Question: What are the symptoms of a peptic ulcer?
Answer: Peptic ulcers may cause symptoms of indigestion. Common symptoms include

pain or discomfort in the upper part of yourabdomen, anywhere between your belly button and breastbone
feeling full too soon while eating a meal
feeling uncomfortably full after eating a meal
nauseaandvomiting
bloating
belching

Abdominal pain is the most common symptom of a peptic ulcer.

Abdominal pain is the most common symptom of a peptic ulcer. The pain may be dull or burning and may come and go over time. For some people, the pain may occur when the stomach is empty or at night, and it may go away for a short time after they eat. For other people, eating may make the pain worse.

Many people who have peptic ulcers don’t have any symptoms. They may not develop symptoms until an ulcer leads to complications.

You should call or see your doctor right away if you have symptoms that could be caused by a complication. These symptoms include

black or tarrystool, or red or maroon blood mixed with your stool
red blood in your vomit or vomit that looks like coffee grounds
sudden, sharp, or severe abdominal pain that doesn’t go away
feeling dizzy or fainting
a rapid pulse or other symptoms ofshock
a change in or worsening of your peptic ulcer symptoms
Question: What causes peptic ulcers?
Answer: The most common causes of peptic ulcers are Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Other causes of peptic ulcers are uncommon or rare.

People with certain risk factors are more likely to develop ulcers.

H. pylori

H. pylori infection is a common cause of peptic ulcers. Researchers are still studying how people become infected with H. pylori bacteria. The bacteria may spread from person to person through contact with an infected person’s vomit, stool, or saliva. Food or water contaminated with an infected person’s vomit, stool, or saliva may also spread the bacteria from person to person.

NSAIDs

Taking NSAIDs—such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen—is another common cause of peptic ulcers. NSAIDs relieve pain, but they also make the stomach lining more prone to damage and ulcers. Some types of NSAIDs are more likely to cause ulcers than others.

You have a higher chance of developing a peptic ulcer due to NSAIDs if you take

NSAIDs for a long time
a type of NSAID that is more likely to cause an ulcer
high doses of an NSAID or more than one NSAID
NSAIDs along with other medicines that increase the risk for ulcers
NSAIDs and you are also infected withH. pylori

Other causes

Less common causes of peptic ulcers include

infections caused by certainviruses,fungi, orbacteriaother thanH. pylori
medicines that increase the risk of developing ulcers, includingcorticosteroids, medicines used to treat lowbone mass, and someantidepressants, especially when you take these medicines with NSAIDs
surgery or medical procedures that affect the stomach orduodenum

Less common causes of peptic ulcers also include certain diseases and health conditions, such as

diseases that can affect the stomach, such ascancerorCrohn’s disease
injury, blockage, or lack of blood flow that affects the stomach or duodenum
life-threatening health conditions that requirecritical care
severechronicdiseases, such ascirrhosisorchronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, a condition that occurs when one or moretumors—calledgastrinomas—cause your stomach to make too much acid

In rare cases, doctors can’t find the cause of peptic ulcers. Doctors may call ulcers with unknown causes idiopathic peptic ulcers.