A List of “Uncommon H. Pylori Symptoms”

Most medical websites provide a list of H pylori symptoms that refer only to the digestive system. Most doctors are aware that H pylori causes digestive symptoms such as:

• Heartburn
• Acid reflux
• Bloating
• Chest pain
• Nausea
• Vomiting

However, there is a notable lack of acknowledgement in doctors’ clinics regarding H pylori symptoms outside the digestive system.

The scientific literature clearly demonstrates associations between H pylori and a whole range of unpleasant symptoms outside the gut.

Furthermore, these symptoms can develop in folk without them experiencing the common digestive symptoms.

For example, some folk simply feel tired, have low moods, struggle to sleep, or develop skin rashes. Headaches and allergic type symptoms are also common H pylori symptoms.

Some people don’t have any symptoms whatsoever related to H pylori, in fact it is believed that 70% or more H pylori infections are aysmptomatic. However this is a dangerous situation.

In my book, H Pylori: From Heartburn to Heart Disease, I present a great deal of research that clearly shows H pylori infection can cause the following metabolic changes or conditions without causing any obvious symptoms whatsoever:

• High cholesterol (increased LDL and decreased LDL cholesterol)
• Increased lipoprotein-b (a major heart disease risk factor)
• Chronic inflammation – a risk for heart disease
• Oxidative damage – a risk for heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Insulin resistance
• Elevated C-reactive protein, homocysteine, fetuin-A, all of which are heart disease risk factors.

Again, to reiterate these changes can happen in the body without folk experiencing any symptoms whatsoever.

By increasing oxidative damage, chronic inflammation, changes in cholesterol profiles, blood pressure, homocysteine and others, H pylori infection clearly becomes a major risk factor for heart disease, but you don’t ever see or hear this in the media.

As well, research clearly indicates a relationship between H pylori infection, heart disease, heart attacks and strokes.

Studies show that H pylori infections – especially the Cag-A strain – are positively associated with virtually all aspects of cardiovascular disease:

• H pylori increases ischemic heart disease incidence
• H pylori increases the severity of atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries)
• H pylori increases heart attacks
• H pylori increases angina

Heart disease is not the only insidious disease affected by H pylori infections.

In some people, chronic stomach inflammation caused by H pylori leads to a condition called atrophic gastritis, where the stomach lining is worn away.

Atrophic gastritis is a known risk factor for stomach cancer, yet atrophic gastritis can develop in people without them experiencing any common symptoms whatsoever.

So there you have it – H pylori can no longer be considered as an infection that simply causes a few common digestive symptoms.

It has the potential to cause – or contribute to – practically any symptom, given its ability to cause chronic inflammation and oxidative stress, both of which are processes that are known to underpin every disease, including cancer and heart disease.

H pylori infection is associated with gallbladder disease, colon cancer, pancreatic disease, liver disease, headaches and migraines, skin diseases, reactive arthritis, thyroid disease and many other chronic illnesses.

It is known to cause a lowering of stomach acid levels, which reduces B₁₂ and folic acid absorption, leading to depression, fatigue and neurological disorders and increasing homocysteine, a heart disease risk factor.

Even without common symptoms, H pylori clearly influences blood pressure, insulin sensitivity, metabolic syndrome and cholesterol levels, thus creating risk for heart disease.

Finally, H pylori infections can lead to atrophic gastritis, which in turn increases the risk of developing stomach cancer in some people. Yet again, people can slip into these situation without ever experiencing any of the common, or even uncommon, H pylori symptoms.

For more than half a decade, I have specialized in helping my clients deal with these situations.

Therefore if you have common digestive symptoms, if you have been diagnosed with H pylori or if you are concerned that you are feeling unwell for any reason, please feel free to get in touch.

I recommend you first download the free material available on this website, or consider booking phone or Skype consultation.

To your health,

Dave Hompes.