Bruce Springsteen cancelled his September shows because of peptic ulcer disease. Here’s a look at the condition he’s suffering from.

Bruce Springsteen has cancelled the remainder of his shows this month, saying in a late Wednesday announcement that he’s being treated for symptoms of peptic ulcer disease.

The move comes after Springsteen canceled two shows in Philadelphia in August, also citing medical concerns.

Here’s a primer on peptic ulcer disease, what causes it, and how it’s treated.

Peptic ulcers are sores in the stomach lining or the duodenum, the upper part of the small intestine. “Peptic ulcer disease” is the generic term for ulcers in this area, and does not denote a more severe form of ulcers, said Gregory Seltzer, the medical director for gastroenterology in New Jersey’s Virtua Health System.

Some people with the condition never experience symptoms, but the most common sign of a peptic ulcer is pain in the stomach, Seltzer said.

More serious symptoms include unexplained weight loss, appetite changes, and bleeding in the stomach or small intestine — which could present as black stool, Seltzer said.

According to the Mayo Clinic, other serious symptoms include vomiting— even vomiting blood — difficulty breathing, or feeling faint.

Most people have about a 5% to 10% chance of getting an ulcer in their lifetimes, and the risk gets more common as they get older, said Leo Katz, the associate chief of Jefferson Health’s Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

Most cases are caused by the overuse of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like naproxen sodium (for example, the brand-name drug Aleve) and ibuprofen (including the brand-name drug Advil). Those medications can decrease the production of lipids that contribute to the health of the stomach and small intestine and can help prevent or heal ulcers.

“The best way to avoid an ulcer is to avoid medications that cause ulcers like ibuprofen and aspirin — or if you are going to take those medications, take them in moderation,” Katz said.

The second-most common cause is an infection in the stomach caused by the bacterium Helicobacter pylori. This bacterium can live symbiotically in the stomach, Seltzer said, but can also cause ulcers.

In rare cases, ulcers can present as a symptom of cancer.

Neither Seltzer nor Katz are involved with Springsteen’s care, and both said they can’t say for certain what caused his ulcers without more information on his specific case.

Some lifestyle factors can affect ulcers, like smoking, drinking, eating spicy foods, and having untreated stress, the Mayo Clinic says. But those factors — including, say, stress related to millions of worried fans after a canceled concert — cannot cause ulcers on their own, Seltzer said.

“Stress exacerbates the pain and causes people to seek out treatments. It doesn’t actually cause the ulcer,” Seltzer said.

In most cases, Seltzer said, peptic ulcers are treatable, and most people return to work within a few days. Springsteen’s decision to take more time off might indicate a more complicated case of ulcers, Katz said. “Most of the time, most people with peptic ulcer disease don’t have to modify their activities very much,” he said.

A doctor might prescribe a medication called a proton pump inhibitor, sold under brand names like Prilosec and Nexium, to suppress acid in the stomach, allowing ulcers to heal.

“Ideally, you want the stomach to heal itself,” Seltzer said. For ulcers caused by H. pylori, a doctor will also prescribe an antibiotic. For ulcers caused by overuse of medications like Aleve or Advil, a doctor will advise the patient to stop taking them. “It’s important to get rid of the underlying cause,” he said.

In more serious cases, ulcers can erode into a blood vessel and cause bleeding. They can also perforate the stomach or small intestine, which typically requires surgical intervention, Seltzer said.