subject: What Is The Real Cause Of An Ulcer? [print this page] Almost everyone has heard of the term ulcer, especially when a person describes being stressed out and joking about getting an 'ulcer' as a result. Though, an ulcer is nothing to joke about as it's a medical condition involving a very painful open sore. Specifically, a peptic ulcer is a sore that is located in the stomach or upper part of the small intestines.
How Many Are Affected?
Peptic ulcers are very prevalent, as approximately 10% of the population will be affected by it at least once in their lives, according to U.S. doctors. Many previously thought that stress, spicy foods, and possibly alcohol caused these sores.
However, this is viewed differently by modern science. What they have found is that bacterial infections are the actual cause of this condition that is found in the upper intestines. Other causes that have been discovered include smoking and taking specific kind of medications.
What Has Research Found?
Some interesting findings have come from various studies of ulcers. Robin Warren and Barry Marshall, the doctors who were behind such findings, concluded that the stomach was a place where bacteria could live and create problems. This bacteria is referred to as Helicobacter pylori, and any doctor that knows anything is aware that this is the primary cause of peptic ulcers.
As a matter of fact, this bacteria Helicobacter pylori is likely to affect approximately one out of every five people who are younger than 40 years old. Moreover, of all those that experienced ulcers, 90% of them had the Helicobacter pylori infection.
Of course, ulcers are developed in some people because of stress, but only when the person has been under severe emotional or physical stress.
A gastric ulcer is also known as a stomach ulcer, and occurs when the stomach's tissue lining is ruptured. It was widely accepted that an unhealthy diet and stress were the reasons why people suffered from ulcers, until Helicobacter pylori was discovered.
