There really is not a single place on your body that is completely immune from ulcers. Some of your internal organs may not get an ulcer but they can certainly be affected by a nearby ulcer, especially if it perforates the stomach cavity causing the stomach contents or the intestines to spill out into the body cavity. Peptic ulcers are the most common and are different than leg ulcers which are found on the outside of the skin. You need to know the differences because it is those differences that will determine your treatment.

First off most ulcers are peptic ulcers. There are a few different kinds and they are named for the part of the body where they are found. A stomach ulcer is also called a gastric ulcer because it is found in the actual stomach. Duodenal ulcers are found in the Duodenum. Esophageal ulcers are found in the esophagus. Your esophagus, duodenum, stomach and small intestine are all part of your gastrointestinal tract. There are complications that can occur if you were to go untreated for an ulcer. It is important that you know these complications.

There are five different complications that can occur from ulcers located in the gastric region. These are: gastrointestinal bleeding (bleeding ulcer,) perforation (where the stomach contents or intestines spill into the body cavity,) penetration, scarring and Pyloric Stenosis. You definitely do not want any of these to happen to you. An untreated ulcer is nothing to scoff at because sometimes it can lead to great sickness and even death. If you have, or think you may have an ulcer, then you need to see your doctor to seek treatment as soon as possible. This is your health and your life that you are risking by not seeking out medications to help.

There are things that can cause you to have peptic ulcers and there are things that were once thought to cause ulcers that we now know to be false. Gastric ulcers can be caused by Helicobacter pylori, long term use of NSAIDS and laxatives and a family history of duodenal ulcers. Smoking, spicy foods, stress and being a certain blood type do not cause ulcers. But they will exacerbate the symptoms.