Open sores that develop on the upper portion of your small intestine and the inside lining of your stomach are known as gastric ulcers. These are a form of peptic ulcers which develops inside the stomach, whereas the kind which develops on the upper portion of the small intestine (duodenum) is called duodenal ulcers. Gastric ulcers are generally caused by an imbalance of the stomach acid enzyme called pepsin. This enzyme is responsible for breaking down the proteins in food during digestion. Gastric ulcers create an erosion of the stomach lining and result in bleeding, abdominal pain, and other gastrointestinal symptoms. In rare cases, they may cause some other common signs or more severe symptoms. The following are a few of the general symptoms of the gastric ulcer:

• Nausea
• Blood vomiting
• Burning stomach pain
• Weakness because of anemia
• Loss of appetite
• Unexplained weight loss
• Difficulty in swallowing
• Indigestion
• Bloody or dark stools
• Burping or acid reflux
• Chest burn
• Shortness of breath

The pain caused by a gastric ulcer can either travel from the middle of the stomach up to the neck or down to the belly button through to the back. It may last from a few minutes to a few hours and often starts within a few hours of eating. The pain may also cause you to wake up during the nights. Taking medicines and antibiotics are a temporary solution to relieve it but it will keep coming back if the ulcer isn’t treated. In some cases, surgery may be needed.

Gastric ulcer is caused by a bacterium called Helicobacter pylori. The common belief among people is that ulcers are caused by spicy foods, stress or poor food habits. But, the research shows that most ulcers develop due to an infection caused by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). H. pylori produce substances that weaken the stomach’s protective mucus and make it more vulnerable to the damaging effects of acid and pepsin. Although H. pylori are the primary cause for gastric ulcers, there are also a few other factors that contribute to the condition. They are as follows:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
  These drugs such as aspirin or ibuprofen are a type of pain relievers. In general, the risks of these drugs include heart attacks and strokes. On a higher level, it causes stomach bleeding, which ultimately leads to gastrointestinal ulcers.
• Smoking
  Epidemiologic studies show that cigarette smoking is closely related to peptic ulcer diseases. Cigarette smoking is a risk factor for gastrointestinal disorders and it adversely affects the gastroduodenal mucosal protective mechanisms, increasing the risk of H. pylori infection.
• Caffeine
  The excessive use of caffeine-containing beverages may contribute to the pathogenesis of peptic ulcer in a susceptible individual. It also stimulates acid secretion in the stomach, which can aggravate the pain of an existing ulcer and worsen the condition. However, the rising level of stomach acids cannot be solely attributed to caffeine.

Complications are rare in gastric ulcers but can be very serious and life-threatening. With proper treatment and preventive measures like avoiding tobacco, this condition can be healed easily and even warded off in the first place.