Ulcers - Causes

There are three major causes of peptic ulcers: infection, certain types of medications, and other medical problems that cause the release of too much stomach juices.

Helicobacter pylori is a bacterium that lives in mucous membranes in the digestive system. It causes about 95 percent of all duodenal ulcers and 70 percent of all gastric ulcers.

The use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) also tends to cause ulcers. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are painkillers. People use these drugs for headaches, sore muscles, menstrual cramps, and similar complaints. Some common NSAIDS are aspirin, ibuprofen (pronounced i-byoo-PRO-fuhn, trade names Advil, Motrin), and acetaminophen (pronounced uhsee-tuh-MIN-uh-fuhn, trade name Tylenol). People who use NSAIDS on a regular basis are forty times more likely to get ulcers than those who do not. Aspirin is the NSAID most likely to cause ulcers. Aspirin should not be given to children because of the risk of Reye's syndrome (see Reye's syndrome entry).

Some medical problems can increase the risk of ulcers. For example, Zollinger-Ellison syndrome causes an unusually large release of digestive juices in the stomach and this excess secretion can create ulcers.

Other factors may also increase a person's risk for ulcers. For example, smokers are more likely to develop an ulcer and are also more likely to die from the complications of an ulcer. People with blood type A are more likely to have gastric ulcers, while those with type O are more likely to develop duodenal ulcers.

Scientists are still debating the role of stress in the formation of ulcers. Stress is no longer regarded as a primary cause of the disorder. But some specialists think that it may be a contributing factor.