Gastrointestinal Bleeding

Do you have a health condition that affects your digestive tract?  If so, you may have before…or you may currently experience gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding.  GI bleeding is a symptom of a disorder that is affecting your digestive tract.  Keep in mind, your digestive tract includes your esophagus, stomach, small/large intestine, rectum and anus.  Bleeding can occur from any of those areas and it could be such a small amount that only a laboratory test may be the only way to determine it.  The blood that is lost often appears in your stool or maybe even in your vomit…or the blood that is lost may not be visible at all.  Overall, GI bleeding can be mild…or it can be severe enough to be life-threatening. 

If you or your loved have been diagnosed with any of the following digestive disorders, be advised that GI bleeding may result at one point or another.  The disorders include:

·      Peptic ulcers

·      Inflammatory bowel disease

·      Diverticulosis

·      Hemorrhoids

·      Colon polyps

·      Cancerous tumors

·      Tears in the esophagus

·      Ulcerative colitis

·      Crohn’s disease

In addition to noticing black or tarry stools and seeing blood come up if you vomit, you could also notice bright red blood in your stools.  As mentioned above, the blood loss may not even be noticeable either…which could ultimately end up causing a shortage of blood in your body over time, meaning that most likely a blood transfusion would be in your future to replace the blood you have lost.  Identifying the exact source of what is causing your GI bleed may be rather difficult, especially if it starts in the small intestine.  The signs of bleeding in the digestive tract depend upon where it is and how much bleeding there is, following are some signs to become familiar with.

·      Signs of bleeding in the upper digestive tract

·      Bright red blood in vomit

·      Vomit that looks like coffee grounds

·      Black or tarry stool

·      Dark blood mixed with your stool

·      Signs of bleeding in the lower digestive tract

·      Black or tarry stool

·      Dark blood mixed with stool

·      Stool mixed or coated with bright red blood

Certain situations or health conditions may prove to place you at a greater risk of developing some sort of GI bleeding during your lifespan.  For example your risk increases with age, and with chronic use of certain medications including Coumadin, heparin, aspirin, Advil, Aleve, etc.  If at any time you notice any of the signs mentioned above, do not hesitate to bring it to the attention of your healthcare provider.  Early intervention could prove to decrease any continued blood loss and result in better health for you.

In order to best diagnose and look for the cause of any suspected GI bleeding, generally a procedure referred to as an endoscopy will be performed.  An endoscopy procedure is performed by using a flexible instrument that is inserted through the mouth or the rectum in order to take a look at the inside of the GI tract.  On the other hand, a colonoscopy procedure involves a slightly different procedure with the goal of observing the inside of the large intestine (colon) with entrance through the rectum. 

Treatment of GI bleeding will depend upon how serious it is.  Of course if you are experiencing a great, consistent loss of blood from a GI bleed your blood pressure may significantly drop which will result in more invasive and emergent treatment measures.  Having a GI bleed may require anything from taking oral or IV medications to receiving a blood transfusion to replace the volume you have lost.  In addition, with a drop in blood pressure you will receive IV fluids to help further replace your lost volume.

Total Home Health has a program that is right for you or your loved one and our healthcare professionals are compassionate individuals that are always attentive to every aspect of your health and needs.  Your optimal health and safety is our number one priority, and with our frequent visits to the comforts of your own home we will report any changes in your condition to your medical provider as we see fit to keep your treatment regimen the best it can be.  Enroll today with Total Home Health to be on your way to a brighter health care future tomorrow!