Elderly people are prone to bleeding due to peptic ulcers.

Bleeding from peptic ulcers is common in the elderly, those with a history of stomach ulcers, and those who experience recurrent bleeding, often occurring after taking anti-inflammatory medications.

Illustrative image.

Furthermore, 33% of patients showed no signs of gastric or duodenal ulcers; these were cases of ulcers on the lesser curvature, posterior ulcer sites, fibrosis, or those with silent progression. Alternatively, they were cases of acute ulcers with no prior history, where bleeding was the first sign of the lesion.

Symptoms typically include bloating, discomfort, nausea, and episodes of pain lasting several days or weeks, followed by vomiting blood. The blood is dark red, mixed with blood clots and food particles. In some cases, there is severe vomiting of fresh blood.

Patients often experience frequent bowel movements, with black, tar-like stools resembling coffee grounds or a foul odor. They may feel dizzy, lightheaded, or faint after vomiting or diarrhea. Their skin is pale and sweaty; their pulse is rapid (>90 beats/minute); and their arterial blood pressure is low, possibly below 80 mmHg. Although many effective medications are now available to treat peptic ulcers, the overall mortality rate is approximately 3-10%.

According to Knowledge - NT