Your digestive or gastrointestinal (GI) system includes the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, colon, and rectum, and quite unfortunately, all of these parts can be a possible source of GI bleeding. There may be different signs of gastro intestinal bleeding depending on where and how much bleeding you experience. Gastrointestinal bleeding is a sign of a disease, not the cause of it! 

Hemorrhoids, peptic ulcers, rips or inflammation in the esophagus, diverticulosis and diverticulitis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, and colonic polyps, are just a few of the numerous potential reasons for GI bleeding. But can it be a sign of cancer? Yes, GI bleeding can sometimes be a symptom of colon cancer, stomach cancer, and esophagus cancer, so you must be extra careful! 

What is GI Bleeding?

Bleeding that happens anywhere in the digestive tract is known as GI bleeding. One may observe steady bleeding, sporadic bleeding, or sometimes, bleeding may also start suddenly and produce a lot of blood. Usually, it is brought on by inflammation, infection, or internal damage! Heavy bleeding that occurs suddenly becomes very harmful very quickly, nevertheless, any kind of bleeding might be an indication of a dangerous illness. 

But what do you do when you experience such a thing? It is best that you visit a doctor because most of the time, doctors can tell the difference between upper and lower GI bleeding immediately, and offer treatment accordingly. Any bleeding from the upper digestive system, or from any place above the Treitz ligament, the first segment of the small intestine, is referred to as upper GI bleeding. Lower GI bleeding happens from the lower intestines and the rectum, which are parts of the lower digestive system. 

What are the GI Bleeding Symptoms? 

Symptoms of upper gastrointestinal bleeding and lower gastrointestinal bleeding symptoms differ from each other. Upper gastrointestinal bleeding signs include blood in sputum from a bleeding throat, blood in vomit, extremely dark, pungent-smelling blood in feces, or dark red blood in feces. Lower GI bleeding symptoms include bleeding from the anus and bright red blood in feces. 

One more thing, substantial bleeding, particularly in the upper gastrointestinal system, can result in additional symptoms, including low blood pressure and little to no urine flow. Heavy bleeding can also cause fatigue, severe nausea, unconsciousness, and rapid heartbeat in people. You need to be careful of gastro intestinal bleeding in your children as well. Children with this condition may exhibit unusual behavior, become extremely sleepy, or have difficulty staying attentive because of blood loss. 

How to Treat GI Bleeding Symptoms?

Always know, if you think you are experiencing gastrointestinal bleeding symptoms, it is crucial to consult a gastroenterologist! If the bleeding is severe, you could require emergency treatment, because emergency room doctors have the equipment to identify the source and manage the bleeding. Usually, testing can be helpful for both diagnosing and managing gastrointestinal bleeding because medication and specialized scopes with attached cameras and lasers can be utilized to halt the bleeding with safety. To stop the bleeding, the doctor can also attach clips to the bleeding vessels using instruments and scopes!      

OTC medications may be effective as GI bleeding treatment if hemorrhoids are the source of your bleeding, but if you discover that over-the-counter treatments are ineffective, your doctor may employ heat therapy to reduce your hemorrhoids. Most infections that can cause GI bleeding can be treated with antibiotics, or in more extreme situations, surgery is used to eliminate the cause.  

Are you wondering how surgery is performed as a GI bleeding treatment? These are frequently administered by medical professionals during endoscopies or colonoscopies. Small tools at the endoscope’s or colonoscope's tip can remove abnormal growths, including colon polyps, and inject drugs that assist the body in stopping bleeding! They can also use a little band or clip to seal any aberrant blood vessels or use a hot or cold gas or low-power laser to kill the tissue producing the bleeding. 

Tests to Identify the cause of GI Bleeding  

• A lab test called the fecal occult blood test (FOBT) looks for blood traces in a sample of feces.
• Blood tests use a sample of your blood to look for indicators of GI bleeding, such as anemia.
• GI X-rays photograph the upper or lower digestive tract to look for bleeding or other abnormalities. A barium contrast solution is used in the testing, which improves the visibility of the digestive system on the X-ray.
• A CT scan is an advanced imaging examination that creates improved, three-dimensional pictures of your intestines using modern technology.
• An upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleed can be investigated using an upper endoscopy, a procedure that makes use of an endoscope, a long tube with a camera, and light at its tip.
• To look for indications of a lower GI hemorrhage, a sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy is performed. These endoscopes are inserted through the anus during the procedure.
• Balloon enteroscopy is very similar to an endoscopy, and it also has a camera and lengthy tubes. However, to facilitate the examination of difficult-to-reach small intestinal areas, tiny balloons near the endoscope tip inflate in this procedure. 

When to Visit the Emergency Room? 

Many people want to know how to stop stomach bleeding naturally, and it is true that it’s possible to stop the bleeding at home with home remedies, but only if the cause of the bleeding is minor, such as piles. A bleeding hemorrhoid, for instance, may go away on its own or with over-the-counter ointment or a warm bath at home. Always remember, gastrointestinal bleeding may indicate a potentially fatal illness, and emergency medical attention is necessary in some cases! If you have a fast heartbeat, fever, confusion, hypotension or exhibit any other indicators of an upper gastrointestinal bleeding, such as bloody vomit or black, tarry stools, you should go to the emergency department of a hospital.  

Final Remarks 

The first thing you should know about GI bleeding is that there are several potential reasons for gastrointestinal bleeding, and the course of therapy may vary depending on the cause. In certain situations, doctors could advise continuing treatment of the illness in order to reduce symptoms slowly. If someone exhibits any signs of gastrointestinal bleeding, they should get in touch with a physician or go to the emergency care room because making this decision right away can help avoid further issues in many cases. 

Contact Medanta to receive the highest quality medical care for GI bleeding!