Each year there are 500,000 to 850,000 new cases of peptic ulcer disease and more than one million ulcer-related hospitalizations.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a spiral-shaped bacterium that is found in the lining of the stomach.

Initial research on H. Pylori focused on gastric complications, and figures now show that, excluding a small proportion of cases caused by non-steroidal anti-inflammatories and antibiotics, the bacteria is implicated in 99% of duodenal (upper small intestine) ulcers.

In addition, approximately 60% of gastric ulcers and up to 80% of stomach cancers are associated with the bacteria.

Before the bacterium was discovered, it was believed that stomach ulcers were caused by spicy food, stress, acid, and lifestyle. The bacterium was discovered by two Australian doctors, Barry Marshall and Robin Warren in 1982.

Researchers have found H. pylori in the saliva of some infected people, so the bacteria may also spread through mouth-to-mouth contact such as kissing.

H.pylori is able to survive in stomach acid because it secretes enzymes that help neutralize the acid.

This mechanism allows H. pylori to make its way to the “safe” area—the protective mucous lining.

Once there, the bacterium’s spiral shape helps it burrow through the stomach lining. This could lead to leaky gut syndrome.

H. pylori weakens the protective mucous coating of the stomach and duodenum, which allows acid to get through to the sensitive lining beneath.

Both the acid and the bacteria irritate the lining and cause a sore, or ulcer.

If left untreated, peptic ulcers can result in serious side effects.

Internal bleeding can occur as slow blood loss that leads to anemia or as severe blood loss that may require hospitalization or a blood transfusion.

H. pylori infection has been found related to the clinical course of upper gastrointestinal diseases such as acid reflux.

A negative association between the prevalence of H. pylori and the severity of acid reflux, including Barrett’s esophagus, has been demonstrated in epidemiological studies.

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The post Is H-Pylori To Blame For Gastric Problems ? first appeared on Jeff Martin's Acid Reflux Blog.