Aklan State University

School of Arts and Sciences

Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Banga, Aklan

Name: Lourenz S. Bontia Date: February 16, 2016

Gastric Ulcer

Definition:
Stomach ulcers are painful sores that can be found in the stomach lining or small
intestine. Stomach ulcers are the most visible sign of peptic ulcer disease. They occur when the
thick layer of mucus that protects your stomach from digestive juices is reduced, thus enabling
the digestive acids to eat away at the lining tissues of the stomach. Stomach ulcers are easily
cured, but they can become severe without proper treatment.i
Signs and Symptoms: ii
A gnawing or burning pain in the middle or upper stomach between meals or at night
Bloating
Heartburn
Nausea or vomiting
Dark or black stool (due to bleeding)
Vomiting blood (that can look like "coffee-grounds")
Weight loss
Severe pain in the mid to upper abdomen

Pathophysiology:

Heterogeneity is the most important consideration in the pathophysiology of peptic ulcer

disease. Acute ulcers and erosions present clinically with gastrointestinal bleeding or
perforation. If they heal there is no predictable recurrence. Factors concerned with mucosal
defense are relatively more important than aggressive factors such as acid and pepsin. Local
ischemia is the earliest recognizable gross lesion. The gastric mucosa is at least as vulnerable
as the duodenal mucosa and probably more so. Most drug-induced ulcers occur in the stomach.
Chronic or recurrent true peptic ulcers (penetrating the muscularis mucosae) usually present
with abdominal pain. Many duodenal ulcer patients report that the pain occurs when the
stomach is empty or is relieved by food, and follows a pattern of relatively long periods of
freedom from symptoms between recurrences. Approximately 50% of patients experience a
recurrence within a year if anti-ulcer medication is stopped. In most western countries recurrent
duodenal ulcer is more common than gastric ulcer. Peptic ulcer disease is also more common in
men. Recent evidence indicates genetic and familial factors in duodenal ulcer and increased
acid-pepsin secretion in response to a variety of stimuli. However, it is also becoming clear that
of all the abnormal functions noted, few are present in all subjects and many are clustered in
subgroups. In chronic gastric ulcer of the corpus, defective defense mechanisms, such as
duodenogastric reflux and atrophic gastritis, seem to be more important than aggressive factors.
Nevertheless, antisecretory medications accelerate the healing of such ulcers. It remains to be
seen whether prostaglandins, mucus secretion, or gastric mucosal blood flow are impaired in
chronic ulcer disease.iii

Recommended Diet:iv

Foods to avoid Foods to eat

Hot cocoa and cola Chicken and Turkey

Garlic and onions Grains, like cereals (bran and oatmeal),
bread, rice, pasta, and crackers

Black and red pepper Olive and canola oil

Spicy or strongly flavored cheeses, such as Water

jalapeno or black pepper
Tomato products, such as tomato paste, Lean meats
tomato sauce, or tomato juice
Green and black tea, with or without caffeine Eggs and nuts

Meal Plan:

Meal Food Choices

Breakfast 3 glass water
 1 bowl rice
Chicken soup
Lunch 1 cup rice
Chicken soup
Snacks 1 rice cake
1 low fat yogurt
Dinner 1 slice of bread topped with 1 slice of fat-free
cheese
1 apple
i Johnson, S. (2015, August 25). Stomach Ulcer. Retrieved February 16, 2016, from Healthline:
http://www.healthline.com/health/stomach-ulcer

ii Digestive Disorders Health Center. (n.d.). Retrieved February 16, 2016, from webMD:
http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/digestive-diseases-peptic-ulcer-disease

iii The pathophysiology of peptic ulcer disease. (n.d.). Retrieved February 16, 2016, from PubMed:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/4053922

iv Diet For Ulcers And Gastritis. (n.d.). Retrieved February 16, 2016, from Drugs.com:
http://www.drugs.com/cg/diet-for-ulcers-and-gastritis.html