digestive disorders
Peptic Ulcer Disease
Causes of Peptic Ulcer Disease
Ulcers develop when the normal defense and repair mechanisms of the lining of the stomach or duodenum are weakened, making the lining more likely to be damaged by stomach acid. By far, the twomost common causes of peptic ulcersare Helicobacter pylori Infection of the stomach Use of Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), such as H. pyloriinfection is present in 50 to 70% of people with duodenal ulcers and in 30 to 50% of people with stomach ulcers. NSAID use causes more than 50% of peptic ulcers. However, most people who take NSAIDs do not develop peptic ulcers. People who smoke are more likely to develop a peptic ulcer than people who do not smoke, and their ulcers heal more slowly and are likely to return. Although alcohol increases stomach acid production, drinking moderate amounts of alcohol does not seem to cause ulcers or delay their healing. Stress may cause ulcers. Doctors found a higher incidence of ulcer disease in Japan after an earthquake and in New York after the terrorist attacks of 9/11. A rare cause of peptic ulcers is a type of cancer that releases a hormone called gastrin that causes excess acid production (see Gastrinoma ). The symptoms of cancerous ulcers are very similar to those of noncancerous ulcers. However, cancerous ulcers usually do not respond well to the treatments used for noncancerous ulcers. About 50 to 60% of children who have duodenal ulcers have a family history of peptic ulcer disease. 