International Nurses Association

Stomach ulcers are sores in the lining of the stomach or small intestines that can be very painful. Stomach ulcers are usually a sign of peptic ulcer disease, but they can also occur as a complication of other conditions. When the layer of mucus that protects the stomach from digestive juices is reduced it enables the digestive acids to eat away at the lining of the stomach. Stomach ulcers can be treated, but they can become very severe and potentially fatal without proper treatment. They should be very closely monitored. What causes stomach ulcers? Stomach ulcers can originate due to several factors, they are often caused by an infection with the bacterium, long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, excess acid in the stomach, and a rare disease that can make the body produce excess stomach acid. Certain factors and behaviors can put a person in a higher risk category for developing stomach ulcers. This includes, smoking, frequent use of steroids to treat asthma,