Worried About Blood in Your Stool?

If you notice blood after having a bowel movement, it can be alarming. Blood may appear in your stool, in the toilet or on toilet paper.

The important thing to know is that blood in your stool isn’t normal and should always be checked out by a doctor. It may be something harmless like hemorrhoids, or it could be a sign of a more serious condition that is making your intestines bleed. Either way, you need to see a doctor to find the cause.

When is blood in the stool dangerous?

The most common cause of blood in your stool is hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids, also known as piles, are swollen veins that appear around the lower rectum and anus. They can be caused by straining during a bowel movement, which puts pressure on the veins, causing them to bulge. As well as bleeding, hemorrhoids can cause itching, pain and redness.

While hemorrhoids are harmless and very common, they can cause discomfort, so it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor about treatment options. It is also important to rule out other, more serious conditions that may be causing the bleeding. These include:

• Ulcers: Ulcers can form on the intestine wall and lead to blood in your stools. If left untreated, they can cause internal bleeding, so they should always be treated by your doctor.
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD): Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are the most common types of IBD. IBD is inflammation of your gastrointestinal tract. It is a chronic condition that can cause internal bleeding.
• Gastrointestinal cancer: Colorectal cancer, stomach cancer and esophageal cancer are all types of gastrointestinal cancer which can lead to blood in your stool.

The color of the blood in your stool can sometimes give an indication of where the bleeding is coming from.

If the blood is bright red, it is most likely to be coming from the colon, rectum or anus.

If the blood is much darker or almost black, then it is probably coming from somewhere higher up in the gastrointestinal tract, such as the esophagus, stomach or small intestine.

Blood in your stool? Time to see a doctor

Regardless of the color of the blood in your stool, it’s important to talk to your doctor. It could be a sign of a serious problem in your gastrointestinal tract.