When You Have Gastrointestinal (GI) Bleeding

Blood in your vomit or stool can be a sign of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. GI bleeding can be scary. But the cause may not be serious. You should always see a doctor if GI bleeding occurs.

The GI tract

The GI tract is the path through which food travels in the body. Food passes from the mouth down the esophagus (the tube from the mouth to the stomach). Food begins to break down in the stomach. It then moves through the duodenum, the first part of the small intestine. Nutrients are absorbed as food travels through the small intestine. What is left passes into the colon (large intestine) as waste. The colon removes water from the waste. Waste continues from the colon to the rectum (where stool is stored). Waste then leaves the body through the anus.

Causes of GI bleeding

GI bleeding can be caused by many different problems. Some of the more common causes include:

• Swollen veins in the anus (hemorrhoids)

• Swollen veins in the esophagus (varices)

• Sore on the lining of the GI tract (ulcer)

• Cuts or scrapes in the mouth or throat

• Infection caused by germs such as bacteria or parasites

• Food allergies, such as milk allergy in young children

• Medicines

• Inflammation of the GI tract (gastritis or esophagitis)

• Colitis (Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis)

• Cancer (tumors or polyps)

• Abnormal pouches in the colon (diverticula)

• Tears in the esophagus or anus

• Nosebleed

• Abnormal blood vessels in the GI tract (angiodysplasia)

Diagnosing the cause of blood in stool

If blood is coming out in your stool, you may have a lower GI tract problem or a very fast upper GI tract bleed. Bleeding from the GI tract can be bright red. Or it may look dark and tarry. Tests may also find blood in your stool that can’t be seen with the eye (occult blood). To find out the cause, tests that may be ordered include:

• Blood tests. A blood sample is taken and sent to a lab for exam.

• Hemoccult test. Checks a stool sample for blood.

• Stool culture. Checks a stool sample for bacteria or parasites.

• X-ray, ultrasound, or CT scan. Imaging tests that take pictures of the digestive tract.

• Colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy. This test uses a flexible tube with a tiny camera. The tube is inserted through your anus into your rectum to see the inside of your colon. Your provider can also take a tiny tissue sample (biopsy) and treat a bleeding source

Diagnosing the cause of blood in vomit

If you are vomiting blood or something that looks like coffee grounds, you may have an upper GI tract problem. To find the cause, tests that may be done include:

• Upper Endoscopy. A flexible tube with a tiny camera is inserted through your mouth and throat to see inside your upper GI tract. This lets your provider take a tiny tissue sample (biopsy) and treat a bleeding source.

• Nasogastric lavage. This can tell if you have upper GI or lower GI bleeding.

• X-ray, ultrasound, or CT scan. Imaging tests that take pictures of your digestive tract.

• Upper GI series. X-rays of the upper part of your GI tract taken from inside your body.

• Enteroscopy. This sends a flexible tube or a small, swallowed capsule camera into your small intestine.