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What are the symptoms of gastrointestinal bleeding caused by alcohol consumption?

Sep 10, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Huang Yuhong
Introduction
Under normal circumstances, gastrointestinal bleeding caused by alcohol consumption is a condition triggered by alcohol-induced irritation of the gastric mucosa, leading to injury and rupture of blood vessels. Common specific symptoms include hematemesis (vomiting blood), melena (black tarry stools), abdominal pain, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. In addition, patients with alcohol-related gastrointestinal bleeding may also experience symptoms such as cold sweats and cold hands and feet. In daily life, excessive alcohol consumption should be avoided, especially drinking on an empty stomach.

Generally speaking, drinking alcohol can cause gastric bleeding, which is a condition caused by alcohol irritating the gastric mucosa, leading to mucosal damage and rupture of blood vessels. Common specific symptoms include hematemesis (vomiting blood), melena (black tarry stools), abdominal pain, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. Detailed analysis is as follows:

1. Hematemesis

Alcohol strongly irritates the gastric mucosa, causing gastric mucosal erosion and ulcers. In severe cases, it can damage blood vessels in the stomach. When blood vessels rupture, blood accumulates in the stomach, and when gastric pressure increases or is stimulated, hematemesis occurs. The blood may appear bright red or coffee-colored.

2. Melena

After gastric bleeding, iron in the blood is digested in the intestines and combines with intestinal substances to form black ferrous sulfide, which is excreted with feces. This causes the stool to appear black, shiny, and sticky, resembling tar. This condition is also known as tarry stool and is one of the typical symptoms of alcohol-induced gastric bleeding.

3. Abdominal Pain

Alcohol stimulates the gastric mucosa to produce an inflammatory response. Additionally, gastric bleeding may trigger gastric spasms or worsen gastric mucosal damage, leading to abdominal pain. Pain is usually concentrated in the upper abdomen and can manifest as dull pain, distension pain, or severe cramping pain. The severity of pain correlates with the degree of gastric mucosal damage and bleeding.

4. Dizziness

Gastric bleeding leads to a reduction in total blood volume in the body, causing insufficient effective circulating blood volume and affecting cerebral blood supply, thereby causing dizziness. If the bleeding volume is large, symptoms such as fatigue, pallor, palpitations, and even syncope may also occur.

5. Nausea and Vomiting

Alcohol itself irritates the gastric mucosa, causing gastric discomfort. Combined with irritation from gastric bleeding on the stomach wall, it causes gastric muscle contractions, resulting in nausea. In severe cases, vomiting may occur. Vomit may consist only of gastric contents, but if bleeding is present, hematemesis may also occur.

In addition, patients with alcohol-induced gastric bleeding may also experience symptoms such as cold sweats and cold hands and feet. In daily life, excessive alcohol consumption should be avoided, especially drinking on an empty stomach. Individuals with underlying gastric conditions such as gastric ulcers or gastritis must strictly control their alcohol intake or abstain from alcohol entirely.

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