Peptic ulcer disease, anal fissures,hemorrhoids, and cancer can cause blood in stool.
Blood in stool looks red or maroonish.
It can be a sign of something serious, so blood in your stool should never be ignored.
Verywell / Laura Porter
You should always tell your provider if you have blood in your stool.
Blood from a peptic ulcer can be red or darker in coloreven black and tarry.
The tube is put down your throat and looks at your gut.
If you have serious upper GI bleeding, you will need surgery to fix it.
Anal fissures are cracks in the skin that can bleed.
The tears are often caused byconstipation, or having large, firm stools that are hard to pass.
The stretching skin of the anus makes fissures visible.
Drinking more water and eating high-fiber foods can help soften your stools and prevent anal fissures from happening again.
Polyps
Apolypis a small growth on the lining of your intestines.
There are a few types of polyps, butadenomatous polypsare the most common.
These polyps grow on the lining of the colon (large intestine).
About 25% of adults aged 50 and over have this bang out of polyp.
Adenomatous polyps can turn intocolorectal cancer.
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States.
Polyps often have no symptoms, but sometimes they can cause bloody stools.
The blood can be red or dark and tarry.
Polyps can be removed before they become cancerous.
If they do progress to cancer, the cancer is treatable if caught early.
You might be more likely to have hemorrhoids if you:
Most hemorrhoids do not require surgery.
Eating more fiber or using a salve like Preparation H can help with symptoms.
However, surgery is an option if your hemorrhoids are severe.
Gastroenteritis
Gastroenteritisis an illness of the stomach and intestines that causes inflammation.
It can be brought on by a virus, bacteria, or parasite.
Sometimes, gastroenteritis causes bloody diarrheaespecially bacterial gastroenteritis.
Food poisoning is a key in of gastroenteritis.
Angiodysplasia
Blood in stool that cannot be explained is often caused byangiodysplasia.
Angiodysplasia can happen as the blood vessels in the gut age or weaken.
This punch in of blood in stool can be red or dark and tarry.
Angiodysplasia is common during end-stage renal disease (kidney disease) or renal failure.
Cancer
Blood in stool can be a sign of colorectal cancer.
Bloody stool related to cancer can be red or dark and tarry.
Providers used to think that colorectal cancer mostly happened to people over the age of 50.
Diverticular Disease
Diverticulaare abnormal pouches that form in your lower intestine.
There are two types ofdiverticular disease:diverticulosisanddiverticulitis.
Having diverticula is called diverticulosis.
If the diverticula gets infected or inflamed, its calleddiverticulitis.
Both forms of diverticular disease can cause pain and blood in stool.
When diverticular disease causes bleeding, it will usually start suddenly and be red or maroon in color.
Diverticula happens when the wall of your colon is weak.
A surgeon can stop bleeding from diverticula during an endoscopy or abdominal surgery.
Diverticula can be treated in or out of a hospital, depending on how sick a person is.
Diverticulitis can often be successfully treated with antibiotics.
Ischemic Colitis
Ischemic colitishappens when the blood vessels that supply the large intestine are narrowed or blocked.
Most cases of ischemic colitis happen in older adults.
The condition can be short-term or long-term.
Blood in stool thats bright red is a common symptom of ischemic colitis.
Other symptoms include:
Most cases of ischemic colitis do not last long and get better on their own.
Sometimes, people with severe cases of ischemic colitis need to be hospitalized.
About 20% of people who develop ischemic colitis end up needing surgery.
STIs that can cause blood in stool include:
STIs need different treatments, but antibiotics are common.
Both partners may need treatment to prevent an STI from coming back.
If the tissue grows on or within the bowel, it can cause GI symptoms.
In rare cases, blood in stool in women is actually due to deep endometriosis.
For example, because there are lesions of tissue within the rectum.
Sometimes, the blood in stool only shows up when a person is menstruating.
Endometriosis on the bowel often needs to be removed through surgery, though it can come back.
Conditions that affect the food pipe (esophagus) can cause bleeding.
Tears in the esophagus sometimes heal on their own.
Dyes used in foods and drinks like fruit punch and gelatin can make your stool red.
Naturally red food like beets can also temporarily color your stool.
Summary
Blood in stool is never normal and is always a reason to call your provider.
The causes of blood in stool vary but are often related to a problem somewhere in your GI tract.
In some cases, conditions outside the GI system can lead to blood in stool.
Certain STIs can also cause blood in stool.
If you notice blood in your stool, do not wait to seek medical attention.
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