Long ago 2 Australian researchers Barry Marshall and Robin Warren discovered a bacteria. After a few years, they were awarded the Nobel prize for their discovery. This is the story of why they deserved it.

For a long time, people have suffered with stomach ulcers. The prevailing thought in the early 19th century was that stomach ulcers were caused by stress and spicy foods. Treatments mainly involved avoiding spicy foods and trying to avoid stress. Sometimes some drastic measures were taken. One of the earliest descriptions of the treatment of stomach ulcers goes as far back as the 4th century BCE. On a pillar of the temple of Aesculapius at Epidaurus, we find a vivid description of the first surgery for a gastric ulcer.

A man with an ulcer in his stomach saw a vision of the gods who seemed to order his followers to capture and hold him so that his stomach may be cut open. On seeing this, the man ran, but they caught him and tied him down. Then Asklepios opened his stomach, cut out the ulcer, and sewed him up again, after which he loosed him and let him go. He went away healed, but the temple chamber was covered with his blood.

It is an extreme intervention, however, it goes to say how much of a burden stomach ulcer has been to the human population. People were willing to do anything to make the pain go away.

Fast forward to the 19th century, Barry Marshall and Robin Warren discovered the bacterium called Helicobacter pylori. They found that this bacteria was an important cause of gastric ulcers. The scientific community did not believe them. They were criticized so much for their discovery that they had to go the extra mile to supply proof.

One reason why it was difficult to believe that a bacterium could be the cause of stomach ulcers was the fact that it was known that the stomach contained a strong acid necessary for digestion and it would be extremely difficult for any organism to survive in those kind of harsh conditions.

They pushed harder and harder with various experimental and clinical pieces of evidence. In 1985, Marshall decided to go to an extent some would call extreme. He decided to undergo a gastric biopsy where a piece of his stomach was taken and sent to the lab to prove that he did not carry the bacterium. After he confirmed that he was free from the bacterium, he deliberately infected himself with the bacterium to show that it was a cause of acute gastric illness.

As expected, he fell ill and had to get treatment. But he had succeeded! He had evidence from experimenting on himself that he was correct all along.

Marshall published this self-experiment in the Medical Journal of Australia. This experiment showed his extreme dedication and commitment to his research that generated one of the most dramatic changes to medical understanding in the last 50yrs.

What Is Stomach Ulcer?

The stomach produces acid to digest food that is eaten. Natural things are in place to ensure that the acid does not digest the stomach. Sometimes, these protective mechanisms might fail and the acid begins to eat up parts of the stomach. This forms sores/ulcers that fail to heal properly.

Naturally, the acid in the stomach also kills bacteria that somehow find its way into the stomach. However, the Helicobacter pylori(H. Pylori) bacterium not only survives the acidity of the stomach, but also goes on to cause gastric ulcers in individuals infected with it.

There are other causes of Gastric Ulcers, but this bacterium seems to account for the majority of cases of ulcers. It causes ulcers by affecting the stomach's ability to heal rapidly after injury. It does this by neutralizing the natural defences that the body puts up to ensure that the stomach is not digested by the acid it produces.

Other Causes

• Medications-- some medications have been known to cause stomach ulcers... the most common one is aspirin which people take for various reasons. Other medications like steroids have also been known to increase the risk for gastric ulcers

• Smoking-- smoking on it's own doesnt really cause ulcers, however, it slows down the body's ability to heal injuries. This may, in combination with an infection with H. pylori, lead to very severe stomach ulcers.

• Drinking alcohol and chronic stress seem to be ways to make stomach ulcers even worse.

• Spicy foods do not cause ulcers. However, they can make the pain from an ulcer really bad. Most people with an active ulcer are advised to avoid spicy foods, at least until they have completed treatment and have healed.

How does it feel to have an ulcer?

The short answer is Painful. Gastric ulcers can be so painful that they can prevent a person from doing anything. Most times, when the pain starts, taking a form of pain relieve (apart from an aspirin and drugs in it's class) can help.

The pain is usually described as a burning feeling almost in the center of the chest. Depending on the kind of ulcer it is, it may start after eating, or it may start because of hunger and may be relieved by eating.

Some people feel nauseous as a result and in serious cases, may even throw-up with blood in their vomit. When this happens, it means that the ulcer has opened a blood vessel in the stomach and they are bleeding into the stomach.

What can you do about it?

The first thing to address is the pain. Some people may get some relieve with some mild paracetamol. Some other people may need to get to the doctor to get something stronger prescribed for them.

Avoiding smoking and alcohol can be important to help the ulcer heal.

Getting tested for the bacteria and receiving treatment is extremely important seeing that the majority of stomach ulcers are caused by H. pylori.

Finally, managing stress and stressful situations is important for your body to be able to heal. This includes having a proper balanced diet with all the nutritious elements to enable your body heal.

What Could Go Wrong?

With a stomach ulcer, a couple of things could go sideways.

• the ulcer can grow so much that it perforates the stomach. When that happens, stomach acid and food content would enter the same space where the liver, spleen and other organs are. This is an emergency and needs to be treated with surgery.

• the ulcer can destroy a blood vessel making a person bleed into the stomach and intestines. At this point the person may begin vomiting blood, or having very dark smelly stools. It is important to get tested to find the ulcer, the bleeding vessel and repair it.

The Bottom Line

Stomach ulcers can be very serious and sometimes deadly. Getting tested and treated promptly can prevent things from going seriously wrong. Taking care of yourself by managing stress and eating healthy, can help ensure that your body heals any ulcer that may have developed.

Do not hesitate to contact your doctor if you notice any dark stools, vomiting blood, or terrible pain. In addition getting tested and treated for the H.pylori bacterium is very important if you think you may be suffering from stomach ulcers.

Thanks for reading.

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