The National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases

Is Something Eating Your Stomach?

Broadcast Dates: Monday, October 18 – Sunday, October 24
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In the middle of the night, you could be woken up by an unwelcome guest—an ulcer in your stomach.

Hi, I’m Dr. Griffin Rodgers, bringing you “Healthy Moments” from the NIH. I’m the Director of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

If you feel a dull or burning pain in your gut between meals or at night, it could be a peptic ulcer. The pain from an ulcer can last for minutes or hours, and it can come and go for weeks.

If you have other symptoms, such as your appetite is off or you lose weight unexpectedly, these could also be signs of an ulcer. Pain killers such as aspirin or ibuprofen are one possible cause. Bacteria can also cause an ulcer, and your doctor can treat it with antibiotics and acid-reducing medications.

To lower your risk, limit alcohol consumption and don’t smoke.

And for more tips, visit our website at NIDDK, or MyMajicDC.com . This is Dr. Griffin Rodgers. Join me next week for more “Healthy Moments.”