A 42-year-old male presents to the clinic with a two-month history of intermittent burning epigastric pain localized to the upper abdomen. The pain occurs 3 to 4 hours after eating, frequently wakes him up at night, and is temporarily relieved by eating or taking over-the-counter antacids. He denies significant weight loss, fever, or changes in bowel habits but reports occasional bloating and nausea. His history is significant for frequent NSAID use for chronic knee pain and smoking about 10 cigarettes per day. On physical examination, the patient has mild epigastric tenderness without guarding or rebound tenderness. Vital signs are normal, and there is no evidence of melena or occult blood. What is the most common location for this type of ulcer?
