No Peptic ulcer is caused by spicy food or stress

What is a peptic ulcer?
A peptic ulcer is a sore on the lining of the stomach or duodenum, which is the beginning of the small intestine. Peptic ulcers are common: One in 10 Americans develops an ulcer at some time in his or her life. One cause of peptic ulcer is bacterial infection, but some ulcers are caused by long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs), like aspirin and ibuprofen. In a few cases, cancerous tumors in the stomach or pancreas can cause ulcers. Peptic ulcers are not caused by stress or eating spicy food, but these can make ulcers worse.

What is H. pylori?
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a type of bacteria. Researchers believe that H. pylori is responsible for the majority of peptic ulcers.
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

Why don’t all doctors automatically check for H. pylori?
Changing medical belief and practice takes time. For nearly 100 years, scientists and doctors thought that ulcers were caused by stress, spicy food, and alcohol. Treatment involved bed rest and a bland diet. Later, researchers added stomach acid to the list of causes and began treating ulcers with antacids.
Since H. pylori was discovered in 1982, studies conducted around the world have shown that using antibiotics to destroy H. pylori cures peptic ulcers. The prevalence of H. pylori ulcers is changing. The infection is becoming less common in people born in developed countries. The medical community, however, continues to debate H. pylori’s role in peptic ulcers. If you have a peptic ulcer and have not been tested for H. pylori infection, talk to your doctor.

Points to Remember
A peptic ulcer is a sore in the lining of the stomach or duodenum.
The majority of peptic ulcers are caused by the H. pylori bacterium. Many of the other cases are caused by NSAIDs. None are caused by spicy food or stress.
H. pylori can be transmitted from person to person through close contact and exposure to vomit.
Always wash your hands after using the bathroom and before eating.
A combination of antibiotics and other drugs is the most effective treatment for H. pylori peptic ulcers

Hence whenever you have a ulcer do a H-pulori test. And avoid NSID's like aspirin and ibuprofen