A stomach ulcer is unpleasant any way you look at it. The burning, bloating, nauseated feeling that comes with ulcers can have a big impact on your life.

Contrary to popular belief, ulcers do not necessarily occur because of stress — though stress can affect your immune system, making you more vulnerable to developing ulcers. There are several things that can cause ulcers, such as the long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen and aspirin, or a rare disease called Zollinger-Ellison syndrome that makes the body produce excessive amounts of stomach acid.

Using tobacco, having a family history of stomach ulcers, consuming excessive amounts of alcohol, being age 50 or older and the frequent use of steroids (such as those used to treat asthma), also can contribute to the risk of developing stomach ulcers.

Usually, though, ulcers are caused by bacteria called Helicobacter pylori, or H. pylori. Two out of every three people on the planet have H. pylori in their stomachs. And although most people who have these bacteria don’t get sick from it, some do: About 2 percent to 20 percent of people infected with H. pylori will develop ulcers in the lining of the stomach or upper small intestine.

However, besides being a risk factor for ulcers, H. pylori infection also raises the risk of stomach cancer. In fact, H. pylori weakens the natural protective coating of the stomach, which makes it the most important risk factor for cancer of the stomach.

If you have symptoms of an ulcer, such as abdominal pain or heartburn, your doctor may check for H. pylori infection. Doctors can tell if you’re infected using a breath test, blood test or by testing stool.

You also may need to have an endoscopy. During this test, a doctor inserts a thin tube through your mouth down to your stomach to check for ulcers or other problems.

To wipe out H. pylori, treatment usually involves triple therapy — two weeks of antibiotics, an acid suppressor and medicines to protect the stomach.

H. pylori isn’t the only cause of stomach cancer, however, and risk factors that can contribute to the development of stomach cancer include:

• Age, since most people with stomach cancer are in their 70s or older
• Having chronic gastritis, an inflammation of the stomach
• Being male
• Being Asian-American, African-American or Latino
• Smoking
• A family history of stomach cancer
• Eating too many salted, smoked foods

The good news is, research suggests that eating foods high in beta-carotene and vitamin C, such as fruits and vegetables, may lower the risk for stomach cancer.

For more information about gastroenterology services at Tanner, visit Gastroenterology Care.

West Georgia Gastroenterology Associates has locations in Carrollton, Villa Rica and Bremen. For more information, visit westgagastro.com or call 770-214-2800.