Stress ulcer is a functional disorder of a hollow organ. The disease is characterized by multiple superficial gastric defects that occur on the nerves. More often acute lesion is localized between the cardiac and pyloric department.
When a person experiences stress, the ulcer becomes inflamed when the hypothalamus is activated. A small zone in the intermediate region of the brain regulates the neuroendocrine system and is responsible for the self-regulation of the organism with respect to the preservation of internal coordinated reactions. Further, hypersecretion of hormones of corticosteroids occurs in the cells of the adrenal cortex, which participate in various metabolic processes. Excess hormones disrupt the production of gastric mucus, namely its quantity and quality. The lack of a protective barrier under stress leads to damage to the mucous epithelium and directly affects its ability to regenerate.
Complications, which gives a nervous ulcer of the stomach, are also associated with a violation of microcirculation in the muscle layers of the digestive organ. This causes ischemia of the mucosal epithelium of the stomach. Increase in acid secretion as a result of stress contributes to increased production of substances that stimulate the release of the hormone gastrin.
By the way, the ulcer on the nervous soil affects the motility of the gastrointestinal tract, which inhibits the transport of digested food to the duodenum. In the pathogenesis of the disease, protein metabolism also participates. Against the background of stress, digestive enzymes have little activity and practically do not deliver the amino acids necessary for the balance.
Symptoms of stress ulcers of the digestive tract
Clinical signs on which it is possible to recognize stress ulcers of the gastrointestinal tract are inaccurate. On the one hand, the patient does not have any pain, and on the other, sharp gastric bleeding can occur. In this case, only 10% of patients turn to the doctor, and then, as a rule, only when the defect has already caused perforation of the walls of the digestive organ.
For a certain time, the stomach ulcer develops nervously asymptomatically, disguising itself for dyspeptic disorders. The optimal option in this case will be an instrumental examination and a stool test for a sign of bloody discharge. The increased irritability significantly increases the risk of the emergence or aggravation of various diseases, in this number there was also a nerve ulcer, so if the depressive state is prolonged it is necessary to consult a doctor.
Treatment of Stressed Stomach Ulcer
Each patient should remember that stressful gastrointestinal ulcers need constant maintenance of a neutral pH of the stomach. And the blood supply to the mucosal epithelium can be normalized by filling all tissues and organs with oxygen. Therefore, the obligatory appointment in the scheme of therapy of this type of pathology is the artificial saturation of the lungs with oxygen.
The treatment of ulcers of various pathogenesis, including stress, is suppressed by the secretion of hydrochloric acid. This is the only way to achieve rapid scarring of inflammatory foci. For oral administration, the gastroenterologist is prescribed omeprazole, and immediately after hospitalization, parenteral Controls are administered.
Currently, doctors are sure that in most cases of lesions of the digestive tract the bacterium Helicobacter pylori is guilty. Because of nervous overstrain, the protective functions of the body are weakened, and the infectious agent can be activated both against the backdrop of irrational nutrition and due to nervous stress. It is extremely important to establish whether a microorganism is present in the hollow organ or not. If the result is positive for eradication, prescribe antibiotics, if the stomach is not infected, prescribe drugs to improve motor-evacuation functions, vitamin B complex and sedatives.