You've felt that nagging and annoying heartburn for far to long.

You've heard of ulcers and even a peptic ulcer but you may be wondering, what is a peptic ulcer?

A peptic ulcer is a serious perforation in your stomach's lining. A ulcer is an irritated spot on your stomach lining that is usually about 1/8 to 3/4 inches in circumference. An ulcer irritation can be caused by a number of factors including alcohol consumption, stress, smoking and certain foods that you consume. A peptic ulcer goes beyond just a sore on the stomach lining, it is an actual hole in the stomach itself and can lead to internal bleeding and even more serious conditions.

A peptic ulcer will continue to get worse if not treated by a medical professional. Food and bacteria will enter the peptic ulcer hole and cause irritation and infection and additional pain and discomfort will result. Peptic ulcers are now known to be caused by a cork screw shaped bacteria called heliobacter pylori that can be spread from person to person by kissing or by eating, or drinking after one another. Drinking and smoking and stress can add to the irritation, but will not in themselves cause a peptic ulcer. You can, however, have the heliobacter pylori bacteria and not have any problems depending on your system and your stomach lining.

Having a peptic ulcer also means you have a hole in your stomach, so excess gas, burping, irritation and heartburn and pain will be associated with the ulcer. You may notice blood in your stools or your stools may be blackish in color when you go to the bathroom. With a peptic ulcer you may also notice blood in your vomit. A peptic ulcer can also cause weight lose and you may lose your appetite all together.

The great news is that you can get a peptic ulcer treated and or surgically repaired by a medical physician. He may put you on a special diet, or he or she may prescribe you some medications to help relieve the discomfort associated with a peptic ulcer. The best thing you can do is to see your family doctor and get treatment as soon as you possibly can. You won't have to suffer from the heartburn and pain any longer after you get professional treatment