Men are affected twice as often as women. Duodenal ulcers tend to occur between the ages of 25 - 75, while gastric ulcers peak between the ages of 55 and 65. PUD was once thought to be caused by stress, spicy food and alcohol and the treatment was bedrest and a bland diet. The role of stomach acid was then discovered and antacids were introduced into the therapeutic regimen. Treatment of PUD consists of medications to lower stomach acid and antibiotics to treat H. pylori if present.
Dietary interventions are also very important.
Surgery may be needed for persons with persistent or recurrent bleeding. This is the same type of information that is available to physicians and other health care professionals. European Society for Primary Care Gastroenterology. Journal of the Association for Academic Minority Physicians. Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association.