Some important stomach disorders include gastritis, stomach and intestinal ulcers, and stomach cancer. Gastritis is frequently diagnosed in people with symptoms such as pain—in the xiphoid process, abdomen or back—that is connected to meals or that occurs in the middle of the night, vomiting blood, dark stools and weight loss. Gastritis was once believed to be caused by excessive acidity in the stomach, weak stomach lining, stress, or not eating meals on time, but doctors have discovered that in most cases, infection by the Helicobacter pylori bacteria is the cause.

The Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacterium is helix-shaped and lives in the stomach. The bacteria can penetrate the stomach and small intestine’s protective mucus lining, leading to acute and chronic inflammation of the upper digestive tract (gastritis), peptic ulcers, and even stomach cancer. H. pylori infections can be found all over the world, but especially in undeveloped and developing countries, where rates of infection are as high as 60 to 70% of the population. It is more commonly found in older adults. The bacteria can be transmitted by eating and drinking contaminated food and water.