Bleeding stomach ulcer is a complication of a severe kind of ulcer. Bleeding could be the only symptom of an ulcer and it could be fast or slow. Fast bleeding is recognizable by vomiting of blood or blood in the stools. Slow bleeding is hard to detect because it really has no frightening symptoms. Patients with slow bleeding show only little signs of the disease such as low blood cell count or anemia, fatigue, weakness and pallor (unnatural lack of color in the skin). Around 20 million American develop stomach ulcer in their life times. 40,000 of the said population undergo surgery due to the persistent symptoms and 6000 die every year.
The common signs of bleeding stomach ulcer include abdominal pain in the upper middle part of the abdomen, above the belly button just below the breastbone. The pain is characterized by a burning or gnawing sensation at night or early morning after a meal when the stomach is empty lasting a few minutes to several hours. The pain can be relieved by eating certain foods, antacids or taking heartburn medication.
The condition is caused by a bacterium called helicobacter pylori. They are small, microaerophilic, spiral-shaped, gram-negative bacteria which cause ulcers. The bacterium weakens the protective mucous coating of the stomach creating irritation in the lining and a sore ulcer. H. pylori survive in the strong stomach acid by secreting enzymes that neutralize the acid.
Treatment for bleeding stomach ulcer involves lifestyle changes, medications and surgery. A patient who is determined to find relief or cure for ulcer must give up his smoking habits, alcohol, and avoid using aspirin and NSAIDs. The 2 types of medications for this disease are triple therapy and dual therapy. Both targets to neutralize the secretion of acids in the digestive system at the same time heal the ulcers. Surgery is the last but probably the best option for patients who have a hard time with therapy or medication. Surgical operations for ulcers are vagotomy, antrectomy, pyroplasty.
The best way of treating bleeding ulcer is prevention. Avoiding alcohol, smoking, taking aspirin and NSAIDs and caffeine are the quickest and safest way in finding a cure for this disease. Bleeding stomach ulcer is a condition that mostly happens to people who are negligent of their lifestyle, diet, and most importantly health.