Causes of Bleeding in the Gastrointestinal Tract

Overview

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

• Esophagitis. This is irritation or inflammation of the esophagus (the tube that connects the throat to the stomach).
• Regular use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Examples are aspirin and ibuprofen. These medicines can irritate the stomach lining and cause an ulcer, such as a peptic ulcer.
• Infections, such as from parasites or from the bacteria Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori).
• 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.