Sometimes, your poop is red because you’ve had red or orange foods.
However, if you cant trace the color back to something youve eaten, don’t ignore it.
It may be bloody stool, known ashematochezia.
Verywell / JR Bee
In this case, you do not have blood in your stool.
Your stool is red because of the dye or natural color of the food you ate.
Hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoidsare a common cause of bright red blood in the stool or on toilet paper.
A hemorrhoid is a form ofvaricose vein.
You may have rectal pain, especially during or after going to the bathroom.
You may also notice anal lumps, swelling, and constipation.
You may just see some red blood on the toilet paper after wiping if you have hemorrhoids.
With these conditions, you will likely have pain in and around the anus.
If you have an infection, you may also have a discharge (pus) from your anus.
To treat infections and inflammation, you may need medications like anti-inflammatories, steroids, and/or antibiotics.
An anorectal abscess may need to be drained by a provider.
Constipation
Straining from constipation can lead to hemorrhoids and torn tissue that may bleed.
If you have chronic constipation, the stress of consistently passing hard stools can irritate the rectum and anus.
If you have constipation, talk to your provider about how to treat it.
Havingdiverticulain the colonis called diverticulosis.
It’s not understood what causes the condition, but researchers think that age and genetics play a role.
You may not have symptoms of diverticulosis.
It’s not common, but diverticulosis can cause bloody stools.
However, the bleeding does not usually need treatment unless it’s continuous or severe.
If it’s severe, diverticulosis may require a hospital stay.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Ulcerative colitisandCrohn’s diseaseare incurable chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
Together, they are known asinflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
IBD has active periods (“flares”) that can cause hematochezia.
Genetics also appear to play a role in these conditions.
In rare cases,surgeryis needed to repair or remove parts of the gastrointestinal tract and relieve IBD symptoms.
Although rare,colon cancerscan develop from polyps.
Never stop taking a medication your provider has prescribed for you without talking to them first.
If you think you’re constipated from one of your medications, tell your provider.
They might have you try reducing your dose or suggest switching to a different drug.
Seek immediate medical attention if you have bloody stool along with fatigue, fever, and/or vomiting.
First, theyll ask you questions about your symptoms and medical history.
For example, if youve had changes in bowel habits (like constipation or diarrhea).
They will also want to know the location of any pain youve been having.
Next, your provider will do arectal exam.
During the exam, they will insert a gloved, lubricated finger into the anus.
Its a useful test thats over quickly and wont hurt.
However, it can be a warning sign for conditions like colon polyps or cancer.
Blood in the stool is never normal, but its not always a sign of something serious.
You should see your provider if you are noticing red stools and are not sure whats causing it.
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