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causes of bleeding in the digestive tract

overview

causes of bleeding in the stomach and intestines (digestive tract) include:

  • regular use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (nsaids). examples are aspirin and ibuprofen. these medicines can irritate the stomach lining and cause an ulcer.
  • inflammatory bowel disease.
  • colon polyps or colorectal cancer, especially in older adults. it is important to find and treat these as early as possible. without treatment, they may be life-threatening.
  • frequently occurring hemorrhoids. people with hemorrhoids often don't seek treatment right away. they can have chronic bleeding as a result.
  • esophagitis. this is irritation or inflammation of the esophagus (the tube that connects the throat to the stomach).
  • hookworm and other parasites. these parasites feed upon blood from the intestinal wall. if they aren't treated, they can cause a lot of blood loss.
  • long-distance running (runner's anemia). people who regularly run long distances often have some type of bleeding in the digestive tract.

related information

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current as of: october 19, 2023

author: healthwise staff
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