Upper GI Bleeding is indicated by which symptom?

Upper GI Bleeding is indicated by which symptom?

• A. Vomiting blood
• B. Abdominal pain
• C. Chest pain
• D. Dizziness

Answer: (A)

Vomiting blood signals an upper GI bleed because the source of the bleeding is in the upper part of the digestive tract (esophagus, stomach, or the proximal duodenum) and the blood is expelled through the mouth as hematemesis. The blood may appear bright red if the bleed is brisk, or coffee-ground if it has been partially digested. The other options are too non-specific: abdominal pain can come from many conditions, chest pain can be cardiac or non-GI, and dizziness can result from various causes, not specifically an upper GI bleed. So vomiting blood is the clearest indicator of an upper GI bleed.

Vomiting blood signals an upper GI bleed because the source of the bleeding is in the upper part of the digestive tract (esophagus, stomach, or the proximal duodenum) and the blood is expelled through the mouth as hematemesis. The blood may appear bright red if the bleed is brisk, or coffee-ground if it has been partially digested. The other options are too non-specific: abdominal pain can come from many conditions, chest pain can be cardiac or non-GI, and dizziness can result from various causes, not specifically an upper GI bleed. So vomiting blood is the clearest indicator of an upper GI bleed.