Gastrointestinal Bleeding: Causes, Signs, and What You Need to Know

When you hear gastrointestinal bleeding, a loss of blood from the digestive tract, which can happen anywhere from the esophagus to the rectum. Also known as GI bleeding, it’s not a disease itself—it’s a symptom that something deeper is wrong. It might show up as bright red blood in your stool, dark, tarry poop, or even just unexplained fatigue and dizziness. Many people ignore these signs, thinking it’s just an upset stomach or hemorrhoids. But when the source is deeper—like an ulcer, a torn blood vessel, or cancer—it can turn life-threatening fast.

Stomach bleeding, a common form of gastrointestinal bleeding that often starts with ulcers or irritation from NSAIDs like ibuprofen, is one of the top causes. Digestive tract bleeding, which includes bleeding from the intestines, colon, or rectum, can come from polyps, diverticulosis, or inflammatory conditions like Crohn’s. Even something as simple as a blood thinner like warfarin can make minor irritation turn into serious bleeding. You don’t need to vomit blood to be in danger. Sometimes the bleed is slow, stealing iron over weeks until you’re anemic, tired, and short of breath without knowing why.

What makes gastrointestinal bleeding tricky is how silent it can be. A person might feel fine until they collapse from low blood pressure. Others notice changes in stool color or frequent heartburn and brush it off. But if you’ve been on long-term pain meds, have a history of ulcers, or just feel off for no reason, it’s worth checking. Doctors use endoscopies, colonoscopies, and blood tests to find the source—and the faster they do, the better the outcome.

There’s no one-size-fits-all fix. Treatment depends on where the bleed is, how fast it’s happening, and what’s causing it. Some cases need surgery. Others just need stopping a medication, giving iron, or treating an infection. The key is not waiting. If you’re seeing red or black in your stool, or you’re unusually pale and weak, don’t wait for it to get worse. This isn’t something you can treat with home remedies.

Below, you’ll find real-world guides on medications and conditions that can trigger or worsen gastrointestinal bleeding—from NSAIDs and blood thinners to how liver health and antibiotic use play a role. These aren’t theoretical articles. They’re practical breakdowns of what actually happens in the body, what to watch for, and how to avoid turning a small problem into a medical emergency.