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<div class="HwContainer HwElement" id="HwContainer"><a class="HwMainSkipNavigation" href="#HwContentTitle"><span class="HwAccessibilityText">Skip Navigation</span></a><div class="HwBlock" id="HwMain" role="main"><div class="HwRow"><div class="HwColumn" id="HwColumnSidebar1"><div class="HwCustom" id="HwCustomSidebar"> </div></div><div class="HwColumn" id="HwColumnContent"><div id="HwContentTop"> </div><div class="HwTypeFocus HwContentWrapper HwElement" role="article" id="HwContentWrapper"><div class="HwCustom" id="HwCustomContentTop"> </div><div class="HwContentHeader"><p><a name="top" id="Hwtop"><span class="HwAccessibilityText">Top of the page</span></a> </p></div><div class="HwContentTitle"><h1 id="HwContentTitle" tabindex="-1">Causes of Bleeding in the Gastrointestinal Tract</h1></div><div class="HwContentTopNavigation"> </div><div class="HwContent"><div class="HwNavigationSection HwSectionSpecialSection" id="sec-ue4513-sec"><h2 class="HwSectionTitle" fingerprint="b4cb0a40" fingerprint-exact="e7c3d1bb">Overview</h2> <p fingerprint="3ce33eb3" fingerprint-exact="ec75d35d">Causes of bleeding in the stomach and intestines (digestive or gastrointestinal tract) include: </p> <ul fingerprint="e6770a56" fingerprint-exact="6ca6d3ea"> <li>Esophagitis. This is irritation or inflammation of the esophagus (the tube that connects the throat to the stomach). </li> <li>Regular use of <a class="HwLinkDefinition" data-hw-type="Definition" data-hw-document-href="stn166055" data-hw-section="stn166055-sec" rel="Definition" hw:document-type="Definition" hw:document-href="stn166055" data-hwid="stn166055" hw:section-href="stn166055-sec" href="?id=stn166055#stn166055-sec"><span class="HwLinkText">nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)</span></a>. Examples are aspirin and ibuprofen. These medicines can irritate the stomach lining and cause an <a class="HwLinkDefinition" data-hw-type="Definition" data-hw-document-href="stp1485" data-hw-section="stp1485-sec" rel="Definition" hw:document-type="Definition" hw:document-href="stp1485" data-hwid="stp1485" hw:section-href="stp1485-sec" href="?id=stp1485#stp1485-sec"><span class="HwLinkText">ulcer</span></a>, such as a peptic ulcer. </li> <li>Infections, such as from parasites or from the bacteria <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> (<i>H. pylori</i>).</li> <li> <a class="HwLinkDefinition" data-hw-type="Definition" data-hw-document-href="sti150603" data-hw-section="sti150603-sec" rel="Definition" hw:document-type="Definition" hw:document-href="sti150603" data-hwid="sti150603" hw:section-href="sti150603-sec" href="?id=sti150603#sti150603-sec"><span class="HwLinkText">Inflammatory bowel disease</span></a>. </li> <li>Colon <a class="HwLinkDefinition" data-hw-type="Definition" data-hw-document-href="stp1841" data-hw-section="stp1841-sec" rel="Definition" hw:document-type="Definition" hw:document-href="stp1841" data-hwid="stp1841" hw:section-href="stp1841-sec" href="?id=stp1841#stp1841-sec"><span class="HwLinkText">polyps</span></a> or <a class="HwLinkDefinition" data-hw-type="Definition" data-hw-document-href="uh1565" data-hw-section="uh1565-sec" rel="Definition" hw:document-type="Definition" hw:document-href="uh1565" data-hwid="uh1565" hw:section-href="uh1565-sec" href="?id=uh1565#uh1565-sec"><span class="HwLinkText">colorectal cancer</span></a>, especially in older adults. It is important to find and treat these as early as possible. Without treatment, they may be life-threatening. </li> <li>Frequently occurring <a class="HwLinkDefinition" data-hw-type="Definition" data-hw-document-href="sth149708" data-hw-section="sth149708-sec" rel="Definition" hw:document-type="Definition" hw:document-href="sth149708" data-hwid="sth149708" hw:section-href="sth149708-sec" href="?id=sth149708#sth149708-sec"><span class="HwLinkText">hemorrhoids</span></a>. People with hemorrhoids often don't seek treatment right away. They can have chronic bleeding as a result. </li> </ul> </div><div class="HwNavigationSection HwSectionRelatedInformation" id="sec-ue4513-RelInfo"><h2 class="HwSectionTitle" fingerprint="d5f858e0" fingerprint-exact="c0ffe04b">Related Information</h2><ul fingerprint="404dd402" fingerprint-exact="5d868086"><li class="HwOptionalAny"><a data-hw-type="Major" data-hw-document-href="hw166953" data-hw-section="acl5469" hw:document-type="Major" hw:document-href="hw166953" data-hwid="hw166953" hw:section-href="acl5469" href="?id=hw166953#acl5469">Iron Deficiency Anemia</a></li></ul></div><div class="HwNavigationSection HwCreditsSection HwCreditsWithoutNavstack HwSectionCredits" id="sec-ue4513-Credits"><h2 class="HwSectionTitle">Credits</h2><div class="HwContentInformation"><div class="HwLastUpdated"><p><span class="HwInfoLabel">Current as of: </span> October 19, 2024</p></div><div class="HwCredits"><p><span class="HwInfoLabel">Author: </span><a class="HwLinkExternal" 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