Bleeding in the digestive tract
Iron deficiency anemia is caused by low iron levels in the body, which may be the result of bleeding in the digestive tract. Common causes of digestive tract bleeding are:
- Regular use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin and ibuprofen. These medicines may deplete iron stores by irritating the stomach lining, causing it to bleed. Iron is depleted by blood loss.
- Inflammatory bowel disease.
- Colon polyps or colorectal cancer, especially in older adults. It is important to identify and treat these as early as possible, because they may be life-threatening.
- Frequently occurring hemorrhoids. People with hemorrhoids often do not seek treatment right away, resulting in chronic bleeding.
- Hookworm and other parasites. These parasites feed upon blood from the intestinal wall
. Significant blood loss can result if they are left untreated.
- Long-distance running (runner's anemia). People who regularly run long distances often have some type of bleeding in the digestive tract.1
| Author: | Robin Parks, MS | Last Updated: May 7, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Brian Leber, MDCM, FRCPC - Hematology | |
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