Have you experienced unusual gas, heart burn, annoying pain and excessive burping?

With a peptic ulcer you'll notice that the pain gets worse with certain foods you eat, and may lessen when you eat other foods.

What is a peptic ulcer? Why are feeling the pain that you are experiencing and why do you have an ulcer? A peptic ulcer is actually a hole that has eaten into your stomach wall do to the acids in your stomach. These acids are normally meant to digest the foods you eat and then turn them into nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. This digested food also becomes calories to burn and fat that result in your body's energy source. Your body then uses this energy so you will live a long and healthy life.

A peptic ulcer is worse than your normal ulcer. A ulcer is a sore in the stomach lining that can be between 1/8 to3/4 inches round and will cause constant pain and heartburn after a meal. A peptic ulcer is a hole in the stomach lining itself that has actually eaten through the stomach lining and wall causing food and bacteria to enter into the ulcer hole and get trapped inside of the peptic ulcer hole. The symptoms of a peptic ulcer is constant pain, gas, burping, hiccups, heart burn and if left untreated, can cause internal bleeding.

If you notice that your bowel movement has a blackish look or you can see blood in your stool, this may be a sign of a peptic ulcer. If you haven't experienced the gas and heart burn along with the constant pain in your stomach and throat area but you still occasionally notice blood in your stools, it may be something as uncomplicated as a hemorrhoid, but only a doctor will be able to diagnose that.

You may have dizziness and you may vomit, and see blood in your vomit if you in fact have a peptic ulcer. This is no time to rely on antacids or over the counter medicines. It is time to see your health care professional. Peptic ulcers left untreated can become bleeding ulcers and will lead to more serious physical complications.

Stress and anger, along with some foods and excessive amounts of alcohol, can all increase your chances of a peptic ulcer. The good news is, you can have a full recovery with the right professional diagnosis and treatments. Don't put it off, get it taken care of.