Stomach ulcer

This page also covers sores in the intestine (duodenal ulcers).

The main symptom of a stomach ulcer is tummy (abdominal) pain.

The pain:

  • is usually in the upper part of your tummy
  • may feel like burning
  • is often worse at night

Other symptoms of a stomach ulcer include indigestion, heartburn (a burning sensation in your chest), bloating and feeling or being sick.

Tummy pain is common and can be caused by lots of different things.

Find out about possible causes of tummy pain and stomach ache

See a GP if:

  • you have indigestion that does not go away with treatment
  • your tummy pain keeps coming back

Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if:

You have symptoms of a stomach ulcer and:

  • your tummy pain is getting worse or does not go away
  • you've lost your appetite
  • you feel full after a very small amount of food
  • you've lost weight without trying to
  • it feels like you have a lump in your tummy
  • it's painful or difficult to swallow
  • you keep being sick (vomiting)
  • you feel tired all the time

You can call 111 or get help from 111 online.

Call 999 or go to A&E if:

  • you're vomiting bright red blood or your vomit looks like ground coffee
  • your poo has blood in it, or is black, sticky and very smelly
  • you have severe tummy pain
  • it's painful to touch your tummy
  • you have chest pain that started suddenly
Find your nearest A&E

Do not drive to A&E. Ask someone to drive you or call 999 and ask for an ambulance.

Bring any medicines you take with you.

The main causes of stomach ulcers are:

  • infection with helicobacter pylori (H pylori) bacteria
  • regular use of anti-inflammatory painkillers (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen

Stomach ulcers are also more common in people who smoke, and the risk of getting one increases as you get older.

If a GP thinks you might have a stomach ulcer, they may arrange some tests to check what's causing your symptoms.

These tests may include:

  • a breath test to check for H pylori bacteria, where you take a tablet or a special drink and breathe into a tube
  • a test of a sample of your poo
  • a blood test

The GP may also ask to weigh you and feel your tummy.

You may also be referred for a gastroscopy (where a long, thin, flexible tube with a small camera inside is passed into your mouth and down into your stomach).

Treatment for a stomach ulcer depends on what's causing it.

You may be offered:

  • antibiotics to treat H pylori infection
  • medicines to reduce the amount of acid in your stomach, such as proton pump inhibitors

Treatment usually lasts from 1 week to 2 months, depending on what's causing your ulcer. You may need tests after treatment to make sure it's worked.

If your symptoms come back after treatment, speak to a GP. You may need to try a different medicine or keep taking medicine for longer.

A doctor may also recommend:

  • lifestyle changes, such as stopping smoking
  • stopping or changing medicines that may be making your symptoms worse
  • getting help with stress, anxiety and depression, as these things can make your symptoms worse

After you've seen a GP, there are things you can do to help ease your stomach ulcer symptoms and reduce the risk of a stomach ulcer coming back.

Do

  • eat smaller meals

  • eat your evening meal 3 to 4 hours before going to bed

  • try to keep to a healthy weight

  • take steps to manage stress

Don't

  • do not take anti-inflammatory painkillers (such as ibuprofen) without speaking to a doctor first

  • do not have food or drink that triggers your symptoms, which can include fatty or spicy foods, coffee and chocolate

  • do not smoke

  • do not drink too much alcohol

NHS help to get healthy

NHS Better Health has free tools and support to help you lose weight, get active, quit smoking and drink less.

Visit the NHS Better Health website

It's important to get treatment for a stomach ulcer. If not treated, a stomach ulcer can lead to serious problems that may be life-threatening.

These include:

  • bleeding from your stomach or intestine
  • a lack of iron (iron deficiency anaemia) caused by bleeding
  • a hole in your stomach that can cause peritonitis, a serious infection of the inner lining of your tummy
  • increased risk of stomach cancer from an untreated H pylori infection