ACID PEPTIC DISEASES
The acid peptic diseases are group of diseases that relate to the production of excess acid inside the stomach and gastrointestinal tract. The secretion of some amount of acid is natural and is needed for digestive functioning. But the excess acid production starts causing issues in the inner lining of the stomach causing pain in the abdomen.
Causes and Risk Factors
The excess acid production is the main cause of the disease. There could be various risk factors that could lead to the cause. The common include:
- Consumption of certain food items
- Smoking
- Alcohol
- Certain medications like pain killers
- Caffeinated drinks
- Infection of the stomach (H. pylori infection)
Symptoms
The common symptoms include:
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Bleeding from or perforation of the ulcer
Treatment
The treatment includes medication that depends upon the condition and the severity of it. It could also depend upon the age and the overall health condition of the patient. Medications include antacids, H2 blockers, PPI and H pylori treatment.
For the condition of bleeding from the peptic ulcer site, it needs endoscopic treatment while perforation requires urgent surgical intervention.
The treatment must also be supported by dietary changes. These could include consumption of more fibrous diet and limiting diets that are causing the issue.