Ulcers Can Be a Real Pain

Is your stomach grumbling with more than just hunger? It could be trying to tell you that you have an ulcer.

Hi, I’m Dr. Griffin Rodgers, the director of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases at NIH.

Ulcers are sores on the lining of your gut that can cause indigestion and complications like bleeding or blockages. So how do you know if you have one? Common signs are a dull or burning pain in your abdomen that comes and goes, as well as bloating, belching, nausea, and feeling fuller than you’d expect.

You may be surprised to learn that ulcers aren’t caused by specific foods. They often result from infections by bacteria or by taking certain medication for long periods, like aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen. Chronic lung or liver disease may increase your risk for ulcers.

Talk with your health care provider about ways to improve your gut health to keep ulcers at bay.

For more tips, follow us @NIDDKgov. This is Dr. Griffin Rodgers.