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Classic peptic ulcer disease is becoming rarer, while the number of gastric ulcers caused by drugs is increasing, says Prof. Grażyna Rydzewska, gastroenterologist.
- They are mainly non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, i.e. painkillers and anti-cold drugs available at every grocery store and at every gas station
- Many people are convinced that they are completely safe
- Meanwhile, ulcers may be one of the effects of taking these drugs
- You can find more such stories on the TvoiLokony home page
Symptoms of stomach ulcers
The symptoms of gastric ulcers are quite characteristic, although, as emphasized by prof. Rydzewska, it changes a bit today. – It was once said that peptic ulcer disease could be diagnosed over the phone, because that was how characteristic the symptoms were. Clearly localized pain in the abdomen after eating, worsening in the fall and spring. In the case of duodenal ulcers, pain appeared before eating. However, this classic picture of ulcer pain is slowly fading away. One of the reasons is taking more and more medications that can mask ulcer symptoms – explains Prof. Rydzewska.
Indications for gastroscopy
Ewa believed that her stomach ache was related to stress. The first year of studies was a huge challenge for her. After each meal, she had to go to bed because she was unable to do anything. At that time, she was reaching for painkillers. Eventually she went to see her GP. He told her to do a Helicobacter pylori test available in pharmacies. It turned out successfully – it turned out that the bacteria were gone. Then the doctor referred her to gastroscopy. The indication for gastroscopy is mainly gastric ailments. – These are epigastric pain, flatulence, hunger sucking, heartburn, belching, nausea, which is a whole range of ailments that each of us has experienced. However, none of these symptoms occurring individually and incidentally is an indication for this test. Only the presence of frequent or several symptoms at once means that gastroscopy must be performed – says prof. Rydzewska.
- Peptic ulcer tests are available from Medonet Market
The course of the gastroscopic examination
Ewa was very afraid of gastroscopy, because she had read on the Internet that it was a nightmare and a man is suffocating. As pointed out by Arkadiusz Bednarczyk, a gastroenterologist from the Department of Internal Diseases and Gastroenterology of the Central Teaching Hospital of the Ministry of Interior and Administration in Warsaw, who performs this test – it is unpleasant, but not painful. – The gastroscope is made of a tube approximately 100-110 cm long and approximately 0,5 cm in diameter. At its end there is a lamp illuminating the inside of the abdominal cavity and a camera from which the enlarged image is visible on the monitor screen. Inside the tube, there are also small forceps that can be used to take the test sample. The cable is inserted through a special mouthpiece that is put on the patient’s mouth. Gentle local anesthesia makes it completely painless – explains the doctor. Ewa admits that her fear was exaggerated. The study was not so terrible at all.
Overuse of pain medications
During the gastroscopy, the doctor did another test for Ewa Helicobacter pylori. It came out negative. It also turned out that there was an ulcer in the stomach. The gastroenterologist took a clipping of it for a study that assesses whether there are cancerous cells in it. When she came for the results two weeks later, it turned out that the ulcer was not a cancer. While talking to the doctor, she realized that she was overusing painkillers because she was taking them during menstruation, because of headaches and stomachaches. He decided that this could be the cause of the ulcer.
Treatment of ulcers
Bacteria are responsible for most ulcers Helicobacter pylori. Then antibiotic treatment is introduced to get rid of it. It happens, however, that ulcers are formed without the participation of this microorganism. In this situation, the therapy is different. Above all, it is necessary to avoid ulcerogenic drugs. The ulcer should heal on its own within 6 weeks. During this time, the patient is given drugs that strengthen the gastric mucosa and facilitate the treatment of ulcers. After 6-8 weeks, the gastroscopy should be repeated to see if the ulcer has healed. If it doesn’t heal, we need to check again for cancer. In the case of complications of the disease, e.g. ulcer perforation, and sometimes when conservative treatment is ineffective, surgery is applied.
Prof. Rydzewska emphasizes that none of the home treatments for ulcers is scientifically confirmed. On the contrary, there are also those that can be harmful. For example, drinking alcohol on an empty stomach will certainly not heal ulcers, and may seriously harm your health. Prof. Rydzewska recommends only linseed, which has a beneficial effect on the stomach.
Prophylactically against stomach ulcers try FOR SOILS – a dietary supplement Herbapol in Krakow, which contains fenugreek and licorice extract. We also recommend YANGO kale extract, available at a promotional price on Medonet Market.
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