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Helicobacter pylori is a bacterium that is the most common bacterial infection in humans. It is a major cause of peptic ulcers, which are lesions in the lining of the stomach or duodenum.12

H. pylori survives the stomach's acidic environment by converting urea into carbon dioxide and ammonia, creating a more neutral local area. This process can weaken the mucosal lining, making it susceptible to the corrosive effects of stomach acid, leading to ulcer formation.12

While lifestyle and diet were once blamed for ulcers, evidence now points to H. pylori infection and the long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) as the primary causes. Antibiotics and acid-reducing medications are used to treat H. pylori-induced ulcers.123

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