Causes of Bleeding in the Digestive Tract

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

• Regular use of Reference nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs Opens New Window (NSAIDs) such as aspirin and ibuprofen. These medicines can irritate the stomach lining and cause an Reference ulcer Opens New Window.
• Reference Inflammatory bowel disease Opens New Window.
• Colon Reference polyps Opens New Window or Reference colorectal cancer Opens New Window, especially in older adults. It is important to identify and treat these as early as possible, because they may be life-threatening.
• Frequently occurring Reference hemorrhoids Opens New Window. People with hemorrhoids often do not seek treatment right away, resulting in chronic bleeding.
• Reference Esophagitis, which is irritation or inflammation of the esophagus (the tube that connects the throat to the stomach).
• Reference Hookworm Opens New Window and other Reference parasites Opens New Window. These parasites feed upon blood from the Reference intestinal wall Opens New Window Reference Opens New Window. Significant blood loss can result if they are left untreated.
• Long-distance running (runner's Reference anemia Opens New Window). People who regularly run long distances often have some type of bleeding in the digestive tract.

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