How can you differentiate indigestion from stomach ulcers?

Indigestion or Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and peptic ulcers have similar symptoms, making them easy to mix up. Still, GERD is far more common than peptic ulcers, and they are two different conditions with different causes. Before assuming that the burning sensation in your chest or indigestion is due to an ulcer, read this article to have a better understanding.

What are stomach ulcers?

  1. pylori bacteria stick to the lining of the stomach and small intestine, causing inflammation and weakening the lining over time. Stomach acids and digestive enzymes further damage this delicate lining, leading to open sores known as stomach ulcers.

What is GERD?

This happens when stomach acids move up into the esophagus. The esophagus lining is weaker than the stomach lining, so the acids cause a burning sensation that seems to rise toward the neck and throat. This condition isn’t related to the heart, but because the discomfort is felt around the chest, it is called heartburn and can sometimes be mistaken for a heart attack.

Although both stomach ulcers and heartburn are treated by a gastroenterologist, they have different causes, symptoms, and treatments. Therefore, only a precise diagnosis can ensure the right treatment.

What are the symptoms of GERD?

One common symptom of acid reflux is stomach pain. For instance, in a 2020 survey, people with GERD often reported pain in the upper stomach area.

However, the most common symptoms of GERD are heartburn and a burning sensation in your mouth. Other indigestion symptoms include:

  • Difficulty in swallowing
  • Sore throat
  • Chest pain
  • Shortness of breath
  • Nausea and vomiting

What are the symptoms of stomach ulcers?

Some people with peptic ulcers may have no symptoms or only mild ones. Symptoms usually get worse as the ulcer grows or if more than one ulcer forms. Severe cases can be life threatening. A few typical signs of stomach ulcers are as follows:

  • Blood in stools
  • Blood vomiting
  • Bloating
  • Feeling full with eating little
  • Severe fatigue
  • Sudden and severe pain that spreads to the back

What are the possible causes of GERD?

The exact cause of GERD is unknown. It might be linked to genetics or a damaged esophagus. Several risk factors may contribute to GERD, including:

  • Pregnancy
  • Obesity
  • Smoking

Certain foods and drinks, such as spicy or acidic foods and alcoholic beverages, can trigger GERD. You can always seek non ulcer dyspepsia treatment in Coimbatore if your GERD symptoms seem to interfere with your daily life.

What are the causes of ulcers?

There are many causes, but two of the most common are certain pain relievers and a type of bacteria called Helicobacteria pylori (H. pylori).

Certain medications:

Certain medications when used excessively can damage the lining of your stomach that can lead to peptic ulcers.

  1. pylori:

This bacteria is common and usually causes no noticeable problems. However, it can damage the mucus lining that protects your stomach. Without this protective coating, stomach acids that normally help digest food start affecting the stomach lining, leading to ulcers.

Why is it important to understand the difference between GERD and peptic ulcers?

In many cases, GERD and ulcers are treated with the same medications. However, ulcers sometimes require additional medications because they are often caused by a Helicobacter pylori bacterial infection. This infection needs treatment with multiple medications, including antibiotics. Knowing the exact cause of your symptoms can change the treatment plan.

It’s also important to distinguish between ulcers and GERD because each condition can lead  to different complications. For instance, long-term GERD can cause Barett’s esophagus, which is damage to the lining of the lower esophagus and is a risk factor for esophageal cancer. Ulcers on the other hand, do not increase the risk of esophageal cancer.

But ulcers can risk:

  • Different types of stomach cancers
  • Internal bleeding in the stomach
  • A chance of developing a hole in the intestinal wall

It’s important to know whether your symptoms are caused by an ulcer or GERD so you can understand the potential complications.

Can GERD lead to stomach ulcers?

GERD does not cause peptic ulcers, and peptic ulcers do not cause GERD. Ulcers occur due to excessive acid in the stomach, while GERD happens when acid moves into the wrong place, such as the esophagus.

Some people may have both ulcers and GERD at the same time. However, GERD is much more common than ulcers, so most people with GERD won’t have ulcers.

Important Takeaway:

Irreversible gastric reflux and stomach ulcers are frequently confused, and different people may interpret the term “heartburn” differently. It’s important to know whether the cause is acid in the esophagus or an ulcer in the stomach. Both conditions are treated with acid-suppressing medications, but they have different causes and complications. If you frequently experience heartburn, talk to your doctor at the best stomach hospital in Coimbatore to find out what’s causing the problem.

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