- In acute upper GI bleeding, a rise in heart rate of over 15 bpm indicates severe bleeding, while the most common cause is drug-induced. Endoscopy should not be done before hemodynamic stabilization. - Management of variceal bleeding involves tamponade devices if endoscopy is delayed, along with pharmacological therapy and eventual endoscopic banding or TIPS. - Non-variceal bleeding is initially treated with resuscitation and pharmacology, followed by endoscopic therapy if needed, with angiography or surgery as later options.