What Is H. Pylori (Helicobacter Pylori)

H. Pylori is a very common bacteria and it’s estimated that over 60% of the world’s population has it in their bodies. Many people come into contact with the bacteria when they are younger, but it can affect adults too.

Researches have noted that it is very commonly found in people that live in countries that lack clean water and proper sewage systems, but a true source of the bacteria has not been confirmed yet.

It can be transferred from one person to another by simply coming into contact with another person’s saliva or other bodily fluids by doing such things as sharing drinks or sharing eating utensils.

How Does H. Pylori Affect The Body

For most people the bacteria does not show a lot of symptoms in their body and they probably will never even know it’s there, but for others it may aggressively attack the lining of the stomach. After the bacteria severely damages the stomach lining it then exposes the affected person’s stomach wall to the acid that their body uses to digest food.

What Are the Symptoms of H. Pylori Infection

When the digestive acid acts upon the wall of the stomach it can then cause:

• • Mild or severe stomach pain

• • Bloating

• • Discomfort and vomiting

• • Excessive burping

• • Loss of appetite

• • Weight loss

• • Sour stomach

It can eventually lead to such conditions as infections, peptic ulcers and even stomach cancer. Helicobacter pylori infection in your stomach is also one of the main causes of having too much stomach acid (hyperchlorhydria).

The presence of the bacteria can easily be detected by testing blood, breath and stool samples.