When a physician speaks about GI bleeding, he/she is usually not talking about a wound that results in visible bleeding. Usually, "GI bleeding" means that some part of the body is bleeding, either slightly (which may or may not be very serious) or heavily (which may have serious health consequences).
Gastrointestinal bleeding includes any bleeding that originates in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, from the mouth to the large bowel. The degree of bleeding can range from tiny, microscopic amounts that can be detected only in the laboratory to acute, massive, life threatening bleeding, with the passage of pure blood or black stool.
Gastrointestinal bleeding may be a warning sign of many diseases and conditions. Even if bleeding cannot be seen by the naked eye, losing tiny amounts of blood over a long period of time can cause loss of iron, leading to anemia. Acute loss of large volumes of blood can lead to shock and death. GI bleeding can occur at any age. The location of the bleeding and the amount of blood loss determine which tests should be performed to find the cause. Once a bleeding site is identified, many therapies may be used to stop the bleeding.
Because GI bleeding is usually internal, it is possible for a person to have GI bleeding without having pain. Because you literally do not know that you are bleeding, it is important to recognize the symptoms that may accompany GI bleeding. These vary, depending upon where the source of the bleeding is. Bleeding may originate from any site along the gastrointestinal tract, and typically is classified as either upper or lower GI bleeding.
Upper GI bleeding
Lower GI bleeding
