What are stomach ulcers? What causes stomach ulcers? Stomach ulcers are usually caused by an infection of Helicobacter pylori bacteria, or from taking anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen and aspirin. These can break down the stomach’s defence against the acid it produces to digest food, allowing the stomach lining to become damaged and an ulcer to form.
- H. pylori infection is a common infection to have and it’s usually harmless for most people. But sometimes it causes ulcers in the stomach (gastric ulcer) or the duodenum (duodenal ulcer). Some people are more affected than others.
- Anti-inflammatory medicines or NSAIDs – There are medicines widely used to treat pain, high temperature (fever) and inflammation (swelling). Some commonly used NSAIDs include ibuprofen, aspirin, naproxen and diclofenac. Many people take NSAIDs without having any side effects. But there’s always a risk the medication could cause problems, such as stomach ulcers, particularly if taken for a long time or at high doses. It is suggested to not take NSAIDs if you currently have or have had a stomach ulcer.
- A condition known as Zollinger – Ellison syndrome can cause stomach and intestinal ulcers by increasing the body’s production of acid. This syndrome is suspected to cause less than one per cent of all peptic ulcers.
Some people don’t have the above two problems then what causes stomach ulcers? Many studies have found that lifestyle factors, like spicy foods, stress and alcohol, cause stomach ulcers. It’s thought that smoking increases your risk of developing stomach ulcers and may make treatment less effective.
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