Gastrointestinal Bleeding - Arthritis Patients, Don't Ignore Your Symptoms!

Arthritis patients take several medications that increase the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding. If you have taken one of these medications for a long time, you may be lulled into a false sense of security that all is well. It's critical that you know the signs of gastrointestinal bleeding -- because it can happen at any time and it can quickly become an emergency. Gastrointestinal bleeding refers to any bleeding that occurs in the gastrointestinal tract, which runs from your mouth to your anus. More specifically, the gastrointestinal tract is divided into the upper gastrointestinal tract and the lower gastrointestinal tract.

Gastrointestinal bleeding ranges from microscopic amounts of blood to massive bleeding. The amount of bleeding and the location of bleeding determine what needs to be done to stop the bleeding. There are numerous conditions that can cause gastrointestinal bleeding. Because it is a known potential serious side effect of certain medications taken for arthritis -- NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and corticosteroids -- patients taking those drugs must not ignore any sign of bleeding. It's critical that you know the warning signs and that you get immediate medical attention if you start to have symptoms. To learn more about the warning signs and symptoms of gastrointestinal bleeding, read Gastrointestinal Bleeding - Don't Ignore Your Symptoms.

Related Resources:

• The Facts of NSAIDs
• The Facts of Corticosteroids
• Gastrointestinal Bleeding - What Happens?
• Nexium Reduces Risk of Ulcers for Long-term NSAID Users
• 9 Ways to Reduce Risk of Bleeding Ulcers from NSAID Use

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