A peptic ulcer is basically a kind of sore in the internal lining of the stomach of a duodenum. There are many causes that generate peptic ulcer symptoms, which should be eliminated to get a proper cure. Peptic ulcer is also called Ulcer, Stomach ulcer, Gastric ulcer and Duodenal ulcer.This pain of peptic ulcer disease has the following characteristics:

• Burning pain
• It may lasts for few days or may be weeks
• Pain is more pinching when stomach is empty
• It lessens after eating

Causes of Peptic ulcers

Peptic ulcers generally develop when the acids which are responsible for a food digestion start damaging the walls of duodenum or stomach. The bacterium causing a peptic ulcer is called Helicobacter pylori. Second cause is a long term usage of NSAIDs as ibuprofen, naproxen and aspirin. Use of tobacco, alcoholic drinks, and smoking habit are included as a leading cause. Spicy foods and stress do not exaggerate the situation but get worse if untreated.

Persons having tumors in the pancreas suffer from a condition called Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, which is responsible to cause duodenum and stomach ulcers. It releases a hormone in high levels, which increases the stomach acidity.

Ulcers which cannot heal can be treated with surgery. General treatments include the intake of those medicines that block stomach acids or any sort of antibiotics to kill and treat ulcer-causing bacteria. Avoiding alcohol and smoking can help improving the situation to even better.

Symptoms of Peptic ulcers

Some ulcers may cause bleeding but small ulcers do not show such symptoms. Although the abdominal pain is a most common symptom but pain can differ from a person to person.

• Upper abdominal pain
• Mild nausea
• Empty feeling in the stomach
• Feeling of fullness in the stomach

There are many other possible symptoms which include:

• Weight loss
• Vomiting
• Fatigue
• Chest pain
• Bloody stools

Possible complications

• Internal bleeding
• Gastric outlet obstruction
• Blood in stool or in vomiting
• Peritonitis-Inflammation of the tissues that line the walls of an abdomen

Suggested Exams and Tests

Doctor should advise following tests to diagnose an ulcer.

• Upper GI
• Esophagogastroduodenoscopy
• Hemoglobin test
• Stool guaiac test

There are about 90% gallstones that show no symptoms and there is a least chance of pain after their formation in 10 years. After 10 years any chance of developing symptom drops.

Colic or Biliary Pain

The most common and mild pain in case of gallstone development is called Biliary colic, which occurs in the upper right or mid abdomen. Symptoms can be non-specific. The following features may appear in a typical attack.

• The primary gallstone symptom is a gnawing pain near the rib cage in the upper right abdomen which can also radiate to upper back.
• Vomiting or nausea can occur.
• Passing gas, changing positions and taking pain relievers do not relieve the pain.
• Biliary colic disappears after several hours, but if it persists, there may be a severe condition of acute Cholecystitis.
• Fatty meals mainly trigger the pain.

Digestive complaints like feeling full after meals,belching,heartburn,bloating or regurgitation are not caused by a gallbladder disease rather conditions that can produce this include indigestion of any unknown cause,gastroesophageal reflux disease and peptic ulcer.

Symptoms of gallbladder inflammation (Acute Calculous or Calculous Cholecystitis)

• When stones block the bile duct acute Cholecystitis i.e. inflammation of gallbladder occurs. Its symptoms include:
• Severe and constant pain in an upper right abdomen which can last for days. Pain increases with the intake of breath.
• Pain can also radiate to back, behind the breasts, under the shoulder.
• One third of patients have fever and chill.
• Vomiting and nausea are common.

Symptoms of chronic Cholecystitis or Dysfunctional Gallbladder

Chronic gallbladder disease which is called chronic Cholecystitis involves mild inflammation and gallstones. Gallbladder becomes stiff and scarred in such cases. Following are some main symptoms of chronic gallbladder disease;

• After meals there is a feeling of abdominal discomfort, nausea and gas complaints.
• Chronic diarrhea

Symptoms of stones present in the common bile duct (Choledocholithiasis)

• Jaundice and dark urine
• Lighter stool
• Rapid heartbeat and abrupt drop in blood pressure
• Chill, fever, nausea and vomiting.

Patients suffering from such symptoms require emergency treatment.