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A bleeding ulcer can refer to a lesion in the gastrointestinal tract that causes severe bleeding, perforation or penetration of nearby organs. Symptoms include cramping pain, nausea, dizziness, and low blood pressure. Smoking, drinking, and acidic medications increase the risk. Early treatment with antibiotics and antacids is important to prevent complications. Severe cases may require surgery and intravenous antibiotics.
The term bleeding ulcer can have a few definitions, depending on how much damage the ulcer is actually causing. An ulcer is defined as a lesion on the skin, but most people refer to ulcers as lesions in the gastrointestinal tract. Without treatment, these can enlarge and cause several very serious complications which can all be grouped under the heading of a “bleeding ulcer”.
These complications can include severe bleeding as the lesion grows and attacks blood vessels. Most commonly this form of ulcer may be present for a while or sudden heavy bleeding may occur, resulting in cramping pain, nausea, dizziness and extremely low blood pressure. Alternatively, bleeding occurs slowly and can cause tiredness, paleness, and the presence of anemia. Other ulcer symptoms are usually present in slow-onset cases such as intestinal discomfort, stomach upset, and acid indigestion.
Alternatively, people may also use the term bleeding ulcer to refer to a lesion that perforates (makes a hole in the intestine) or penetrates (makes a hole in the intestine and a nearby organ). The perforation can fill the abdomen with material from the gastrointestinal tract or it can block another part of the intestine and lead to gastrointestinal obstruction. Penetration can have different symptoms depending on the related organ it affects. Symptoms of any of these conditions may include extreme stomach panic, vomiting of blood, black-colored stools, or matter that looks like coffee grounds. If an obstruction is present, people may vomit but usually cannot have bowel movements
All types of bleeding ulcers are extremely dangerous, and anyone with ulcers is more at risk of bleeding ulcers if they smoke, drink frequently, or take acidic medications such as aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen or naproxen sodium. Most ulcers are caused by a bacterial infection, and diagnosing an ulcer early can usually prevent this serious complication in all its forms. Early treatment, in the form of antibiotics and antacid medications, is important, and a bleeding ulcer usually only occurs when the symptoms of an ulcer have gone untreated and have been ignored.
In the most severe cases, the ulcer requires various types of surgery to remove blockages or repair ulcerated parts of the intestinal tract or other organs. The infection rate is significant when perforation occurs and treatment will include not only surgery but also massive doses of intravenous antibiotics. Ulcers that have developed slow bleeding can be treated with medication alone, but an ulcer that simply bleeds heavily and contributes internal blood loss at a rapid rate would also likely require surgery.
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