Two Risk Factors For Gi Disease In Older Adults

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Two Risk Factors for GI Disease in Older Adults Your name QCC Nursing 102 Helicobacter pylori and the excessive use of NSAIDs increase the risk for GI diseases in older adults. H. pylori is a bacteria that according to the CDC more than 50% of the worlds population is infected with. (Snyder, D., 2005). Yet, if you ask the common layperson about it, they do not have a clue what it is or its consequences. On the other hand, if you mention NSAIDs like Motrin and Aleve you get a different response. They will probably tell you how often they use it to treat their aches and pains. H. pylori is a bacteria that is able to live in your stomach and reproduce. You probably thought that this is impossible due to the acidity of the stomach; however, H. pylori is able to neutralize stomach acid by generating ammonia and bicarbonate. It increases chances of peptic ulcers and gastric adenocarcinoma. (Suzanne C. Smeltzer & Brenda G. Bare, 2004) The textbook mentions that a simple blood test can detect H. pylori. If you test positive the treatment of choice is multiple antibiotics, a proton pump inhibitor and H2 blockers for fourteen days. Resistance to H. pylori to metronidazole and clarithomycin is on the rise. The article explains in depth the different tests for H. pylori such as another blood test to recheck needs to be done at least six months after treatment to allow antibodies titers to decrease. Another way to check is through an endoscopic antral biopsy urease test. Besides testing for the H. pylori it can tell if the patient has erosions or ulcers. The problem with this method is that it is very expensive. It is only done if patients are experiencing some signs or symptoms such as hematemesis or melena. In older adults, most peptic ulcers are due to the excessive use of NSAIDs. These OTC medications are used daily to treat

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