When your stomach lining breaks down and forms an open sore, that’s a gastric ulcer, a type of peptic ulcer that develops in the stomach lining. Also known as a stomach ulcer, it’s not just discomfort—it’s tissue damage that can lead to bleeding, perforation, or blockage if ignored. Many people think stress or spicy food causes ulcers, but the real culprits are usually H. pylori, a bacteria that infects the stomach and weakens its protective mucus layer or long-term use of NSAIDs, painkillers like ibuprofen and naproxen that block protective enzymes in the stomach. These two factors alone explain over 90% of cases.
Once H. pylori takes hold, it doesn’t just sit there—it fights your stomach’s natural defenses, letting acid eat through the lining. NSAIDs do something similar: they stop your body from making prostaglandins, which normally shield your stomach from acid. Even a daily aspirin for heart health can quietly damage your stomach over time. The symptoms? Burning pain between meals or at night, bloating, nausea, and sometimes vomiting or dark stools. If you’ve had unexplained weight loss or vomiting blood, that’s not normal—get checked.
Thankfully, healing is possible. Proton pump inhibitors, medications like omeprazole that shut down acid production at the source are the first-line treatment. They don’t just mask pain—they give your stomach time to repair itself. Add antibiotics to kill H. pylori, and you’re looking at a cure rate above 90%. But here’s the catch: if you keep taking NSAIDs or smoking, the ulcer will come back. No pill can fix that.
What you eat doesn’t cause ulcers, but some foods make symptoms worse. Coffee, alcohol, and acidic foods like citrus or tomatoes can irritate the lining while it’s healing. Stick to bland, easy-to-digest meals until the pain fades. And don’t assume your stomach ache is just "indigestion"—if it’s persistent, get tested. Early treatment prevents complications that could land you in the hospital.
The posts below cover real-world issues you might not expect: how certain medications like statins or immunosuppressants can indirectly affect your digestive health, what happens when acid reflux turns into something deeper, and how drug interactions can turn a simple painkiller into a hidden threat to your stomach. You’ll find practical advice on avoiding triggers, recognizing warning signs, and understanding what your doctor is really trying to fix. This isn’t just about healing an ulcer—it’s about protecting your whole digestive system for the long haul.
Corticosteroids alone rarely cause gastric ulcers. Learn when PPIs are actually needed, what symptoms to watch for, and why routine stomach protection may do more harm than good.