As temperatures continue to soar, various cold drinks and iced foods have become the favorites of many people. However, if you don't pay attention to your diet, it can easily cause harm to the human body. In recent years, a series of related incidents have occurred.

A man vomited 1,000 milliliters of blood after drinking an iced drink in one breath. A child suddenly fell to the ground and vomited blood after stealing three popsicles. They all had gastrointestinal bleeding.

Summer is the peak season for gastrointestinal bleeding .

1. What is gastrointestinal bleeding?

Gastrointestinal bleeding refers to gastrointestinal bleeding from the esophagus to the anus, which is divided into upper and lower gastrointestinal tracts with the duodenum as the boundary. The upper gastrointestinal tract refers to the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, duodenum, bile duct, pancreatic duct and other parts, and the lower gastrointestinal tract includes the jejunum, ileum, cecum, appendix, colon, rectum and other parts.

2. What are the symptoms of gastrointestinal bleeding?

Gastrointestinal bleeding is divided into upper gastrointestinal bleeding and lower gastrointestinal bleeding.

1. Upper gastrointestinal bleeding

1) Hematemesis: This is a characteristic symptom of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. When blood accumulates in the stomach and reaches a certain amount, it will cause the patient to vomit. The vomited blood can be dark red, bright red, coffee-like or dark brown.

2. Lower gastrointestinal bleeding

1) Blood in stool: It is a typical manifestation of lower gastrointestinal bleeding. The stool may be bright red or dark red.

2) Abdominal pain: Different causes of bleeding can cause varying degrees of abdominal pain.

Associated symptoms: vomiting, diarrhea, tenesmus (heaviness in the anus and a strong desire to defecate).

3. Why is summer considered a high-incidence season for gastrointestinal bleeding?

In the summer, the temperature is high and the blood vessels in the body are in a state of expansion. Iced drinks are a great way to cool down in the summer. Suddenly consuming too much iced drinks will stimulate the gastrointestinal blood vessels to contract and spasm rapidly, which may cause gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting. In severe cases, there is a risk of gastrointestinal bleeding. Therefore, it is recommended to drink warm boiled water in the summer. You should also avoid drinking ice water after exercise and drink it in small amounts.

4. In what other situations can gastrointestinal bleeding occur?

1. Mainly includes digestive tract diseases such as peptic ulcer (the main cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding), esophageal varices, rupture, tumor, hemorrhoids, anal fissure, etc.

2. Mechanical injury: such as foreign body damage to the digestive tract and trauma leading to organ rupture.

3. Systemic bleeding diseases: such as leukemia causing bleeding.

4. A history of digestive system diseases, a family history of digestive system tumors, long-term smoking and drinking, and long-term use of non-steroidal drugs are risk factors for this disease.

5. So how should we prevent it?

1. Elderly people

Due to the deterioration of various body functions, regular gastrointestinal endoscopy is required.

2. Family history of digestive system tumors

Gastrointestinal endoscopy should be performed every year. You should eat regularly, eat more vegetables and fruits, and maintain good bowel habits.

3. People with high mental stress and irregular diet and sleep

You should pay attention to relieving stress and maintain a regular work and rest schedule and diet.

4. People with bad habits of smoking and drinking

You need to quit smoking and drinking as soon as possible to avoid more harmful effects on your body.

5. People who take non-steroidal drugs for a long time

Please follow the doctor's instructions, take stomach-protecting drugs, such as omeprazole and other acid-suppressing drugs, and undergo regular gastroscopy.

6. People with diseases such as peptic ulcer and liver cirrhosis

Actively treat the primary disease, maintain regular diet and sleep patterns, avoid overeating, smoking, drinking, and strong tea or coffee.

The Department of Critical Care Medicine of Hunan Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine reminds you that if the following situations occur, you should immediately abstain from food and drink and seek medical attention immediately:

The stool turns black, but no animal blood products such as pig blood, duck blood, etc., have been consumed recently, and no foods or medicines (such as iron supplements) that make the stool turn black have been consumed.

If the following situations occur, call 120 emergency number immediately:

1. Vomiting blood;

2. A large amount of bright red or dark red blood is discharged during defecation, and blood is mixed in the stool;

3. There are symptoms of shock such as confusion and cold limbs.

Hunan Medical Chat Special Author: Guo Yingwei, Department of Critical Care Medicine, Hunan Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine

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(Edited by YT)