Common Causes
The color of the blood in the stools can indicate the source of bleeding. Black or tarry stools may be due to bleeding in the upper part of the GI (gastrointestinal) tract, such as the esophagus, stomach, or the first part of the small intestine. In this case, blood is darker because it gets digested on its way through the GI tract.
Related Conditions
Occult blood in the stool may indicate colon cancer or polyps in the colon or rectum - though not all cancers or polyps bleed. Typically, occult blood is passed in such small amounts that it can be detected only through the chemicals used in a fecal occult blood test.
How do you know if you have blood in your stool?
Sometimes, blood in the stool can be a symptom of something serious, like cancer. Blood in the stool may also be a false alarm. It is important to see a physician if you find blood in your stool. It can be scary to see blood on toilet tissue or in the bowl, and you might be tempted to ignore it and hope it goes away.
What does it mean if they find occult blood in my stool?
- Bright red blood in your stools. ...
- Maroon-colored stools. ...
- Pale, oily and especially foul-smelling stools. ...
- Stools that are different than your typical bowel movements. ...
- Watery diarrhea after a camping trip. ...
- Mucus in the stool. ...
- Hard or infrequent stools. ...
- Loose, watery or frequent stools. ...
Is blood in your stool a very bad sign?
When to see a doctor for blood in stool?
How does blood in stool look like?
Blood from your stool could look bright red, or it might be dark red or black. How the blood looks depends on where it is coming from. Spots of red blood on the toilet paper, drops in the toilet bowl, blood on the surface of your stool or in your underwear indicate the bleeding is coming from the anus or lower rectum.
Is it obvious when you have blood in your stool?
Blood in the Stool You may notice obvious blood the stool, or darker colored bowel movements, which may indicate that there is bleeding within the intestinal tract or rectum. Sometimes bleeding may be present but not visible.
What color is blood in stool?
Blood in the stool can be bright red, maroon in color, black and tarry, or occult (not visible to the naked eye). Causes of blood in stool range from harmless, annoying conditions of the gastrointestinal tract such as hemorrhoids to serious conditions such as cancer.
What foods can look like blood in stool?
If your feces look bright red, there could be another, completely harmless cause: red-pigmented foods. Beets, cherries, tomatoes and artificially colored red foods can turn bowel movements (and urine) an unsettling shade of red.
Is bright red blood after bowel movement?
Common benign (non-serious) causes — If you see a small amount of bright red blood on the toilet paper after wiping, on the outside of your stool, or in the toilet, this may be caused by hemorrhoids or an anal fissure. Both of these conditions are benign, and there are treatments that can help.
What does GI bleed smell like?
Bleeding can be streaks of blood or larger clots. It can be mixed in with the stool or form a coating outside the stool. If the bleeding starts further up in the lower GI tract, your child may have black sticky stool called “melena”, which can sometimes look like tar and smell foul.
When should you worry about blood in stool?
Seek immediate medical help or call 911 if you have blood in the stool along with symptoms including: abdominal cramps. bloating. constipation.
Why is my poop red but not blood?
If you stool is red or black, it might not be from blood. Certain foods may cause your stools to look red. These include cranberries, tomatoes, beets, or food that is dyed red. Other foods may cause your stools to look black.
What does it mean when blood passes in your stool?
All blood passed in the stool, around the stool or after the stool is abnormal and represents a problem of varying severity. So to answer the question, you are just looking for blood. And if you see it, you need to report it to your family physician for investigation. It’s just that simple.
Why is it important to look at your poop?
Keeping an eye on your stools is an important step in being aware of colorectal cancer and identifying early signs of the disease. The topic of what one’s stool says about their health is very extensive ...
What happens if you have cancer in your colon?
If the cancer is further along in the colon or even in the rectum, the blood will still be red smeared along the stool as it hits the toilet or the blood will be mixed in with the stool but still bright red in appearance.
Why does blood ooze out of the bowel?
Because these polyps and eventual cancers are growing on the inner lining of the bowel, they ooze or bleed into the bowel and that blood then becomes incorporated with the stool as it passes through. With that background, one can begin to imagine just how blood in the stool might look if it is coming from a colorectal cancer.
What side of the colon is cancer?
If the cancer is in the right side of the colon (the beginning of the colon and furthest from the anus) then the blood might be undetectable by the eye by the time it reaches the toilet. If there is lots of blood coming from a cancer in the right colon, it may no longer look like red blood by the time it reaches the toilet ...
Can you see blood coming out of the toilet?
Finally, if the cancer that is bleeding is in the rectum, just before the exit, you might see only blood coming into the toilet either prior to or after the stool as it is bleeding directly out of the anus rather than mixing with stool .
Can you see blood in the toilet?
This test checks for occult (hidden) blood in the stool as a screening test for colorectal cancer — it can find blood that isn’t visible to the eye when you look in the toilet. The test isn’t specific — many other things can lead to hidden blood in the stool and the test can’t tell which it is causing the blood.
What to do if you have blood in your stool?
If you have blood in your stool or notice blood in the toilet or on the toilet paper after a bowel movement, call your doctor right away. Do not wait to see if it goes away on its own.
Why is my stool red?
If you see bright red blood on the tissue or in the toilet, that is likely due to rectal bleeding. Blood in your stool usually has what is described as a black and tarry appearance. When there is bleeding higher up in the colon or digestive system, it makes the stool look very dark.
What is a rectal bleeding disorder?
Angiodysplasia – Angiodysplasia is rectal bleeding caused by abnormal blood vessels in the gastrointestinal tract. It usually happens in elderly people, and it doesn’t normally cause pain.
What does it mean when your anal fissures bleed?
They may also bleed a little during bowel movements. Anal fissure – Anal fissures are tiny tears in the anal area that are quite painful. If they bleed, the blood is typically bright red. Pain and bleeding may occur during and after bowel movements.
What causes bloody diarrhea?
Gastroenteritis – Gastroenteritis is an infection in the stomach or intestines caused by a virus or bacteria, such as norovirus or food poisoning. It can lead to bloody diarrhea. Nausea and vomiting may also be present. Diverticula – Diverticula are tiny pockets or bulges in the lining of the lower bowel.
Can you have a colonoscopy earlier?
If you do have risk factors, such as a family history or certain inherited colon cancer syndromes, you may need your colonoscopy earlier. Ask your doctor when the right time is for you to have yours. Call (248) 577-9277 to ask for a referral for your colorectal cancer screen, and take control of your bowel health today.
Can you see blood in your stool?
It’s also important to know that not all bleeding in the intestinal tract will lead to blood that’s visible to the naked eye. You may have blood in your stool and not know it. So, if you have any signs or symptoms of colorectal cancer or you’re over age 50 (45 if you’re African American), talk to your doctor about getting a colonoscopy.
What does it mean when you have blood in your stool?
This is a condition called rectal bleeding—the medical term is hematochezia. A person with blood in the stool may be oblivious to the fact. However, there may be other noticeable symptoms such as weight loss, diarrhea, palpitations, fainting, vomiting, weakness, and abdominal pain.
When to contact your doctor about blood in stool?
Regardless of what you think the cause might be, always contact your doctor just to be on the safe side when blood in the stool is a concern. Your doctor may suggest certain tests to help determine the causes of blood in your stool.
What is diverticulosis in colon?
Diverticular disease is also called diverticulosis. It is a condition known for small abnormal pouches on the colon wall. Complications will occur in 20% of those with diverticulosis, including diverticular rectal bleeding. Another complication is a diverticular infection called diverticulitis. If there is a large amount of blood in the stool from diverticular bleeding, visit a doctor as soon as possible.
What is the cause of ulcers in the stomach?
A main cause of peptic ulcers is a bacterial infection called Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). Long-term or high use of anti-inflammatory drugs will also cause ulcers.
Why is my urine pink?
Other blood in stool causes includes esophageal problems, bowel ischemia, gastritis, or trauma. Certain medications like laxatives may also cause a pinkish hue in the urine.
What is it called when you see red stains on your urine?
In situations like these, it is best not to panic. It is a common thing, and the medical term is called beeturia. It is a harmless condition where undigested beet juice will be seen in your urine or stool. You may see red or pink after beet consumption.
What is the term for a bowel disease?
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is the general term to describe chronic inflammatory intestine disorders. The two main types include Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. In IBD, bleeding from the rectum and large intestine is often red or bright red.
When to seek medical advice
Seek medical advice for any blood in stool. Seek emergency care if you notice:
Blood in stool in adults
Find possible causes of blood in stool based on specific factors. Check one or more factors on this page that apply to your symptom.
What does it mean when you have blood in your stool?
Sometimes, you can have blood in your stool that’s not visible. This is called occult bleeding. This can be a sign of bleeding inside your digestive tract. It can also signal a more serious condition like an inflammation disease in your intestines or cancer.
What does it mean when you see blood in your colon?
The color of blood you see can actually indicate where the bleeding might be coming from. Bright red blood usually means bleeding that’s low in your colon or rectum. Dark red or maroon blood can mean that you have bleeding higher in the colon or in the small bowel.
What is the symptom of a bleed on the toilet?
Rectal Bleeding. Rectal bleeding is a symptom of conditions like hemorrhoids, anal fissures, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), ulcers and colorectal cancer. Typically, you notice rectal bleeding on toilet paper, in the water of the toilet bowl or in your stool. It’s important to contact your healthcare provider if you experience rectal bleeding ...
How do you know if you have rectal bleeding?
You might see or experience rectal bleeding in a few different ways, including: Seeing blood on your toilet paper when you wipe. Seeing blood in the bowl of the toilet when you are using the bathroom — the water in the bowl might look like it’s been dyed red.
How to know if you are in shock?
Experiencing mental confusion. Feeling lightheaded or dizzy. Fainting. In some very severe cases, rectal bleeding can lead to shock. If you experience any symptoms of shock, call 911 right away and get help. The symptoms of shock can include: Experiencing a sudden drop in your blood pressure. Having a fast heart rate.
What is the name of the condition where you develop patches of swelling in the digestive tract?
Crohn’s disease is a condition where you develop patches of swelling in the digestive tract. In colitis, the swelling is mainly in the large bowel. People with IBD might experience fever, diarrhea, abdominal pain and cramping, intestinal blockages, and rectal bleeding.
What tests can help with rectal bleeding?
Tests to help diagnose the cause of rectal bleeding can include: A physical exam of the rectum and anus. A colonoscopy.
How to diagnose blood in stool?
In order to diagnose the cause of blood in the stool, your doctor may perform one or more of the following tests: Blood test. Stool sample. Colonoscopy, where a camera is inserted into the colon. Endoscopy, where a camera is inserted through the mouth or rectum. Capsule endoscopy, where a camera is swallowed.
What does it mean when you have blood in your stool?
It can be a symptom of many disorders some of which may be serious. It is important to recognize the signs of blood in the stool early.
Why is my stool red?
Several conditions can cause rectal bleeding, such as hemorrhoids, colon cancer, and polyps. Not all red or black stool indicates the presence of blood. Certain foods can affect the color of your stool. Tomatoes, beets, and cranberries can all make stool look red, as can red food dye.
What causes red stools?
Blueberries, black licorice, and dark leafy vegetables can all turn stool black. Many causes of rectal bleeding will either resolve on their own or can be treated by a doctor.
What causes a swollen rectum?
Hemorrhoids are swollen blood vessels in the anus or rectum. They are the most common cause of rectal bleeding and are often related to constipation, pregnancy, heavy lifting, obesity, and diarrhea. They typically do not produce pain.
What causes a bleed in the esophagus?
Several other disorders may cause rectal bleeding, including: 1 Peptic ulcers (sores in the lining of the esophagus) 2 Crohn’s disease (chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract) 3 Ulcerative colitis (inflammation of the large intestine) 4 Gastritis ( inflammation of the stomach lining) 5 Diverticulitis (inflammation or infection of small pouches in your intestines) 6 Intestinal infection
What color is a stool?
All of the following may indicate rectal bleeding: Dark blood in the stool. Bright-red blood mixed with or covering the stool. Black or tarry ( resembling the color of tar) stool.
What does it mean when you have blood in your stool?
Bloody stool can indicate something minimal, such as a hemorrhoid, or something much more worrisome, such as an inflammatory bowel disease or even cancer.
Where does red blood come from?
Bright red blood typically comes from a source lower down in the gastrointestinal tract (colon or rectum) and can point to hemorrhoids, fissures, colon cancer, ulcerative colitis, diverticulosis, or a Crohn’s disease flare, Dr. McMahon states.
What are the symptoms of colon cancer?
Warning signs of late-stage colon cancer, aside from bloody stool, may include persistent abdominal pain; unexplained weight-loss; pencil-like stool; changes in overall bowel habits; anemia from chronic blood loss (typically due to occult/hidden blood in the stool); chest pain; and shortness of breath upon exertion.
Do you need a colonoscopy if you don't have one?
You may not always need a colonoscopy. Even if you do need a colonoscopy, the procedure itself is painless; the prep is the worst part, and the risk of having one done isn’t as nearly as great as the risk of what can potentially develop if you don’t have one.
Can cranberries cause GI bleeding?
He says that some sources suggest that the consumption of certain foods–such as blueberries or cranberries–as well as certain medications, can also mimic a blood-like color. The bottom line is there are countless causes for GI/rectal bleeding, says Dr. McMahon.
Is colon cancer silent?
Unfortunately, colon cancer, like most cancers, develops silently. It’s rare to have symptoms until it’s metastasized, or spread, adds Dr. McMahon. “In my 13-plus years of experience, I can actually remember the specific patients who’ve had cancer present with symptoms; that’s how rare it is.”.