Page 21 - 86 human physiology part-2

Chapter 12

inflammation of the colon. Sometimes a person doesn't even know they are bleeding. When this
happens, it is called hidden, or occult bleeding. Simple tests can detect hidden blood in the stool.

What Causes Bleeding in the Digestive Tract

Esophageal bleeding may be caused by Mallory-Weiss syndrome which is a tear in the esophagus.
Mallory-Weiss syndrome is usually caused by excessive vomiting or may be caused by childbirth, a
hiatal hernia, or increased pressure in the abdomen caused by coughing. Various medications can cause
stomach ulcers or inflammations. Medications containing aspirin or alcohol, and various other
medications(mainly those used for arthritis) are some examples of these.

Benign tumors or cancer of the stomach may also cause bleeding. These disorders don't usually
produce massive bleeding. The most common source of bleeding usually occurs from ulcers in the
duodenum. Researchers believe that these ulcers are caused by excessive stomach acid and a bacteria
called Helicobacter Pylori.

In the lower digestive tract, the most common source of bleeding is in the large intestine, and the
rectum. Hemorrhoids are the most common cause of bleeding in the digestive tract. Hemorrhoids are
enlarged veins in the anal area which produces bright red blood that you see in the toilet or on the toilet
paper.

How do you Recognize Bleeding in the Digestive Tract

The signs of bleeding in the digestive tract vary depending on the site and severity of the bleeding.
If the blood is coming from the rectum, it would be bright red blood. If it was coming from higher up in
the colon or from the small intestine, the blood would be darker. When the blood is coming from the
stomach, esophagus, or the duodenum, the stool would be black and tarry.

If the bleeding is hidden, or occult, a person may not notice changes in the stool color. If extensive
bleeding occurs, a person may feel dizzy, faint, weak, short of breath, have diarrhea or cramp
abdominal pain. Shock can also occur along with rapid pulse, drop in blood pressure, and difficulty
urinating. Fatigue, lethargy, and pallor from anemia will settle in if the bleeding is slow. Anemia is
when the bloods iron-rich substance, hemoglobin, is diminished.

Common Causes of Bleeding in the Digestive Tract

• Hemorrhoids
• Gastritis (inflammation)
• Inflammation (ulceratice colitis)
• Colo rectal Polyps
• Colo rectal Cancer
• Duodenal Ulcer
• Enlarged Veins
• Esophagitis (inflammation of the esophagus)
• Mallory-Weiss Syndrome
• Ulcers

Iron and beets can also turn the blood red or black giving a false indication of blood in the stool.

236 | Human Physiology