Although ulcers can be stressful, stress does not cause these painful, slow-healing sores. A peptic ulcer is a sore in the lining of the stomach or upper part of the
small intestine that results when the surface mucosa (protective skin) is removed and painful lesions develop. Ulcers are generally 1 - 2 cm in diameter.
Ulcers in the stomach are called a gastric ulcers. Those located in the duodenum are duodenal ulcers.
Acid can contribute to ulcers by burning the lining of the digestive tract. Smoking and long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) also increase the risk of developing ulcers. However, most ulcers are
caused by the bacterium, Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). These bacteria infect as many as 10 million Canadians.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified H. pylori as a carcinogen associated with the development of stomach cancer. This is of particular concern among first-nations people where about 75% of the population are infected.
To learn more about H. pylori, ulcers, diagnosis and treatment, read CDHF's Fact Sheet.