Bloating. Pain. Nausea. Fullness. All are symptoms of stomach dyspepsia and ulcers. For years, people thought these issues were sometimes caused by stress. But the truth is, they’re generally caused by common bacteria. If you have it, and one in five people do, you should likely get treated.
Kirk Thompson thought maybe his stomach problems were caused by the stress of coaching. “I must be a glutton for punishment,” he said. “It gives me a lot of headaches, a lot of stress. Coaching is stressful, but I really like working with the kids.”
It turns out that Thompson’s symptoms (bloating, pain and nausea) were caused by bacteria called H. pylori.
“It’s bacteria that you acquire as a child, and once you acquire the bacteria, it lives with you until you pass away,” explained Nicholas Talley, M.D., Ph.D., of Mayo Clinic. “It’s a lifelong companion.”
But Talley says treatment with antibiotics and other medications can be effective for four out of five people who have the bacteria.
H. pylori cause inflammation in the stomach. The inflammation can cause ulcers which could lead to bleeding. This increases your risk of stomach cancer. It’s a small risk, but a real one.
“If you get symptoms that might be like an ulcer, stomach pains related to meals, feeling uncomfortable after meals, it might be worth having it check out to see if you have this infection,” Talley advised. “If you do, it is worth having the infection removed with treatment.”
There is one drawback to getting treated for H. pylori. Some people may experience heartburn afterwards. If so, talk to your health care provider about getting treatment for that symptom.
