Black tarry stools, the medical term for which is melena, usually results from bleeding from the upper parts of the gastrointestinal tract (GI tract), be it from the mouth, esophagus, stomach, or the duodenum (1st segment of the small intestines). Other causes include eating black licorice, being on iron pills, medications containing Bismuth, or blueberries.
Bleeding in the upper part of the GI tract will usually
cause black stools due to:
· Abnormal blood vessels
· A tear in the esophagus
from violent vomiting (Mallory-Weiss tear)
· Bleeding ulcer in the
stomach
· When blood supply is cut
off to part of the intestines
· Inflammation of the stomach
lining (gastritis)
· Trauma or foreign body
· Widened, overgrown veins
(called varices) in the esophagus and stomach
In order to identify the exact underlying cause, a thorough investigation, including a detailed history of the complaint and any associated symptoms with identification of risk factors for any of the above mentioned possibilities, in addition to physical examination and some lab tests, are necessary.
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It's recommended by the American Cancer Association that every adult between the age of 20 and 80 does an annual skin screening by a licensed dermatologist.
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