UPPER GASTROINTESTINAL BLEEDING:

DEFINITION: bleeding from the upper intestinal tract (the
stomach or first part of the small intestine).  This can
occur by having esophagus erosion or varicies, stomach
ulcers, gastritis, upper intestinal ulcers, parasites, and
a few other situations.

Causes can be vomiting, alcohol abuse, ulcer disease,
cancer, parasites, and a number of other illnesses.

Therapy: A hemoglobin level is commonly obtained if that
test is available.  This will let the health care
professional know how much blood one has within their body. 
Most people have hemoglobin levels of around 12 to 14,
unless they live at higher altitudes in which case the
normal range may be from 14-18.  If there is enough blood
on board, then in many cases the GI bleed is not a crisis. 
However if the hemoglobin is low, then one may need to get
blood to stay alive, this will involve hospitalization.  A
tube is commonly placed through ones nose and down their
esophagus and into their stomach so that the stomach
contents can be withdrawn and tested for active bleeding. 
If active bleeding is occuring, then hospitalization is
recommended.

Endoscopy is recommended if available so that the physician
can actually look at the bleeding site to determine if the
bleeding can be stopped by cautery or other possible
endoscopic methods.

If severe bleeding is occuring, it is not uncommon to take
the patient to surgery.

If one has a good blood count then they will be put on
medical therapy.  Usually antacids or acid-suppressing
drugs are given.  Avoid alcohol, aspirin, and tobacco. 
Most patients are able to return to a normal diet.

If the person that is having upper gastrointestinal
bleeding and they also have an alcohol habit, there is no
option but to stop drinking alcohol for the rest of their
life.  Alcohol and GI-Bleeding never mix and once one gets
GI-bleeding from their alcohol habit, drinking alcohol
again will continue to make the upper gastrointestinal
tract bleed until they eventually die from the alcohol
causing continuing GI bleeds.

IF Problems: If you become lightheaded or weak, or vomit a
large amount of blood or blackish material, or if you have
black, tarry stool, call the doctor or return for
re-evaluation at once.