Symptoms of GASTROINTESTINAL BLEEDING

Symptoms of gastrointestinal bleeding include vomiting blood, black tarry stools, and passing visible blood from the rectum. Black tarry stools frequently result from bleeding that occurs high up in the digestive tract. Common areas for this type of bleeding include the stomach or first segment of the small intestine. Blood in the stomach turns black when exposed to stomach acid and enzymes. A single severe bleeding episode can produce tarry stools for as long as a week, so continuing tarry stools do not necessarily indicate persistent bleeding. People with chronic bleeding that tends to occur in small amounts or intermittently may develop symptoms of anemia. Anemia is usually associated with tiring easily and looking unusually pale. In the absence of such symptoms, a doctor may be able to detect an abnormal drop in blood pressure when a person sits or stands up after lying down, orthostatic hypotension. Symptoms indicating a serious and sudden blood loss include a rapid pulse rate, low blood pressure, and reduced urine flow. Shock occurs when there is insufficent blood or blood pressure to perfuse the entire body. Selective hormonal and neurological controls divert blood to essential organs. A person may also have cold, clammy hands and feet. The reduced supply of blood to the brain caused by the bleeding may lead to confusion, disorientation and sleeplessness. Symptoms of serious blood loss may differ, depending on whether the person has other underlying diseases. For example, someone with coronary artery disease may suddenly develop chest pain, angina, or symptoms of a heart attack. Symptoms associated with diseases such as heart failure, lung disease, and kidney failure may worsen. In people with impairment of liver function, gastrointestinal bleeding can dlead to a buildup of toxins that, in turn, may cause a condition called liver encephalopathy. Hepatic encephalopathy is characterized by changes in personality, awareness, and mental ability. Late stages may be associated with coma.