Gastric Ulcer : gastric ulcer, also known as peptic ulcer, stomach ulcer &peptic ulcer disease (PUD) is a distinct breach in the mucosa of the stomach as a result of caustic effects of acid and pepsin in the lumen.
Younger patients with ulcer-like symptoms are often treated with antacids or H2 antagonists before EGD is undertaken.Patients who are taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) may also be prescribed a prostaglandin analogue (Misoprostol) in order to help prevent peptic ulcers, which are a side-effect of the NSAIDs. When H. pylori infection is present, the most effective treatments are combinations of 2 antibiotics (e.g. Clarithromycin, Amoxicillin, Tetracycline, Metronidazole) and 1 proton pump inhibitor(PPI), sometimes together with a bismuth compound. In complicated, treatment-resistant cases, 3 antibiotics (e.g. amoxicillin + clarithromycin + metronidazole) may be used together with a PPI and sometimes with bismuth compound. An effective first-line therapy for uncomplicated cases would be Amoxicillin + Metronidazole + Pantoprazole (a PPI). In the absence of H. pylori, long-term higher dose PPIs are often used.
Heartburn : Heartburn is a painful burning feeling just below or behind the breastbone. Most of the time it comes from the esophagus. The pain often rises in your chest from your stomach and may spread to your neck or throat. Almost everyone has heartburn sometimes. If you have heartburn very often, you may have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Normally when food or liquid enters your stomach, a band of muscle at the end of your esophagus closes off the esophagus. This band is called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). If this band does not close tightly enough, food or stomach acid can back up (reflux) into the esophagus. The stomach contents can irritate the esophagus and cause heartburn and other symptoms. Pregnancy and many medications can bring on heartburn or make it worse.
Medication
Antacids may be taken after meals, at bedtime, or when needed, to bind excess acid in the stomach and to coat the esophagus. Histamine H2 antagonists are medications that block the action of histamine (a chemical that stimulates stomach cells to produce acid) on the acid-producing cells of the stomach. This decreases acid production to hopefully decrease symptoms. Examples include:
• cimetidine (Tagamet),
• ranitidine (Zantac), and
• famotidine (Pepcid).
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are another class of drugs that block the production of acid by the stomach. PPIs include:
• omeprazole (Prilosec, Rapinex),
• rabeprazole (Aciphex)
• pantoprazole (Protonix)
• lansoprazole (Prevacid), and
• esomeprazole (Nexium).