Ulcers are rare in children and are more likely to occur as people get older. Sometimes peptic ulcers tend to run in families. Aspirin is one of this group. People throughout the world suffer from ulcers, but they are most common in Europe, North America, Southern India and Bangladesh. Sometimes there is no apparent explanation for the development of an ulcer.
Smoking makes ulcers more likely to develop and also slows the healing process.
It also makes recurrence more likely. Patients who regularly have to take aspirin or anti-inflammatory pain killing drugs should discuss with their doctor how to minimise the effects on their stomach. Stress probably does not cause ulcers, but does worsen symptoms if an ulcer is present. Stressful situations worsen their symptoms, possibly because the stomach produces more acid in response to stress. The usual tests used are either an endoscopy or a barium meal.