Bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract is a fairly common occurrence and a frequent cause of emergency room visits, according to the textbook "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine." Hematemesis is the term used to describe vomiting blood,...
Abdominal pain can be an uncomfortable and worrisome symptom of a wide variety of diseases and conditions. While severe pain is indicative of a serious condition that must be diagnosed and treated by a medical professional, abdominal pain is...
An ulcer is an open sore that develops on the lining of the digestive tract. According to the University of Maryland, between 80 and 90 percent of ulcers are caused by a bacteria called Helicobacter pylori. This bacteria causes infection in the...
Lack of appetite, commonly accompanied by nausea and vomiting, is a nuisance symptom which many women experience in early pregnancy. Each of these symptoms is typical of "morning sickness", which usually peaks around the eighth week of pregnancy...
Black stools get their color because of the presence of blood in the stool. The blood turns black because the bleeding comes from the upper part of the gastrointestinal tract---which includes the esophagus, stomach and upper part of the small...
Though many people believe ulcers occur from eating acidic foods or stress, most ulcers are caused by a Helicobacter pylori bacteria. Stomach or gastric ulcers are sores in the stomach's lining. Some foods may aggravate ulcers and worsen...
Motrin (ibuprofen) belongs to a group of medications called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These drugs are used to relieve pain and reduce inflammation. Motrin is commonly used to treat the symptoms of arthritis, fever, menstrual...
Portal hypertension refers to increased pressure in the portal vein, the vein that goes from the gastrointestinal tract to the liver. The most common cause is cirrhosis of the liver. Other causes include certain types of heart disease, which...
Gastritis is a condition characterized by inflammation of the stomach lining. Acute gastritis may occur in response to bacterial infection, overuse of pain relievers, excessive alcohol consumption and other causes. Symptoms include nausea,...
Coumadin is the brand name of a common blood thinner called warfarin that is used to prevent and treat blood clots, according to MayoClinic.com. Most of the time it is used for short periods only, but when there is a risk of additional clotting...
Magnesium citrate is an oral solution. Doctors commonly direct patients to use magnesium citrate to empty the colon before surgery and certain procedures or to relieve occasional constipation. It is a hyperosmotic saline laxative that pulls water...
According to Mayoclinic.com, Barrett’s esophagus is a condition that occurs when the esophagus is damaged due to excess exposure to stomach acid. When food is swallowed, it is kept in the stomach by a muscle in the shape of a ring that...
Diarrhea and stomach pain are often present together in children, especially when the diarrhea is caused by bacteria or a virus. The website Keep Kids Healthy says that most cases of diarrhea resolve on their own, and a parent can make the child...
Spontaneous nosebleeds, where no injury is involved, are fairly common in children and young adults. Noses bleed when tiny, fragile blood vessels in the nasal passage burst. Although nosebleeds often continue on into adulthood, generally the older...
Hiatal hernia is a weakening of the diaphragm that causes the stomach to move into the chest cavity. When the stomach moves into the chest cavity, it can cause pain and other symptoms that affect the stomach and esophagus. The signs and symptoms...
The liver is a large organ in the abdomen that has a variety of functions. It cleans toxins and waste products from the blood, and it also makes proteins that assist in blood clotting. The liver can be damaged by some poisons (such as alcohol),...
Heartburn is caused by reflux, a condition in which the contents of the stomach and sometimes the small intestine are able to back up into a person's esophagus. Heartburn may also be called indigestion, sour stomach or pyrosis.
Numerous conditions can cause low iron levels in your body and weight loss. According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, or NHLBI, not having enough iron in your body can cause iron-deficiency anemia. Insufficient iron is often due to...
Watson 932 is a medication that combines the narcotic analgesic oxycodone with the non-narcotic analgesic acetaminophen, reports Drugs.com. The combination drug works to relieve pain, MayoClinic.com states, of a medium to severe nature. Both drugs...
Drinking a glass of alcohol with each meal is no cause for concern until the consumption of alcohol becomes excessive. According to MedlinePlus, alcoholism develops when a person develops a physical and psychological addiction to the drink....
A toothache can be blamed on several causes, including a cavity, decay, an abscess or an impacted tooth. If you have a painful tooth, see a dentist to determine the cause and start appropriate treatment. In the meanwhile, treat your toothache...
Although rare, esophageal cancer most frequently affects men, smokers and those who chronically use alcohol, according to MedlinePlus, a service of the National Institutes of Health. The esophagus is the tube that transfers food from the mouth to...
The liver is a football-sized organ that sits in your abdominal cavity, just above and to the right of the stomach and below the diaphragm. Performing more than 500 functions, the liver is vital to the health of your body. It helps to clean the...
It's nearly impossible to overdose on iron just from your diet, but it can happen, especially if you take iron supplements. Your body only needs a small amount of iron; the amount depends upon gender and age. Adult females should get about 18 mg...
Coumadin is a brand-name prescription medication containing the drug warfarin sodium. Physicians prescribe it to help prevent blood clots in susceptible patients. It is manufactured as an oral tablet with a dose between 1mg and 10mg, according to...
Toradol, also known as ketorolac, is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) usually used to treat severe pain after surgery, according to Drug Information Online. It decreases certain hormones in your body from causing inflammation. Toradol...
When used with a balanced diet and exercise, fish oil has many health benefits, including the reduction of triglycerides that can cause heart disease at high levels, according to Drugs.com. Fish oil contains omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids...
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used to reduce fever, pain and inflammation. NSAIDs are helpful for people with chronic disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. NSAIDs stop pain and inflammation by blocking...