PROCEDURES Gastrointestinal bleeding

Gastrointestinal bleeding is generally a symptom of a condition in your digestive system. The blood appears in your stool or vomit but isn't always visible, though it may cause the stool to look tarry or black.

Sophisticated imaging technology can usually find the cause and location of the bleeding, but treatment depends on the source of the bleeding.

Gastrointestinal bleeding symptoms

Signs and symptoms of GI bleeding can be either obvious (overt) or hidden (occult). The symptoms depend on where the bleed is - which can be anywhere on the GI tract - and the rate of bleeding.

Overt bleeding might show up as:

• Vomiting blood, which might be red or might be dark brown and resemble coffee grounds in texture
• Black, tarry stool
• Rectal bleeding, usually in or with stool

With occult bleeding, you might have:

• Lightheadedness
• Difficulty breathing
• Fainting
• Chest pain
• Abdominal pain