Each year, about 20-33% of gastrointestinal bleeding episodes occur in the lower part of the digestive system. Some of the symptoms that could appear in this situation are having black or tar-like stools, dark red or bright blood mixed with stools, cramps in the abdomen, dizziness or fainting, paleness, vomit that looks like coffee grounds, etc. As we will explain to you later, if blood appears in the stool, do not be alarmed and make an appointment with your family doctor to find out what you should do. Below we tell you the common causes and how you should act.
Visual examination of blood in stool
When you go to the doctor because of passing blood in your stool, you should keep in mind that one of the questions he or she will ask you is what it looked like. Therefore, it is important that we remember what blood looks like, in order to help the doctor make the best possible diagnosis.
There are different shades of blood in these situations, and each one means something different:
- Red blood: it usually stains the paper after wiping, it can even appear in the form of a drip after defecating. This type of blood can appear with hemorrhoids or fecal fissures.
- Black stools like tar: professionals also call it “melenas” and are black stools with a foul odor. It usually appears due to bleeding in the upper part of the digestive system.
- Feces mixed with blood or clots: they usually appear when you have an intestinal inflammation disease, also when there are polyps or even cancer.
- Hidden blood: blood cannot be seen with the naked eye. In fact, it can only be detected through medical tests. Having anemia can also indicate no other obvious cause.
Pain as an indicator
We must continue to make society aware that living with pain is not normal. We cannot normalize it, since if there is any discomfort, it means that something is happening that means it is not performing its function well. It is important, when consulting a doctor, to explain the symptoms well and the presence or absence of pain is an important factor for an initial evaluation.
Most frequent causes of blood in stool
Initially, do not be alarmed if you find blood in the stool, since most of the time they have benign pathologies. However, we always recommend consulting a doctor. The most frequent causes are the following:
Hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids, also known as piles, are swollen veins in the anus and lower part of the rectum. They are similar to varicose veins and can develop inside the rectum, called internal hemorrhoids. They are usually associated with constipation and are more common in pregnant women. Symptoms that may occur are itching and irritation in the anal area, pain or discomfort, swelling around the anus and bleeding.
Anal fissure
It is a small tear in the thin, moist tissue that lines the anus. It usually occurs due to constipation, straining or passing large or hard stools, anal intercourse, persistent diarrhea, childbirth, etc. They usually cause pain and bleeding during defecation. Anal fissures are very common in babies, although it can affect any age.
Inflammatory bowel disease
It is a term that describes various disorders that involve prolonged inflammation of the tissues of the digestive system. This disease consists of ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. The symptoms of both diseases are usually diarrhea, fatigue, abdominal pain and cramps, presence of blood in the stool, involuntary weight loss, and decreased appetite.
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Proctitis
It is an inflammation of the rectum. It can cause discomfort, bleeding and discharge or pus. It is an infection that can be caused by sexual transmission or not, but when it is transmitted sexually it is common in people who practice anal sex. While when it is not due to an STD, it can be caused in children due to a bacteria that causes streptococcal tonsillitis. Symptoms that may occur include bloody stools, constipation, rectal bleeding, rectal discharge or pus, rectal pain or discomfort, and tenesmus, which is pain with bowel movements.
Rectal prolapse
It is a condition that occurs when the rectum weakens and comes out through the anal opening. It is not known exactly what it is due to but the possible causes could be: an enlarged opening caused by the relaxation of the muscles in the pelvic floor, loose muscles of the anal sphincter, abnormally long color, constipation, diarrhea… It may bleed slightly and may be annoying and painful.
Ulcerative colitis
It is a condition in which the lining of the large intestine (colon) and rectum become inflamed. It is one of the inflammatory bowel diseases, along with Crohn’s, as we have mentioned previously. The cause is unknown, although people who suffer from it usually have problems with their immune system. But it is not clear whether problems with the immune system are the cause of this disease. Related symptoms are abdominal pain, blood and possibly pus in the stool, fever, diarrhea, gurgling sound in the intestines…
Gastric, esophageal or colon cancer
This type of cancer is the one that starts in the stomach.
Esophageal cancer occurs in the esophagus, a long, hollow tube that runs from the throat to the stomach. It helps move swallowed food from the back of the throat to the stomach to be digested. It is usually more common in men than in women. Symptoms usually include difficulty swallowing, weight loss, pain, pressure or burning in the chest, cough or hoarseness.
Colon cancer is a proliferation of cells that begins in a part of the large intestine, called the colon. It usually affects only older adults, although it can occur at any age. The symptoms that usually occur are continuous discomfort in the abdominal area, such as cramps, gas or pain. Also rectal bleeding or changes in bowel habits.
Conclusions about blood in stool
The appearance of blood in the stool alarms us, but we must always go to the doctor so that he can perform the relevant tests and thus find out what it is due to. As we have mentioned previously, bleeding varies, therefore it will help rule out ailments that we could suffer.
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Vitae solution
OlioVita Gastro is a food supplement based on sea buckthorn oil and beta-glucans that contributes to the maintenance of the mucous membranes and the immune system. As we have said previously, beta-glucans contribute to the proper functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, modulating the immune system against pathogens. While sea buckthorn confers moisturizing and nourishing properties to recover the intestinal mucosa.
