [Internet].Malik TF, Gnanapandithan K, Singh K.Peptic ulcer disease. In: StatPearls [Internet].Drini M.Peptic ulcer disease and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.Aust Prescr. 2017 Jun;40(3):91–3. doi:10.18773/austprescr.2017.037Søreide K, Thorsen K, Harrison EM, et al.Perforated peptic ulcer.Lancet. 2015;386(10000):1288-1298. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(15)00276-7Ya LJ, Sung J, Hill C, Henderson C, Howden CW, Metz DC.Systematic review of the epidemiology of complicated peptic ulcer disease: Incidence, recurrence, risk factors, and mortality.Digestion. 2011;84:102–13. doi:10.1159/000323958American College of Gastroenterology.Peptic ulcer disease overview.
Di Saverio S, Bassi M, Smerieri N, et al.Diagnosis and treatment of perforated or bleeding peptic ulcers: 2013 WSES position paper.World J Emerg Surg.2014;9:45. doi:10.1186/1749-7922-9-45
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Peptic ulcers (stomach ulcers).
Ocasio Quinones GA, Woolf A.Duodenal ulcer. In: StatPearls [Internet].
Malik TF, Gnanapandithan K, Singh K.Peptic ulcer disease. In: StatPearls [Internet].
Drini M.Peptic ulcer disease and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.Aust Prescr. 2017 Jun;40(3):91–3. doi:10.18773/austprescr.2017.037
Søreide K, Thorsen K, Harrison EM, et al.Perforated peptic ulcer.Lancet. 2015;386(10000):1288-1298. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(15)00276-7
Ya LJ, Sung J, Hill C, Henderson C, Howden CW, Metz DC.Systematic review of the epidemiology of complicated peptic ulcer disease: Incidence, recurrence, risk factors, and mortality.Digestion. 2011;84:102–13. doi:10.1159/000323958
American College of Gastroenterology.Peptic ulcer disease overview.
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