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<p>A <strong>peptic ulcer</strong>, also known as <strong>PUD</strong> or <strong>peptic ulcer disease</strong><sup class="reference" id="_ref-medmag_0"><a title="" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gastric_ulcer#_note-medmag">[1]</a></sup> is an <a title="Ulcer" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulcer">ulcer</a> of an area of the <a title="Gastrointestinal tract" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gastrointestinal_tract">gastrointestinal tract</a> that is usually acidic and thus extremely painful. 80% of ulcers are associated with <em>Helicobacter pylori</em>, a spiral-shaped bacterium that lives in the acidic environment of the stomach, however only 20% of those cases go to a doctor (for it is not a dangerous case if caught in time and can be treated with surgery). Ulcers can also be caused or worsened by drugs such as Aspirin and other NSAIDs. Contrary to general belief, more peptic ulcers arise in the duodenum (first part of the small intestine, just after the stomach) than in the stomach. About 4% of stomach ulcers are caused by a malignant tumor, so multiple biopsies are needed to make sure. Duodenal ulcers are generally benign.</p>