Ulcer

Can you say Helicobacter pylori? Sounds like something that came out of a science fiction novel, don’t you think? Well, as of 1982, doctors discovered that this little bacteria with the big name was the main contributing cause for a person to suffer from a stomach ulcer.

What is an ulcer?

An ulcer by it’s very definition is not something you want to be looking at, unless you’re a doctor. Fortunately for us, stomach ulcers are on the inside of our bodies and therefore not visible for us. That might also explain a lot of things, like the fact that we mistake an ulcer for something like heartburn, or indigestion instead of what it really is.

But to continue on, up until this great discovery of the Helicobacter pylori bacteria, doctors always connected an ulcer to a combination of too much stress, and too many spicy foods. Helicobacter pylori, or H. pylori as we shall henceforth call it, blew this theory to bits and pieces simply by its existence.

Actually, there is a surprisingly large number of people who are walking around with the H. pylori bacteria in their stomaches. However, this does not mean that every one of these people will actually get an ulcer.

Suffice it to say that there could be many reasons for this, including perhaps, the actual type of H. pylori bacteria that is within your stomach, the acids in your stomach, or a number of reasons along those lines.

Nevertheless, since most of the adult population lives in fear of getting an ulcer, I think it is crucial to explain in the simplest possible terms, what an ulcer is.

To start with your stomach has a mucous lining that coats the walls to protect it from the acids that reside within it. These acids are vital in the process of digesting your food, and are present all the time within your intestine.

In some people however, the Helicobacter pylori bacteria will also reside within the intestine, and depending on different factors, will act and weaken or erode the mucous lining of your stomach. This in turn will give rise to the acid, attacking the weakened walls, ultimately causing your ulcer.

Treat your ulcer

Treatments for an ulcer come in many different forms, with antacids being the simplest one of them. However, if you talk to your doctor, you may be able to find a medicine that’s a better match for your type of ulcer.

As always, I can’t stress enough how important it is to consult your doctor if you’re not feeling well. Your body is a finely tuned organ, and may be sending you messages that you just aren’t understanding due to wrong self diagnosis. So, stay off the stress, stop reading all those medical journals, unless you’re a doctor, and listen carefully when your body is telling you something.