Month: June 2012

Causes & Effects of H.Pylori

Helicobacter pylori is one of the most common, if not the most common chronic human infections. H. pylori is a bacterium found in about half of the world’s population, commonly in the lining of the stomach and the duodenum because they adapt well to the acidic, low ph environment.   The primary disease caused by the bacteria, h pylori,  is gastritis, occurring when the lining of the stomach becomes inflamed or swollen. It is also a major cause of stomach (gastric) and upper small intestine (duodenal) ulcers. While stress and unhealthy lifestyle choices may still play a part in exacerbating these ailments, it is now widely accepted that h pylori is the main cause.

When to Call Health Care Provider

If you develop:

• Pain in the upper part of the belly or abdomen that does not go away
• Black or tarry stools

• Vomiting blood or coffee-ground-like material

 

Treatment

• Large doses of antibiotics (usually two types. In case one doesn’t work, the other usually does

• Antacids
• H2 antagonists: famotidine (Pepsid), cimetidine (Tagamet), ranitidine (Zantac), and nizatidine (Axid)
• Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) — omeprazole (Prilosec), esomeprazole (Nexium), iansoprazole (Prevacid), rabeprazole (AcipHex), and pantoprazole (Protonix)

Note: I waited too long to call my doctor after I  noticed blood in my stool.  I became anemic from loss of blood (bleeding ulcers) and was also put on iron supplement (Feragon).  So the moral of the story is: Better to be Safe than Sorry.