How H. pylori can leave the stomach unprotected
The leading cause of peptic ulcers is infection with Helicobacter pylori, a bacterium that can live in the stomach’s harsh, acidic environment. It settles into the mucus lining that normally shields the stomach and upper small intestine. The infection can inflame and weaken that protective barrier, allowing digestive acid to damage the tissue beneath it and form an ulcer.
An infection may persist for years without obvious symptoms. When it does cause trouble, the result can be a sore in the stomach or in the first part of the small intestine, called the duodenum.
Medicines can cause ulcers, too
Another major cause is frequent use of certain pain relievers, including aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen. These medicines reduce chemicals that help protect the stomach lining, making it more vulnerable to injury. An ulcer’s cause matters: treating an H. pylori infection generally involves antibiotics, while medication-related ulcers may require changing the drug and reducing acid.
Stress and spicy food can aggravate discomfort for some people, but they are not the main underlying causes of most ulcers. The practical consequence is that persistent ulcer-like symptoms call for finding the cause—not simply avoiding a favorite food.
