Stomach ulcer

The main symptom of a stomach ulcer is tummy pain. The pain is usually in the upper part of your tummy and may feel like burning.

Stomach ulcers are usually caused by helicobacter pylori (H pylori) bacteria, or regular use of painkillers like ibuprofen.

Stomach ulcers are usually treated with medicines to reduce your stomach acid, and sometimes antibiotics to treat H pylori infection.

Things you can do to help with stomach ulcer symptoms include stopping smoking and avoiding some foods and medicines.

Stomach ulcers can be serious. They can cause problems like bleeding in your stomach or intestine, serious infections and anaemia.

The main symptom of a stomach ulcer is tummy (abdominal) pain.

The pain:

• is usually in the upper part of your tummy
• may feel like burning
• is often worse at night

Other symptoms of a stomach ulcer include indigestion, heartburn (a burning sensation in your chest), bloating and feeling or being sick.

• you have indigestion that does not go away with treatment
• your tummy pain keeps coming back

The main causes of stomach ulcers are:

• infection with helicobacter pylori (H pylori) bacteria
• regular use of anti-inflammatory painkillers (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen

Stomach ulcers are also more common in people who smoke, and the risk of getting one increases as you get older.

If a GP thinks you might have a stomach ulcer, they may arrange some tests to check what's causing your symptoms.

These tests may include:

• a breath test to check for H pylori bacteria, where you take a tablet or a special drink and breathe into a tube
• a test of a sample of your poo
• a blood test

The GP may also ask to weigh you and feel your tummy.

You may also be referred for a gastroscopy (where a long, thin, flexible tube with a small camera inside is passed into your mouth and down into your stomach).

Treatment for a stomach ulcer depends on what's causing it.

You may be offered:

• antibiotics to treat H pylori infection
• medicines to reduce the amount of acid in your stomach, such as proton pump inhibitors

Treatment usually lasts from 1 week to 2 months, depending on what's causing your ulcer. You may need tests after treatment to make sure it's worked.

If your symptoms come back after treatment, speak to a GP. You may need to try a different medicine or keep taking medicine for longer.

A doctor may also recommend:

• lifestyle changes, such as stopping smoking
• stopping or changing medicines that may be making your symptoms worse
• getting help with stress, anxiety and depression, as these things can make your symptoms worse

After you've seen a GP, there are things you can do to help ease your stomach ulcer symptoms and reduce the risk of a stomach ulcer coming back.

• eat smaller meals

• eat your evening meal 3 to 4 hours before going to bed

• try to keep to a healthy weight

• take steps to manage stress

• do not take anti-inflammatory painkillers (such as ibuprofen) without speaking to a doctor first

• do not have food or drink that triggers your symptoms, which can include fatty or spicy foods, coffee and chocolate

• do not smoke

• do not drink too much alcohol

It's important to get treatment for a stomach ulcer. If not treated, a stomach ulcer can lead to serious problems that may be life-threatening.

These include:

• bleeding from your stomach or intestine
• a lack of iron (iron deficiency anaemia) caused by bleeding
• a hole in your stomach that can cause peritonitis, a serious infection of the inner lining of your tummy
• increased risk of stomach cancer from an untreated H pylori infection