Common Stomach Diseases and Problems

Different stomach diseases and problems affect millions of people throughout the world most commonly during their most active period of life. Stomach diseases are relatively common, while the most frequent stomach diseases are:

• Dyspepsia is the most common stomach disease which affects 40-60% of world's population at least once in a lifetime and is characterized by persistent or occasional pain in upper abdomen or in lower chest but can also result regurgitation (reflux of stomach content back into esophagus and mouth), bloating, nausea and vomiting.
• Heartburn or pyrosis is a burning ache in the esophagus below the breastbone which affect about 10% of world's population, while every second person experiences heartburn at least once in a year. Heartburn affects men more often than women and can besides burning sensation in the esophagus also result bad breath, regurgitation, sour or bitter taste in the mouth, vomiting and mouth ulcer.
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a chronic disease which results abnormal gastric reflux from stomach to esophagus and might damage the esophagus. GERD is often accompanied by heartburn, difficult swallowing and regurgitation especially after substantial meal and at night if eating minutes before bedtime.
• Peptic ulcer is an sore in mucous membrane of the stomach although it develops more often in the duodenum. Peptic ulcer is more common in men and causes perpetual abdominal pain, burning ache, bloating and abdominal fullness, loss of appetite and unintentional weight loss.
• Helicobacter pylori infection is the world's leading bacterial infection and according to some estimation about one half of world's population is infected with bacteria known as Helicobacter pylori although about 20% of infected people have no health problems. However, Helicobacter pylori infection causes chronic low-level inflammation of the stomach lining and is believed to be the leading cause of peptic ulcers, gastritis and stomach cancer.
• Gastritis is an inflammation of the stomach lining and most frequently results pain in the upper abdomen.
• Stomach cancer is a type of cancer which is characterized by growth of abnormal cells in any part of the stomach and might spread to other organs via circulatory or lymphatic systems. Stomach cancer affects men more often than women, while its symptoms usually include abdominal pain, unintentional wight loss, poor digestion, nausea, vomiting, difficult swallowing and black stools.