gastric ulcer

Gastric ulcer is one of the common and frequently occurring diseases in the Chinese population. As a common type of peptic ulcer, the geographical distribution of gastric ulcer generally shows a trend of increasing from north to south, and it tends to occur in winter and spring when climate changes are greater. In addition, the incidence in males is significantly higher than in females, which may be closely related to smoking, irregular lifestyle and diet, work and external pressure, and psychological factors. In recent years, the incidence of gastric ulcer has begun to show a declining trend; however, it still remains one of the most common diseases of the digestive system. Its occurrence is mainly related to an imbalance between damaging factors on the gastroduodenal mucosa and the mucosal's own defense and repair factors. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, such as aspirin), and abnormal gastric acid secretion are common causes of ulcer formation. Typical ulcer pain is characterized by long duration, periodicity, and rhythmicity. Among these, gastric ulcers most commonly occur at the gastric angle and the lesser curvature of the gastric antrum, are more common in elderly male patients, and their onset is related to seasonal changes.