Most people who develop ulcers inherit a genetic tendency. Ulcer formation is aided by drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, using aspirin, ibuprofen and other arthritis drugs, or using large amounts of caffeine. In addition to the pain they produce, the center of an ulcer can erode into a blood vessel and thus cause massive bleeding. Finally, an ulcer or its scar may produce a blockage, particularly at the point where the stomach empties into the small intestine. Please see the picture to the right.
Most ulcers occur in the first part of the small intestine just past the stomach.
This part is known as the duodenal bulb and the ulcers are known as duodenal ulcers . About one out of five ulcers occur in the stomach itself. These are called gastric ulcers . The term peptic ulcer refers to both gastric and duodenal ulcers. Not even recurring ulcers which give patients trouble year after year ever lead to cancer.