A number of symptoms are associated with stomach ulcers. The severity of the symptoms depends on the severity of the ulcer.

The most common symptom is a burning sensation or pain in the middle of your abdomen between your chest and belly button. Typically, the pain will be more intense when your stomach is empty, and it can last for a few minutes to several hours.

Other common signs and symptoms of ulcers include:

• dull pain in the stomach
• weight loss
• not wanting to eat because of pain
• nausea or vomiting
• bloating
• feeling easily full
• burping or acid reflux
• heartburn, which is a burning sensation in the chest)
• pain that may improve when you eat, drink, or take antacids
• anemia, whose symptoms can include tiredness, shortness of breath, or paler skin
• dark, tarry stools
• vomit that’s bloody or looks like coffee grounds

NOTE: If the stomach ulcer is bleeding, this can eventually lead to anemia. Symptoms of anemia include fatigue, weakness and light-headedness. Blood from a bleeding ulcer will end up in the bowel motions and can make them appear much darker than usual.

A stomach ulcer occurs when the lining of the stomach becomes inflamed and damaged. The medical term for a stomach ulcer is gastric ulcer. Peptic ulcer refers to an ulcer either in the stomach, or the first part of the small intestine (called the duodenum).

Stomach ulcers are quite common and many people do not recognise their symptoms until they become quite serious.

In the past, it was thought that stomach ulcers are caused by stress, smoking or poor diet. These days most ulcers are attributed to infection with the bacterium Helicobacter pylori. The truth is that stomach ulcers are usually caused by several different factors. Yes most people are found to be infected with Helicobacter pylori, and they do feel better after antibiotic treatment. However, poor diet, stress, food allergies and nutrient deficiencies increase the risk of suffering from a bacterial infection. People with a healthy digestive system generally don’t succumb to Helicobacter pylori infection.

The standard medical treatment for stomach ulcers is two different antibiotics and an acid suppressing drug. Most people recover temporarily, but they’re at high risk of developing an ulcer again. Fortunately there are natural supportive remedies that can help heal a stomach ulcer.