Signs You Might Have an Ulcer

One of the most common symptoms of ulcers is a severe pain in the upper abdomen, according to gastroenterologist Dr Neil Sengupta, but ulcers can develop anywhere in the upper digestive track. Here are four common stomach pains and what they mean.

1. NAUSEA A telltale sign of an ulcer is feeling nauseated. Ulcers alter the chemistry of your digestive fluids, causing you to feel queasy. While digesting food is often painful when you have an ulcer, having a little food in your stomach can help the nausea subside. If nausea leads to vomiting, avoid taking ibuprofen and aspirin, as they can make your ulcer worse.

2. BLEEDING When bleeding from the gastrointestinal track is combined with upper abdominal pain, an ulcer could be to blame. Many patients notice blood when vomiting, or that their stools appear black. If you notice bleeding, along with nausea and pain in the stomach or chest, doctors will often perform a blood test or an upper endoscopy to check if an ulcer is the culprit. Blood in your stool can also be due to haemorrhoids or colon cancer, so get it checked out.

3. HEARTBURN If you experience frequent heartburn, an ulcer may be responsible. Many patients with ulcers describe feeling very intense chest pain, which often causes them to burp or hiccup. An overthe-counter antacid can temporarily alleviate pain and wind, but if it persists, get checked by your doctor.

4. BLOATING If you are feeling especially bloated, it may be more serious than just gas. Bloating is often an early symptom of an ulcer, with pain in the midsection. Bloating can also be caused by eating something your body doesn’t agree with or not drinking enough water, but when combined with these other symptoms, it’s worth checking out.