What is Gastrointestinal bleeding?
'''Gastrointestinal bleeding''' ('''GI bleed'''), also known as '''gastrointestinal hemorrhage''', is all forms of [[bleeding]] in the [[Human gastrointestinal tract|gastrointestinal tract]], from the [[mouth]] to the [[rectum]].<ref name=NIH2014>{{cite web|title=Bleeding in the Digestive Tract|url=http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-topics/digestive-diseases/bleeding-in-the-digestive-tract/Pages/facts.aspx|website=The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases|access-date=6 March 2015|date=September 17, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150221091014/http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-topics/digestive-diseases/bleeding-in-the-digestive-tract/Pages/facts.aspx|archive-date=21 February 2015}}</ref> When there is significant [[blood]] loss over a short time, symptoms may include [[hematemesis|vomiting red blood]], [[coffee ground vomiting|vomiting black blood]], [[hematochezia|bloody stool]], or [[melena|black stool]]. Small amounts of bleeding over a long time may cause [[iron-deficiency anemia]] resulting in [[fatigue (medical)|feeling tired]] or [[angina pectoris|heart-related chest pain]]. Other symptoms may include [[abdominal pain]], [[dyspnea|shortness of breath]], [[pallor|pale skin]], or [[syncope (medicine)|passing out]]. Sometimes in those with small amounts of bleeding no symptoms may be present.<ref name=Kim2014>{{cite journal|last1=Kim|first1=BS|last2=Li|first2=BT|last3=Engel|first3=A|last4=Samra|first4=JS|last5=Clarke|first5=S|last6=Norton|first6=ID|last7=Li|first7=AE|title=Diagnosis of gastrointestinal bleeding: A practical guide for clinicians.|journal=World Journal of Gastrointestinal Pathophysiology|date=15 November 2014|volume=5|issue=4|pages=467–78|pmid=25400991|doi=10.4291/wjgp.v5.i4.467|doi-access=free |pmc=4231512}}</ref> ==References== {{reflist}} [[Category:Medical emergencies]] {{med-stub}}