A gastric ulcer is a break in the normal tissue lining the stomach. An ulcer occurs when the lining of these organs is corroded by the acidic digestive juices which are secreted by the stomach cells.

Causes

There are many things that can cause Peptic Ulcer Disease. The major causes of Peptic Ulcer Disease are Helicobacter pylori, NSAIDs and acid hypersecretion.
Cigarette smoking is also an important cause of ulcer formation and ulcer treatment failure.
Stress, diet, and alcohol are not felt to directly cause ulcers.

Symptoms

Burning pain is the most common peptic ulcer symptom. The pain is caused by the ulcer and is aggravated by stomach acid coming in contact with the ulcerated area. Often the pain associated with Peptic Ulcer Disease comes and goes. Some people notice that the pain gets worse after eating spicy foods. Also, many will notice that over the counter antacids help relieve their symptoms. The best way to diagnose ulcers is by an endoscopy. In this test, a camera is used to look into the stomach. The doctor can look at the lining of the stomach and intestines to see if an ulcer is present. The doctor can also do a biopsy if needed.