Causes and symptoms.
This refers to bleeding that originates from an organ (or organs) in the digestive system.
There are several types of gastrointestinal bleeding:
- Acute - bleeding is severe and occurs suddenly;
- Chronic - blood flows periodically and then stops;
- Occult - bleeding is confirmed by laboratory testing;
- Overt - the patient notices blood in the stool or urine;
- Obscure - despite standard endoscopic examination, the source of gastrointestinal bleeding cannot be determined.
Possible causes include:
- Crohn's disease;
- Esophagitis;
- Gastritis;
- Chronic acid reflux;
- Liver cancer;
- Pancreatic cancer;
- Peptic ulcer;
- Stomach cancer;
- Anal fissures;
- Colon polyps;
- Colorectal cancer;
- Diverticulitis and diverticulosis;
- Hemorrhoids;
- Ulcerative colitis, etc.
Typical symptoms include:
- Abdominal cramps;
- Dark stools or standard-colored stools with blood;
- Pale skin;
- Shortness of breath;
- Fatigue;
- Blood in your urine or urine that looks like coffee grounds;
- General weakness.
Call emergency services if you experience the following symptoms:
- Lightheadedness or a feeling of faintness;
- Difficulty urinating;
- Rapid pulse;
- Shock.
Source:
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23391-gastrointestinal-gi-bleeding
