The term bleeding ulcer can have a few definitions, depending on how much damage the ulcer is actually causing. An ulcer is defined as a skin lesion, but most people refer to ulcers as lesions in the gastrointestinal tract. Without treatment, these can become enlarged and cause a number of very serious complications that can be grouped under the heading of "bleeding ulcer."
These complications can include severe bleeding as the lesion grows and attacks blood vessels. More often, this form of ulcer may be present for a time or sudden heavy bleeding may occur, leading to cramps, nausea, dizziness, and extremely low blood pressure. Alternatively, bleeding occurs slowly and can cause tiredness, paleness, and anemia. Other ulcer symptoms are usually present in slow-onset cases such as intestinal upset, upset stomach, and acid indigestion.
Alternatively, people may also use the term bleeding ulcer to refer to an injury that perforates (creates a hole in the intestine) or penetrates (creates a hole in the intestine and a nearby organ). The perforation can fill the abdomen with material from the gastrointestinal tract or it can block another part of the intestine and cause gastrointestinal obstruction. Penetration can have different symptoms depending on the related organ that it affects. Symptoms of any of these conditions may include extreme stomach panic, vomiting blood, black stools, or material that looks like coffee grounds. If there is an obstruction, people can vomit but usually cannot have a bowel movement
All types of bleeding ulcers are extremely dangerous, and anyone with an ulcer is at increased risk of bleeding ulcers if they smoke, drink frequently, or take acidic medications such as aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen or sodium naproxen. Most ulcers are caused by a bacterial infection, and early diagnosis of an ulcer can usually prevent this serious complication in all its forms. Early treatment, in the form of antibiotics and antacid medications, is important, and ulcer bleeding usually only occurs when the symptoms of an ulcer have gone untreated and ignored.
In the most severe cases, the bleeding ulcer requires surgery of various kinds to remove blockages or repair ulcerated parts of the intestinal tract or other organs. The infection rate is significant when perforation occurs, and treatment will include not only surgery but also massive doses of intravenous antibiotics. Ulcers that have developed slow bleeding may be treated with medication alone, but an ulcer that simply bleeds heavily and contributes to internal blood loss at a rapid rate will likely require surgery as well.