Awareness of H. Pylori

Have you ever heard of H. Pylori?
Full name of H.Pylori is Helicobacter Pylori. It's quite common recently but you may not notice it.
It may be in your body, in your stomach, but you didn't feel it... it's like a silent killer, from what i understand...

According to Wikipedia, Helicobacter pylori is a Gram-negative, microaerophilic bacterium that can inhabit various areas of the stomach and duodenum. It causes a chronic low-level inflammation of the stomach lining and is strongly linked to the development of duodenal and gastric ulcers and stomach cancer. Over 80% of individuals infected with the bacterium are asymptomatic.

H. pylori infection is common in the United States. About 20 percent of people under 40 years old and half of those over 60 years have it. Most infected people, however, do not develop ulcers. Why H. pylori does not cause ulcers in every infected person is not known. Most likely, infection depends on characteristics of the infected person, the type of H. pylori, and other factors yet to be discovered.
Researchers are not certain how people contract H. pylori, but they think it may be through food or water.
Researchers have found H. pylori in the saliva of some infected people, so the bacteria may also spread through mouth-to-mouth contact such as kissing.

How does H. pylori cause a peptic ulcer?
H. pylori weakens the protective mucous coating of the stomach and duodenum, which allows acid to get through to the sensitive lining beneath. Both the acid and the bacteria irritate the lining and cause a sore, or ulcer.
H. pylori is able to survive in stomach acid because it secretes enzymes that neutralize the acid. This mechanism allows H. pylori to make its way to the "safe" area—the protective mucous lining. Once there, the bacterium's spiral shape helps it burrow through the lining.

What are the symptoms of an ulcer?
Abdominal discomfort is the most common symptom. This discomfort usually is a dull, gnawing ache comes and goes for several days or weeks occurs 2 to 3 hours after a meal occurs in the middle of the night—when the stomach is empty, is relieved by eating, is relieved by antacid medications .
Other symptoms include
weight loss
poor appetite
bloating
burping
nausea
vomiting
Some people experience only very mild symptoms, or none at all.

Emergency Symptoms
If you have any of these symptoms, call your doctor right away:
sharp, sudden, persistent stomach pain
bloody or black stools
bloody vomit or vomit that looks like coffee grounds
They could be signs of a serious problem, such as
perforation—when the ulcer burrows through the stomach or duodenal wall
bleeding—when acid or the ulcer breaks a blood vessel
obstruction—when the ulcer blocks the path of food trying to leave the stomach

It normally spread through the common share of food and drinks. Therefore, to prevent , we should avoid sharing food with your family members, friends or anyone else. If your family member is suspected to have this kid of symptoms, please ask them to consult doctor. And once your family members were examined to have H.pylori in thier stomach, please go for medical checkup. YOU CAN'T AVOID FROM IT! But, don't worry!!! there's still have medicine to cure them at the moment.