1 in 3 New Yorkers Has This Stomach Disease — and Probably Doesn’t Know It
1 in 3 New Yorkers has this stomach disease — and probably doesn’t know it – Dr. Moushumi Sanghavi tells Mashable that about 30% or more of New Yorkers have Helicobactor pylori, H.pylori for short, due to the city’s large and dense population that includes a high rate of immigrants — only many have no idea.
Over 100,000 years old, H.pylori is believed to have co-evolved with humans and is one of the few microorganisms that can survive stomach acid. H.pylori hangs out in your gastric mucus or stomach lining, and can inhabit you for years, even for life if left untreated. However, 20% of those infected will suffer from recurring pain and other symptoms.
Symptoms include nausea, burning pain in stomach, especially on an empty stomach at night and stomach ulcers. If left untreated, these ulcers can bleed, causing anemia and black stools. The H-pylori bacteria can also cause gastric cancer.
The bacteria can spread through oral contact and through contaminated food and water.Antibiotics are used to get rid of the bacteria, and scientists are working on a vaccine.
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