Are you affected by H. Pylori? Get a fact check

Helicobacter pylori, or as most commonly called H. pylori, is a type of gram negative bacteria that infects the stomach and small intestine and eventually the bowel. Two Australian researchers in 1982 found that it can also cause peptic ulcer.

H. pylori is a very common microbe that grows in the digestive tract and the first thing it does is attack the stomach lining. Roughly 60 percent of the world’s adult population is infected by this microbe but H. pylori infections are usually harmless. This means, most of them are not even aware whether they have this bacteria in them unless there are some major symptoms.

Often unrecognized, H. pylori typically infect ones stomach during childhood. So, even though there might be some years when you have not faced any health complications, but there can be some lifestyles changes or dietary practices that may trigger peptic ulcer and gastritis. There are many valid H. pylori treatment available and many also believe in taking probiotics when there are some chronic gastric condition.

H. pylori are adapted to live in the harsh, acidic biome - exactly the one in stomach. They have the ability to reduce the acidity and being spiral in shape can easily penetrate the stomach lining and away from the body’s immune cells. As they remain undestroyed, it results in stomach problems.

What causes H. pylori infections?

Practically, there is no proven report that can confirm how H. pylori infections spread. The bacteria have coexisted in the human gut for the longest time. It is apprehended that infections spread from one person’s mouth to another. Also, when a person does not wash their hands properly after using bathroom, the contamination can cause it to spread through food or water.

Simply stated, the bacteria are believed to penetrate the stomach’s mucous lining and neutralize the stomach acids through some form of generated substance. When they do this for a long time, the stomach cells get vulnerable to the acid. All these together cause a constant irritation and might result in ulcers. Obviously, the stomach or the duodenum are the common organs that gets affected.

What are the symptoms of H. pylori infection?

As discussed, most of the people with H. pylori don’t show any form of symptoms.

When the condition leads to an ulcer, the foremost sign is that of abdominal pain. The pain aggrevates mostly when your stomach is empty at night or after you have spent few hours post the meals. The gnawing pain generally comes and goes. The easiest way to cure it is by taking antacids.

It is, however, always recommended not to take any form of medication on your own if the pain persists for a long time. Temporary relief is not the best idea for such infections and must be cured from the root of the cause.

You might need treatment of H. Pylori if you have any of the following symptoms-

•    feeling bloated
•    excessive burping
•    nausea
•    sense of heartburn
•    frequent fever
•    lack of appetite, or anorexia
•    unnecessary weight loss

The condition turns a bit more serious when you face -

•    trouble swallowing
•    blood in the stool
•    anemia

That being said, it is not always H. pylori that cause these symptoms but can be from other complications as well. In fact, some healthy people also suffer from the above stated conditions. But whenever any of the above symptoms stay for long, it is wise to consult your doctor.