Peptic Ulcer Disease-Topic Overview

Peptic Ulcer Disease - Topic Overview

Peptic Ulcer Disease Guide

• Topic Overview
• Cause
• Symptoms
• What Happens
• What Increases Your Risk
• When To Call a Doctor
• Exams and Tests
• Treatment Overview
• Prevention
• Home Treatment
• Medications
• Surgery
• Other Places To Get Help
• Related Information
• References
• Credits

To treat peptic ulcers, most people need to take medicines that reduce the amount of acid in the stomach. If you have an H. pylori infection, you will also need to take antibiotics.

You can help speed the healing of your ulcer and prevent it from coming back if you quit smoking and limit alcohol. Continued use of medicines such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen may increase the chance of your ulcer coming back.

Ignoring symptoms of an ulcer is not a good idea. This condition needs to be treated. While symptoms can go away for a short time, you may still have an ulcer. Left untreated, an ulcer can cause life-threatening problems. Even with treatment, some ulcers may come back and may need more treatment.

Learning about peptic ulcers:	What are peptic ulcers? What are the symptoms? Can I prevent ulcers? What will happen if I get an ulcer? What increases my risk of having an ulcer?
Being diagnosed:	How are ulcers diagnosed? Are there tests that can find the cause of an ulcer?
Getting treatment:	What's the treatment for ulcers? When should I call a doctor? Can medicines help? Is surgery an option?
Ongoing concerns:	Do ulcers come back? What can I do for myself at home?