‘Doctor,
I am an ulcer patient’, he said; ‘I have had ulcer for over 5 years’, he added. I
squirmed.
The
misconceptions that have placed peptic ulcer disease in the same category as
other chronic illnesses like hypertension and diabetes have been saddening.
These have been festered by poor information and unfounded beliefs.
For
a long time, even the medical world had held on to a causal
misconception. It had only recently discovered that the major cause of the
erosion of the gut wall, leading to peptic ulcer, has been a microorganism called
Helicobacter Pylori.
WHAT PEPTIC ULCER DISEASE REALLY IS?
Peptic
Ulcer Disease has plagued man for as long as it can be remembered. There have
been several attempts to explain the condition that particularly causes a
burning sensation in the area, folks call the mid chest[epigastrium], worsened
by starvation and precipitated by certain edibles, in some cases.
They
are sores on the internal lining of the gut, particularly, the oesophagus(food
pipe), stomach and small intestines(duodenum).
Let’s
see what really happens, how these sores form and why this condition is
treatable and different from other chronic illnesses with symptomatic treatment
approaches.
HOW IT HAPPENS
The
wall of the stomach is bathed in acidic medium. This medium facilitates the
digestion of food. The walls are so tough that the acidic medium has no effect
on it. However, a little bug comes along, Helicobacter Pylori. It clings to a
part of this wall and gradually eats it up. Over time, a slit gap is created
and the integrity of the wall is breached. This area, having lost its armour,
begins to feel the direct burning effect of the acid. When this happens, the
patient begins to feel it around the area between the breasts.
Beside
Helicobacter pylori, continual exposure to tobacco smoke erodes these walls
too. Also, certain drugs taken for long periods are also complicit in eroding
these walls such as the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug e.g Aspirin,
Ibuprofen, diclofenac etc. They do not only erode these walls, they also delay
healing of these ulcers during treatment.
Chronic
use of alcohol and exposure to radiation also play causative roles.
SYMPTOMS
The
most common complain is often of a burning pain at the centre of the chest
region that goes right to the back.
Other
complains are varied and include:
·
Vomiting
·
Early satiety
·
Indigestion
·
Dark stools, a few cases are quite bloody
·
Fatigue and tiredness
·
Gradual and unexplained weight loss
COMPLICATIONS
Peptic
ulcer could have some life threatening complications if left untreated.
The
walls of the gut could get perforated; this is a serious medical emergency and
one of the most fatal complications of peptic ulcer disease.
Other
serious complications are:
·
Ongoing internal bleeding, this is often subtle but the
consequences are sudden and severe.
·
Blockage of the stomach; the sores often heal with a scar and
over time it narrows the passage where food passes and makes it difficult for
food to pass with ease. It gets worse with time.
CARE
So far, it is clear that this
condition is treatable.
The goals of treatment are:
·
To alleviate the discomfort and pain
·
To heal the ulcer
·
To remove the causes
·
To prevent recurrence
The first three goals are captured in
the medical treatment. After
confirmation of the presence of the bug, Helicobacter pylori, a medical regimen is prescribed; which successfully destroys
the microorganism, alleviates pain by reducing the acidity of the
medium and allows for healing of the ulcer.
The idea of chronicity is the
misconception that replaces recurrence. Recurrence depends on you. The last
goal is the part where you play a role in your own care.
Modifying one’s lifestyle could prove
a big deal in the management of peptic ulcer disease.
Stopping smoking: reducing alcohol intake
drastically, exposure to radiation and incessant consumption of over the
counter drugs like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs has proven to be most
effective in preventing a recurrence with excellent results.
You are only an ulcer patient because you
haven’t got it treated effectively yet,
Do you still want to remain one? If not, consult a medical doctor immediately!
-DR EVAARE TOM
