Ulcer

Our team of doctors at Houston Methodist Lynda K. and David M. Underwood Center for Digestive Health retain the skill and compassion required to deliver complete care for stomach, esophagus and small intestine ulcers — of any type or size.

Ulcers in the digestive tract are open sores of various sizes that won’t heal. Doctors at the Underwood Center combine patient-centric care paired with research-based treatment plans.

Houston Methodist Hospital is ranked No. 7 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report for Gastroenterology & GI Surgery. U.S. News & World Report has also named Houston Methodist Hospital the No. 1 hospital in Texas every year since the award began and one of the nation’s best as a nationally ranked Honor Roll hospital.

An ulcer will continue to get worse if it is not treated. With proper treatment, most ulcers heal within a few months. Our multidisciplinary team offers every patient a thorough analysis of their symptoms, followed with customized care options.

Advanced Ulcer Treatment Options

Our state-of-the-art center offers access to the latest treatment technologies. When treating your ulcer, your doctor will consider the following procedures, surgeries and therapies:

• Dietary interventions
• Digestive surgery
• Drug therapies
• Mind-body approaches
• Therapeutic endoscopy

Treatment for an ulcer depends on its type and cause. The most common types of stomach, small intestine and esophageal ulcers include:

• Peptic ulcers – sores form when natural digestive acids damage the lining of the stomach
• Esophageal ulcers – sores develop from overexposure to stomach acid in the esophagus

Most ulcers occur because H. pylori (Heliobacter pylori) bacteria caused an infection that damaged the lining in the stomach or esophagus. But not all ulcer conditions are caused by an infection. Overuse of anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin or ibuprofen can damage the stomach or intestinal lining and cause an ulcer to form. Smoking or excessive caffeine intake (more than 400 mg per day) can also contribute to the development of ulcers. In rare cases, stress or overproduction of gastric (stomach) acid is the origin. In addition, certain cancers can also present as ulcers.