You may find blood in your stools for a number of reasons, it may be from something as harmless and easy to treat as hemorrhoids but it could also be a sign of injury or disorder in your digestive tract. Whatever the cause it is imperative to have yourself evaluated by a health care professional.
Determining the cause of the problem can be diagnosed by examining the color of the blood in your stool. If the cause is rectal bleeding the blood will be bright red, the closer the bleeding is to the anus the brighter the color. This could be caused by hemorrhoids, or by anal fissures in which you can tear the lining of the anus by straining when passing a difficult bowel movement.
Bleeding from the colon tends to be a darker or maroon color. If the stool is black, tarry and has a highly unpleasant odor this is called Melena. Melena usually signifies bleeding from the upper gastrointestinal tract and can be a symptom of bleeding from stomach ulcers or the small intestine.
Blood in the stool may also be from the result of a recent colonoscopy or taking anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen. It could also be a bi-product of intestinal infections such as salmonella or e-coli. In more serious cases it could also be a symptom of colon cancer.
You should seek immediate emergency care if you notice the loss of large amounts of blood, lightheadedness, accelerating heart rate and weakness.
Hemorrhoids
There are two main types of hemorrhoids, internal and external. It is caused by swelling in the veins in and around your anus. Internal hemorrhoids generally don’t cause much pain or protrude during a bowel movement but can bleed. External hemorrhoids feel like a hard inflamed lump under the skin around the anus, they are sensitive to touch and can bleed while straining.
Symptoms include; anal itching, bright red blood on toilet paper and seat, and protrusions. The causes may be from age, chronic constipation, chronic diarrhea, pregnancy, straining and overuse of laxatives.
Generally hemorrhoids are uncomplicated to treat; this may be a method as simple as changing your diet i.e. increasing fiber and drinking more water so the stool is softer and easily passed. It is also important to keep the area clean and use creams, gels or suppositories which can be purchased over the counter. With proper treatment hemorrhoids should decrease in 4-6 weeks.
More severe cases may involve minor surgery to remove.
Diverticular Disease
Diverticular disease is a condition showing in over fifty percent of individuals over the age of 60. It is caused by an infection in the diverticular. Symptoms may include blood in stools, abdominal pain, changes in bowel habits, chills, cramping, fever and nausea. It is important to seek advice from a health professional; you may require a CT scan or colonoscopy to determine the diagnosis. In most cases this disease can be treated at home with painkillers and a change in diet.
IBD
IBD stands for inflammatory bowel disease, if you notice the blood in your stool is a darker red or maroon color this could be a symptom of bleeding in the lower part of your G.I tract. This could be a symptom of Crohn’s disease, an autoimmune disorder where the body attacks its own healthy body tissue. Other symptoms include cramping of the lower stomach, fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, constipation, fistulas and weight loss. Again it is important to seek the advice of your doctor.
Bowel Cancer
If you are experiencing other symptoms alongside finding blood in your stool it is very important to speak to your doctor as it could be the result of something more serious. Signs to watch out for are; persistent changes to your regular bowel habits for more than 6 weeks, abdominal pain, and unexplained weight loss.
Diagnosis
Often your doctor will require a stool sample in order to make a diagnosis, if the cause is not easily determined or able to be treated at home, they may order additional examinations to define the problem. These can include the following;
EGD – this procedure involves inserting a small flexible tube with a camera down the esophagus and into the stomach and duodenum to investigate the source of the bleeding.
Colonoscopy – A similar procedure to the EDG with the camera being inserted into the rectum to view the colon.
Enteroscopy – A similar procedure to both the EDG and the colonoscopy but an examination of the small intestine.
Barium X-ray – Swallowing a contract material called Barium in order to make the digestive tract show up on an X-ray.
Finding blood in your stool is usually the result of a harmless and treatable cause. However it is strongly advised to inform your doctor in all cases especially if linked to other symptoms. Determining the reason is paramount to treatment and improving your health and well-being.
