Weight loss is one of the main symptoms of an ulcer.  It isn’t a positive side effect, and it doesn’t result from healthy dieting.  Instead, it becomes a sign that the problem is present because the discomforts associated with this condition will make it difficult to consume enough calories to keep up a current body mass.

What is an Ulcer and Why is Weight Loss a Symptom?

An ulcer is a type of break or tear in the digestive tract’s protective mucosal lining.  It may occur anywhere from the stomach to the duodenum and can vary widely in size.  This means that they can be quite tiny or can be large both in terms of depth or diameter.

The reason ulcers can cause weight loss to occur is that they can be quite uncomfortable.  They can lead to varying degrees of pain in the stomach or abdomen area.  As a result, it can cause reductions in the appetite due to persistent discomfort.  Alternately, many people eat less because they find that their symptoms worsen when they have food in their systems.  As a result, the ulcer can indirectly cause weight loss because the same number of calories aren’t being regularly consumed.

It is important to point out that though weight loss is a common symptom of an ulcer, it doesn’t occur in every case.  There are some people who have this disease and who don’t have any problem maintaining their body mass. It’s also important to note that some people have the opposite reaction and find themselves gaining weight, particularly when the ulcers are in the duodenum as opposed to the stomach itself.

What Causes This Disease?

Peptic ulcer disease is the breakdown of the stomach or duodenal mucosal lining which often occurs due to excessive amounts of gastric acid secretions in those areas.  These are the natural stomach acids produced in your digestive system to help your body break down the food you eat so you can absorb its nutrition.

When there is too much acid present, however, it can be damaging to these areas of your body.  This is often believed to result from an infection with the Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) bacteria. Misuse or overuse of pain killers – non-prescription or prescription – such as aspirin or ibuprofen can also injure the mucosal lining of the upper digestive tract and can contribute to this disease. Since the discomfort from the damaged lining can be strong, it’s no mystery why many people eat less when suffering from this condition.