Various Causes of Peptic Ulcer
by Groshan Fabiola
Peptic ulcer is a disorder of the digestive system that
causes inflammation and lesions in different regions of the
gastrointestinal tract. The disorder involves erosion of the mucus-covered
protective surface of either the stomach or the duodenum.
Most peptic ulcers occur on the premises of genetically inherited
physiological abnormalities, such as: inappropriate production of mucus (a
natural protective substance that surrounds the internal soft tissues and
organs), inappropriate production of bicarbonate (a chemical that
neutralizes the effects of digestive acids) and poor blood circulation at
the level of the stomach.
The major cause of peptic ulcer is infection with a type of bacterium
called Helicobacter pylori. Although there are various other factors that
contribute to the development of peptic ulcer, the disorder generally
occurs as a consequence of infection with Helicobacter pylori bacteria.
These bacteria weaken the internal organs’ protective walls, allowing
gastric acids and pepsin to cause serious damage to soft tissues and
organs.
Another cause of peptic ulcer is the stomach’s overproduction of
digestive fluids. In normal amounts, gastric acid and pepsin have a very
important role in the process of digestion. However, when the stomach
secretes these substances in excess, they can cause ulcerations and
lesions to the internal tissues and organs.
Research results indicate that smokers are exposed to a very high risk
of developing peptic ulcers. Smoking increases the stomach’s production of
digestive fluids, thus facilitating the occurrence of the disorder.
Furthermore, smoking slows down the healing of existing peptic ulcers and
increases the risk of complications. Similar to smoking, caffeine can also
lead to an overproduction of pepsin and stomach acid, thus contributing to
the occurrence of peptic ulcer.
The excessive consumption of alcohol also greatly contributes to the
development of peptic ulcer. Statistics indicate that peptic ulcer is very
common among people who suffer from cirrhosis, a disease associated with
the abuse of alcohol.
Studies in the field have found that certain oral medications are also
a potential cause of peptic ulcer. Commonly prescribed in the treatment of
rheumatoid arthritis, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have various
side-effects at the level of the gastrointestinal system, and they greatly
contribute to the occurrence of peptic ulcer. Ongoing treatments with
aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen interfere with the normal activity of the
stomach in several different ways: they slow down the stomach’s production
of mucus and bicarbonate; they stimulate an overproduction of pepsin and
gastric acid; they perturb the blood circulation in the lining of the
stomach.
Emotional stress also seems to affect the activity of stomach,
increasing the risk of developing peptic ulcer. Although medical
scientists haven’t established clear connections between emotional stress
and peptic ulcer, it seems that people with emotional problems are
commonly confronted with gastrointestinal disorders.
By contrast, physical stress has been confirmed to be a major cause of
peptic ulcer. People who have acquired stomach injuries or people who have
suffered surgical interventions are exposed to a high risk of developing
peptic ulcer.
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