Kinds Of Ulcers
There are very many kinds of ulcers which are named depending on where they are found on the digestive system. They include:
Peptic ulcer
They affect the lining of the stomach or duodenum. These kinds of ulcers are always associated with the pepsin. Remember pepsin plays a very important role in the digestive system. Peptic ulcers can be divided into an oesophageal ulcer, duodenal ulcers or gastric ulcers. The most common symptoms of ulcers are a burning pain below the sternum which may occur during early morning hours, before any meal or after a meal. When it becomes very chronic, patients may sometimes vomit blood or start being dizzy. Although anti-acids might be used at times, they only provide short term solutions to the problem. When these ulcers aren’t treated with three months then they are referred to as refractory ulcers.
Gastric ulcers
These are peptic ulcers found in the stomach. They are the most common kinds of ulcers. Some of the most common symptoms include dull pain during the early morning hours, before eating and at times immediately after having a meal. At times it’s accompanied by episodes of nausea, drastic weight loss and loss of appetite in most instances. These kinds of ulcers have proved to be very resistant to ordinary treatments and hence need for advanced treatments as they are associated with more complications if left unattended to.
Duodenal ulcers
These kinds of ulcers are peptic ulcers found in the duodenum. They are found on the small intestine (1st part of the). Its symptoms are exactly the opposite of those of the gastric ulcers. For instance, it’s associated with sudden weight gain, very serious pains, and heart burns besides having frequent burning sensations.
Duodenal ulcers are commonly found in the Western world. They should be attended to as soon as possible since due to the adverse effects it comes with.
Esophageal ulcers
They are also very common kinds of ulcers and they affect the lower part of the oesophagus. They are caused whenever there is acid reflux from the stomach. When acid from the stomach flows to the lower section of the oesophagus, inflammations which later form pores occur. This is because the mucus lining in the oesophagus is too thin to protect it from strong acids. They are also associated with pain which is normally felt at the breast bone.
Bleeding ulcers
These are the most dangerous kinds of ulcers of all the existing ulcers. These are peptic ulcers which have not been treated forming small wounds which ooze blood. Its symptoms include gastric weight loss, elements of blood in the vomit and stool containing dark-red blood and foul smell.
These ulcers are not characterized with any form of pain as the acid is neutralised by the oozing blood and therefore it can be very dangerous as one might assume that his/ her ulcers have healed since there’s no pain.
Stress ulcers
These kinds of ulcers are normally experienced in patients who are ever stressed up. They are found in the oesophagus, stomach or in the duodenum.