Everyone’s inner stomach wall is prone to damage from its acid or external objects such as foods, infections, or everything that can be swallowed! Four out of ten people above 30 years have a stomach ulcer(s), which makes its related complaints the most common reason for adult consultations with medical doctors.
People with stomach ulcers complain mostly of upper abdominal pain or discomfort. It may migrate to the back, but a stomach ulcer is unlikely if the back pain started first.
Even though it may sound ordinary, seven in every ten people with stomach ulcers do not develop symptoms. Unfortunately, those with silent ulcers tend to present severe complications as the disease progresses without treatment, so they end up with stomach bleeding or perforation. Four to nine people coming to the hospital with bleeding ulcers deny memory of stomach problems.
Does that mean presenting symptoms is a good thing? In this case - yes. Seek healthcare if you manifest the following symptoms:
Abdominal pain
Bloating or abdominal fullness,
Nausea provoked by eating.
Early satiety
Acid reflux
In the BYON8 app, a doctor can address your complaint via a chat-based or a video-based consultation, order necessary tests, and prescribe appropriate medications.
It is worth noting that the digestive system can have ulcers elsewhere, not only in the stomach, and the majority of ulcers share Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) as the number 1 cause. Fortunately, that bacteria can be treated and eradicated with the right antibiotics.
It is your right to safeguard your stomach and optimize your life quality. We are here to help you with that! With the BYON8 app, the maintenance of your health is affordable and conveniently accessible. Do a free symptom checkup if you are worried about ulcers, or chat anytime with our doctors for elaborated recommendations.
Until next time - be safe and well!
References:
[1] Matthewson, K., Pugh, S., & Northfield, T. C. (1988). Which peptic ulcer patients bleed?. Gut, 29(1), 70–74. https://doi.org/10.1136/gut.29.1.70
[2] Wilcox, C. M., & Clark, W. S. (1997). Features associated with painless peptic ulcer bleeding. The American journal of gastroenterology, 92(8), 1289–1292.
[3] Gururatsakul, M., Holloway, R.H., Talley, N.J. and Holtmann, G.J. (2010), Association between clinical manifestations of complicated and uncomplicated peptic ulcer and visceral sensory dysfunction. Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 25: 1162-1169. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-1746.2010.06269.x