Abnormal bleeding can happen anywhere in the body. It can be due to a focal problem in one small part of the body, such as an ulcer eroding the wall of the stomach into a blood vessel. It may also be due to a problem with the blood itself, which uses special fragments of cells called platelets and blood proteins to stop bleeding.
Causes
Focal causes of abnormal bleeding are commonly found in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract or female reproductive system. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) notes that in the GI tract, ulcers, dilated veins such as hemorrhoids, sac-like out-pouching of the wall of the colon or cancers may all lead to bleeding that may be indicated by bloody vomiting or stool. In the uterus, benign growths called fibroids may lead to heavy menstruation. Cancers in the reproductive tract may also cause abnormal bleeding. Other organs can also be affected; an infection with tuberculosis in the lungs can cause blood in phlegm, among other things. Another possibility is that the blood platelets or the proteins for blood clotting are not working correctly. These conditions may be inherited, such as hemophilia, or acquired. An example of an acquired condition is the use of warfarin, commonly known as coumadin, to thin the blood. Others include bone marrow or immune system problems.
Risk Factors
Risk factors for abnormal bleeding depend on the cause. For example, risk factors for stomach ulcers carry a risk for developing and subsequently bleeding from them. These include, but are not limited to, infection with the bacteria Helicobacter pylori, high levels of stomach acid and use of NSAID medications. Similarly, anything that causes problems with blood clotting leads to an enhanced risk of abnormal bleeding.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of focal lesions usually involves visualizing them and possibly taking a biopsy of the affected tissue. According to MayoClinic.com, a GI bleed may be investigated with an endoscope, a small camera that can be threaded into the GI tract to look for any lesions. Diagnosis of blood disorders usually involves lab tests on the blood, such as a PT or PTT, which measure how long it takes for the blood to coagulate.
Treatment
Treatment of focal area of bleeding may involve cauterizing a blood vessel, or inserting coils into it to stop it from bleeding. If the focus is cancer, it will need to be removed by a surgeon. Disorders of the blood may require treatment with various drugs to help induce proper blood clotting. For example, an overdose of the blood thinner warfarin will cause the blood to be too thin and bleed. It does this by interfering with vitamin K, which is needed to help blood to clot normally. One treatment for an overdose of warfarin is by administering vitamin K.
Complications
One complication of abnormal bleeding is simply too much blood loss. The blood is needed to carry nutrients to the tissues of the body and remove waste, and tissues and organs do not last long without a proper blood supply. Blood loss may occur acutely over minutes or hours, or chronically over many months. Another possible complication could be over-correction of a bleeding disorder, leading to excessive blood clotting.
