K13 — March 2010 — H. pylori

Intro: Bloating, pain, nausea and 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. And Doctors at Mayo Clinic say if you have it, and one out of five people do, you should likely get it treated.

"YEAH, MARCH IS KIND OF A HECTIC TIME…[HERE WE GO!]… IF YOU WIN THE GAME YOU MOVE ON, IF YOU DON'T…[WAIT FOR IT!] …YOU LOSE" [BUZZZ!]

KIRK THOMPSON THOUGHT MAYBE HIS STOMACH PROBLEMS WERE CAUSED BY THE STRESS OF COACHING. "I MUST BE A GLUTTON FOR PUNISHMENT. 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 KIRK'S SYMPTOMS – BLOATING, PAIN AND NAUSEA WERE REALLY CAUSED BY A BACTERIA CALLED H. PYLORI. "IT'S A BACTERIA THAT YOU ACQUIRE AS A CHILD; AND ONCE YOU ACQUIRE THE BACTERIA, IT LIVES WITH YOU UNTIL YOU PASS AWAY. IT'S A LIFE-LONG COMPANION." BUT DR. NICHOLAS TALLEY SAYS TREATMENT WITH ANITBIOTICS AND OTHER MEDICATIONS CAN BE EFFECTIVE FOR FOUR OUT OF FIVE PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE BACTERIA. YOU SEE, H. PYLORI CAUSES INFLAMMATION IN THE STOMACH. THE INFLAMMATION CAN CAUSE ULCERS WHICH COULD LEAD TO BLEEDING. AND THIS INCREASES YOUR RISK OF STOMACH CANCER. A SMALL RISK, BUT A REAL ONE.

"IF YOU GET SYMPTOMS THAT MIGHT BE LIKE AN ULCER, STOMACH PAIN RELATED TO MEALS, FEELING UNCOMFORATBLE AFTER MEALS, IT MIGHT BE WORTH HAVING IT CHECKED OUT TO SEE IF YOU HAVE THIS INFECTION. IF YOU DO, IT IS WORTH HAVING THE INFECTION REMOVED WITH TREATMENT." ND AFTER TREATMENT, KIRK'S SYMPTOMS AREN'T COMPLETELY GONE, BUT THEY'RE MUCH BETTER, AND NOW HE CAN CONCENTRATE ON HIS TEAM INSTEAD OF ON HIS STOMACH. "THE MEDICATION HAS REALLY HELPED."

FOR MEDICAL EDGE, I'M VIVIEN WILLIAMS.

Anchor tag:

There is one drawback of getting treated for H. pylori. And that is some people may experience heartburn afterwards. If so, talk to your health care provider about getting treatment for that symptom.

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