Gastrointestinal Bleeding: Causes & Symptoms

Posted On July 21, 2023

Bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract (GI) is a sign of a problem with your digestive system. Though it isn’t always visible, the blood frequently manifests in stools or vomit, making the latter appear dark or tarry. Life-threatening bleeding can range in intensity from moderate to severe.

Gastrointestinal bleeding requires an examination by a gastro specialist, who might run some diagnostic test to detect it and the underlying cause. At SIDS Hospital, being one of the best stomach hospital in Surat, diagnosis for these types of gastro problems is done by an experienced and skilled team of gastroenterologist and gastro surgeons. These bleedings are referred to as “occult” or “hidden” as you might not be aware if it is occuringl.

Where does the bleeding can happen?

• Esophagus (food pipe)
• Stomach
• Small intestine, including the duodenum
• Large intestine or colon
• Rectum
• Anus

Any of these organs may experience GI bleeding. Upper GI haemorrhage refers to bleeding that happens in the oesophagus, stomach, or first section of the small intestine (duodenum). Lower GI bleeding refers to bleeding in the rectum, anus, lower small or large intestine.

You may encounter very minor bleeding or a haemorrhage that poses a serious risk to your life. Sometimes the bleeding may be so slight that it can only be detected by testing the faeces.

What are symptoms of Gastrointestinal Bleeding?

If you think you may have GI or rectal bleeding, there are a few things you can check for. If bleeding occurs in the upper GI tract or the stomach, your stool may become more viscous and sticky, like tar.

You could observe some blood in your toilet or on your toilet tissue if you pass blood from your rectum during bowel movements. Typically, the hue of this blood is brilliant red. Blood in the vomit is another indicator that your GI system is bleeding.

Overt bleeding may manifest as:

• Vomiting blood that may be scarlet or dark brown in colour and have a consistency similar to coffee grounds
• tarry, dark stool
• bleeding from the rectus, commonly in or with stools

If you have occult bleeding, you could have:

• Lightheadedness
• Having trouble breathing
• Fainting
• chest pain
• Continent pain

Knowing the signs of bleeding can help treat the deadly condition. Consult a specialist if there is any significant gastrointestinal bleeding. The top gastroenterologists in Surat are available at SIDS Hospital to handle these kinds of issues.

Depending on the rate of bleeding, the symptoms also change.

You can get rapid, severe bleeding and experience shortness of breath, dizziness, weakness, cramp-like abdominal pain, or diarrhoea. You might have a quick heartbeat, a dip in blood pressure, and shock. You might get pallid.

You can gradually experience exhaustion, sluggishness, and shortness of breath if bleeding is gradual and occurs over an extended period of time. Your skin may appear more pale ith an associated anaemia.

Causes of Upper Bleeding:

There are various reasons for upper GI bleeding, including:

• Stomach Ulcers: GI bleeding is frequently caused by peptic ulcers. The lining of your stomach or duodenum might develop these open sores called ulcers. Regular use of NSAIDs like ibuprofen (Advil), a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicine, may raise your chance of developing peptic ulcers. If you use blood thinners, your risk may also increase. Additionally, H. pylori infection might result in peptic ulcers.

• Veins in your oesophagus are torn: The disorder known as esophageal varices causes enlarged veins in the oesophagus to rip and bleed. If you have portal hypertension, which is frequently caused by cirrhosis, a severe scarring of the liver, you may be more likely to develop this illness.

• Tears in the esophageal walls: Mallory-Weiss syndrome is the name given to this disorder. This syndrome is frequently brought on by violent or frequent vomiting.

• Duodenitis and Gastritis: Duodenitis is an inflammation of the small intestine, whereas gastritis is an infection of the stomach. Both can be brought on by other circumstances, such as excessive use of NSAIDs or alcohol, but they are frequently brought on by an infection with the H. pylori bacteria.

• Upper GI tumours: Bleeding may result from tumours, including those brought on by esophageal, stomach, and small intestine cancer. Depending on where they are, pancreatic tumours can occasionally lead to GI bleeding.

• Angiodysplasia: The GI tract’s blood vessels increase as a result of angiodysplasia.

Causes of Lower Bleeding:

• Haemorrhoids: Another often occurring reason for GI or rectal bleeding is haemorrhoids. A swollen vein in your rectum or anus is what causes haemorrhoids. Rectal haemorrhage may result from these swollen veins rupturing and bleeding. This condition might become well on its own or with only a few treatments. However, if the bleeding raises concerns about other, more serious GI problems, a doctor might decide to do a colonoscopy.

• Anal Fissure: Lower GI bleeding may also result from an anal fissure. The muscular ring that makes up the anal sphincter has been torn. It’s typically brought on by firm stools or constipation.

• Diverticulosis: This is a chronic disorder where the colon’s wall protrudes where blood vessels are located. Over time, this can lead to the blood vessels rupturing and bleeding. Diverticulosis-related bleeding frequently goes away without the need for invasive treatments. To rule out other, more dangerous causes of lower GI bleeding, such as cancer, a doctor may do a colonoscopy.

• Colon cancer: Your colon or rectum is where colon cancer begins.

• Angiodysplasia: The digestive tract’s blood vessels widen as a result of this illness.

• Colitis: The condition known as colitis, which develops when your colon gets inflamed, is one of the most typical causes of lower GI bleeding.

Complications of Gastrointestinal Bleeding:

A dangerous and potentially fatal disease may be present if there is bleeding in the digestive tract. dependable source It’s crucial to get medical help as soon as possible.

Serious problems, such as the following, could arise from untreated GI bleeding:

• Respiratory discomfort
• Infection
• Heart attack
• Shock
• Death

Gastrointestinal bleeding is a dangerous sign that needs immediate medical attention. These causes frequently necessitate inspection by a Stomach Specialist in Surat at SIDS Hospital in order to identify and cure the conditions ranging from inflammation to tears in the digestive tract.