Peptic
Ulcer and Applying For Life Insurance
Applying for insurance should
pose few problems for people with peptic ulcers.
 Ulcers are a common ailment of modern
society. People
of any age can develop an ulcer and they affect men and women
equally. About one out of every ten Americans will
suffer from the burning, gnawing abdominal pain of an ulcer
sometime in life. Unlike days of old, when treatment
for ulcers included starvation and later psychotherapy or
surgery, most peptic ulcers are treated with relative ease
with medication. Though common, the dangers associated with
ulcers, which include anemia, profuse bleeding, and stomach
cancer are serious and should always be treated by your doctor.
Other related medical conditions (or medical terminology) include Peptic Ulcers, Stomach Ulcers, Gastric Ulcers, Ulcers. Read below for more information about Peptic Ulcers and receiving a life insurance quote from a life insurance specialist.
A Hole in the Stomach, Esophagus
or Duodenum
There are two types of ulcers, peptic
and gastric. A
peptic ulcer is a hole in the first inner lining of the stomach,
esophagus or duodenum (the first section of the small intestine).
Its name is derived from the enzyme pepsin, a stomach enzyme
that breaks down proteins. If the ulcer is located
in the stomach it is called a gastric ulcer.
Normally, the lining of the stomach and small intestines
have protection against the irritating acids produced in
your stomach. When the protective mechanisms break down,
the lining develops inflammation (gastritis) or an ulcer.
Small peptic ulcers may be asymptomatic while large ones
can cause serious bleeding. An ulcer, or hole, that
goes all the way through the lining is called a perforation
and is considered a medical emergency.
Common and Uncommon Causes of Ulcers
Until the mid-1980s, it was believed
that ulcers formed as a result of stress, a genetic predisposition
to excessive stomach acid secretion or overindulgence in
fatty foods, alcohol, caffeine, and tobacco. It was believed
that these factors contributed to a buildup of stomach
acids that erode the protective lining of the stomach,
duodenum, or esophagus. Now it is believed that excessive
stomach acid secretion plays a role in the development
of ulcers, but bacterial infection from Helicobacter pylori
(H. pylori) is the primary cause of peptic ulcers. Although
many people have this organism in living in their gastrointestinal
(GI) tract, not everyone develops ulcers.
Research indicates that H.pylori is
present in more than 90% of duodenal ulcers and about 80%
of stomach ulcers. Heavy smokers are more prone to developing
duodenal ulcers than are nonsmokers; people who drink alcohol
excessively are more susceptible to esophageal ulcers;
and people who take aspirin, ibuprofen or naproxen frequently
over a long period of time are more likely to develop stomach
ulcers than those who don't.
There are several groups with unique
risk factors that may cause a peptic ulcer. Individuals with type O blood
are more likely to develop duodenal ulcers while people with
type A are prone to developing cancerous stomach ulcers.
A rare condition called Zolliger-Ellison syndrome causes
the pancreas to secrete a substance that produces ulcers
throughout the stomach and duodenum. Critically ill
patients who are on breathing machines are also at risk
for developing “stress ulceration.” Some elderly
are at increased risk for developing an ulcer due to increased
intake of aspirin and ibuprofen to address arthritis pain.
As the body ages, the pylorus valve, located between the
stomach and duodenum, relaxes as it ages and may allow excess
bile (a compound produced in the liver to aid in digestion)
to seep up into the stomach and erode the stomach lining
causing ulcers in some people.
A Pain in the Stomach
Abdominal pain ranks as the chief complaint
of people suffering with peptic ulcers, but the severity
and triggers for the pain vary from person to person. For
example, abdominal pain may get better or worse for some
people after eating. Others may experience other symptoms
such as nausea, vomiting, weight loss or fatigue. Heartburn,
indigestion, belching and chest pain are also frequently
an issue. More severe symptoms include vomiting blood, or
dark tarry stools.
Healing Ulcers
The Helicobacter pylori bacteria that
causes many ulcers will often respond favorably to a cocktail
of drugs. It has become somewhat resistant to treatment
and is not easily eradicated. Peptic ulcers that
are not caused by H.pylori are treated with histamine blocking
drugs such as Tagamet, Zantac and Pepcid or with proton
pump inhibitors Prilosec or Prevacid. These pharmaceuticals
are very effective in healing ulcers. Antacids and other
medications that reduce the amount of acid produced by
the stomach are widely used as well. There are also a variety
of self-help and alternative treatments that can aid in
the treatment of ulcers. There
is no cure for peptic ulcers and relapse incidence in high.
Peptic Ulcers Pose Few Problems for Insurers
Individuals with peptic ulcers should
not have difficulty procuring insurance if they are managing
their condition with proper treatment. After two years
of being symptom free, an applicant’s rates may actually
improve. The optimum insurance opportunity for people with
peptic ulcers that have been treated surgically will occur
approximately two years after surgery.
 Related
Links for Peptic Ulcer
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