{"id":19012,"date":"2026-05-26T17:12:05","date_gmt":"2026-05-26T11:42:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lalpathlabs.com\/blog\/?p=19012"},"modified":"2026-05-26T17:12:05","modified_gmt":"2026-05-26T11:42:05","slug":"gastrointestinal-bleeding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lalpathlabs.com\/blog\/gastrointestinal-bleeding\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is Gastrointestinal Bleeding? Causes, Symptoms & Diagnosis"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"gastrointestinal<\/p>\n

Gastrointestinal bleeding (GI) occurs when an individual is suffering from any digestive system disorder, reflux, ulcers, or cancer. It is a common and serious medical emergency that is caused by multiple conditions, such as lesions or varices in the Gastrointestinal tract. Medical professionals diagnose and treat it based on the location and severity of the bleed.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

This article covers an overview of gastrointestinal bleeding, its types, its symptoms, and the necessary tests that medical professionals prescribe for an accurate diagnosis.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What is Gastrointestinal Bleeding?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Gastrointestinal bleeding signals a disorder in the digestive tract of an individual. It can occur anywhere in the GI tract, connecting the mouth to the anus.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Doctors classify it as upper gastrointestinal bleeding when it affects the oesophagus, stomach or upper small intestine, and as lower when it involves the lower small intestine, colon, rectum or anus.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A GI bleed is often detected via blood in stool or vomit, though in some cases the symptoms aren\u2019t easily visible. A gastrointestinal bleed can also lead to further complications like anaemia, shock, or death.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

There are around 5 types of gastrointestinal bleeding:<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Acute:<\/strong> This is the sudden, severe bleeding that calls for a medical emergency.<\/li>\n
  2. Chronic:<\/strong> Bleeding that occurs from time to time over a long period.<\/li>\n
  3. Overt:<\/strong> This type shows multiple visible signs, like abnormal colours or substances in stool or vomiting blood.<\/li>\n
  4. Occult:<\/strong> This is microscopic bleeding. Not fairly visible, but symptoms of gastrointestinal bleeding can be seen on laboratory testing.<\/li>\n
  5. Obscure:<\/strong> This is when standard endoscopy testing is unable to locate the source of gastrointestinal bleeding.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    What Causes Gastrointestinal Bleeding?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    Gastrointestinal bleeding can occur either in the lower or the upper gastrointestinal tract. Causes of upper gastrointestinal bleeding are:<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Peptic ulcer or open sores on the internal lining of the stomach<\/li>\n
    2. Tear in the oesophagus lining<\/li>\n
    3. Oesophageal varices (enlarged veins in the tube connecting the throat and stomach of an individual)<\/li>\n
    4. Esophagitis<\/li>\n
    5. Portal hypertensive gastropathy<\/li>\n
    6. Hiatal hernia and abnormal blood vessels<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

       <\/p>\n

      Causes of lower gastrointestinal bleeding include:<\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

        \n
      1. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)<\/li>\n
      2. Tumours and colon polyps<\/li>\n
      3. Proctitis (inflammation in the lining of the rectum)<\/li>\n
      4. Haemorrhoids<\/li>\n
      5. Anal fissures<\/li>\n
      6. Diverticular disease<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        What are the Gastrointestinal Bleeding Symptoms?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

        The gastrointestinal bleeding symptoms depend on the rate and location of the bleed. And this can be anywhere on the GI tract, from the mouth to the anus. These signs can be classified into two types: Overt (visible) and occult (hidden) gastrointestinal bleeding.<\/p>\n

         <\/p>\n

        Overt gastrointestinal bleeding symptoms include:<\/p>\n

         <\/p>\n

          \n
        1. Rectal bleeding with stool<\/li>\n
        2. Tary black stool<\/li>\n
        3. Vomiting red or dark brown blood that may look like coffee grounds<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

           <\/p>\n

          Occult bleeding can result in symptoms like:<\/p>\n

           <\/p>\n

            \n
          1. Chest pain<\/li>\n
          2. Light-headedness or dizziness and fatigue<\/li>\n
          3. Abdominal cramps<\/li>\n
          4. Pale appearance<\/li>\n
          5. Difficulty in breathing<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            What are the Diagnostic Tests for Gastrointestinal Bleeding?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

            To identify the source of gastrointestinal bleeding, like bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract or lower tract, doctors may perform certain tests, such as:<\/p>\n

             <\/p>\n

              \n
            1. Blood tests (CBC)<\/a>:<\/strong> Tests like CBC are advised by doctors to assess blood loss, anaemia, and clotting ability, alongside stool tests for occult blood.<\/li>\n
            2. Faecal occult blood test (FOBT):<\/strong> Through this lab test, signs of blood are detected in a stool sample.<\/li>\n
            3. Angiography:<\/strong> Angiography<\/a> is an imaging study that makes use of injected dye to make the GI tract\u2019s blood vessels easier to view.<\/li>\n
            4. Endoscopy:<\/strong> This procedure provides a direct visualisation of the tract. The upper endoscopy helps doctors to examine the oesophagus, stomach, and duodenum for upper gastrointestinal bleeding. While colonoscopy is used to inspect the colon and rectum for lower sources.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

              How to Manage and Prevent Gastrointestinal Bleeding?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

              Most individuals recover fully from GI, and the risk of future bleeding can be reduced through certain lifestyle measures, such as:<\/p>\n

               <\/p>\n

                \n
              1. Avoiding medications that may trigger bleeding.<\/li>\n
              2. Treating underlying causes of ulcers.<\/li>\n
              3. Managing stress through relaxation techniques.<\/li>\n
              4. Taking a balanced diet<\/a>.<\/li>\n
              5. Maintaining an active lifestyle through regular exercise.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                 <\/p>\n

                Additionally, here are some steps one can take to avoid gastrointestinal bleeding:<\/p>\n

                 <\/p>\n

                  \n
                1. Use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and aspirin only when medically necessary.<\/li>\n
                2. Get tested for Helicobacter pylori infection, which can contribute to ulcer formation.<\/li>\n
                3. Limit alcohol consumption.<\/li>\n
                4. Avoid or quit tobacco use.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                   <\/p>\n

                  For helpful treatment plans and diagnostic tests, consultation with medical professionals and gastrointestinal experts is essential. To learn more about gastrointestinal bleeding and to book an FOBT test, download the Dr Lal PathLabs app<\/a> today.<\/p>\n

                   <\/p>\n

                  FAQs<\/strong><\/h2>\n

                  1. What is a GI bleed?<\/strong><\/p>\n

                  A GI bleed refers to blood loss from a tear or inflammation in the digestive tract, and can go from mild, ongoing to sudden, life-threatening.<\/p>\n

                  2. What are the symptoms of gastrointestinal bleeding?<\/strong><\/p>\n

                  Gastrointestinal bleeding symptoms include vomiting blood, black tarry stools, rectal bleeding, dizziness, fatigue, or shock signs like rapid heartbeat.<\/p>\n

                  3. What are the tests for gastrointestinal bleeding?<\/strong><\/p>\n

                  Tests for gastrointestinal bleeding include CBC, stool analysis, upper endoscopy, colonoscopy, angiography, and imaging like CT scans.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                  Gastrointestinal bleeding (GI) occurs when an individual is suffering from any digestive system disorder, reflux, ulcers, or cancer. It is a common and serious medical emergency that is caused by multiple conditions, such as lesions or varices in the Gastrointestinal tract. Medical professionals diagnose and treat it based on the location and severity of the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":19013,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":""},"categories":[1055],"tags":[3611,3612,3613,3614],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lalpathlabs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19012"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lalpathlabs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lalpathlabs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lalpathlabs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lalpathlabs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19012"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.lalpathlabs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19012\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19014,"href":"https:\/\/www.lalpathlabs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19012\/revisions\/19014"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lalpathlabs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19013"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lalpathlabs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19012"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lalpathlabs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19012"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lalpathlabs.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19012"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}