gastrointestinal bleeding
digestive disorders
Gastrointestinal Bleeding
The causes of GI bleeding are divided into three areas: Upper GI tract Lower GI tract Small intestine (See table.) The most common causes are difficult to specify because causes vary by the area that is bleeding and the person's age. However, in general, themost common causes of upper GI bleedingare Peptic Ulcer Disease None Enlarged veins in the esophagus ( Esophageal Varices ) A tear in the lining of the esophagus after vomiting ( Esophageal Laceration (Mallory-Weiss Syndrome) ) Themost common causes of lower GI bleedingare Polyps of the Colon and Rectum None Definition of Diverticular Disease None Hemorrhoids None Abnormal blood vessels (angiodysplasia, arteriovenous malformations [AVMs]) Overview of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) None Colorectal Cancer None Other causes of lower GI bleeding include a split in the skin of the anus ( Anal Fissure ), is rare but can result from blood vessel abnormalities, tumors, or a Meckel Diverticulum . Bleeding from any cause is more likely, and potentially more severe, in people who have chronic Alcohol-Related Liver Disease or Medications that can cause or worsen bleeding include Anticoagulants (such asheparin,warfarin,dabigatran,apixaban,rivaroxaban, andedoxaban) Those that affect platelet function (such asaspirinand certain other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [NSAIDs] andclopidogrel) Those that affect mood or mental health (such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors [SSRIs]) Those that affect the stomach's protective barrier against acid (such as NSAIDs) 