Bright red blood in stool can be scary, especially when you see it in the toilet bowl or on toilet paper. In many cases, the cause is something common, such as hemorrhoids or an anal fissure. But rectal bleeding can also be a sign of an infection, inflammation, polyps, or colorectal cancer.
The color of the blood can give clues about where it’s coming from. Bright red blood often starts near the end of the digestive tract, such as the colon, rectum, or anus. Dark red, maroon, or black stool may point to bleeding higher up in the digestive tract.
Any blood in your stool is worth paying attention to. If bleeding lasts more than a day or two, keeps coming back, or comes with symptoms like weakness, dizziness, or a large amount of blood, call a doctor.
Sometimes, but not always. Bright red blood in stool is often linked to hemorrhoids or anal fissures. These are common and usually treatable.
Still, you shouldn’t ignore rectal bleeding. Blood in stool can also happen with infection, inflammatory bowel disease, diverticular disease, polyps, or colorectal cancer. A doctor can help confirm the cause and recommend the right treatment.
Bright red blood in stool usually means the bleeding is coming from the lower part of the digestive tract. This includes the lower colon, rectum, or anus. You may notice it on toilet paper, coating the stool, in the toilet bowl, or mixed with stool.
You may have heard that blood in the stool can mean cancer – but it usually doesn’t. Blood in the stool can have a number of causes ranging from serious to easily treated. And the most common cause is also one of the less serious.
Hemorrhoids are the most common cause of bleeding with a bowel movement. They are swollen veins in or around the anus that may bleed if you scratch them or if one develops a blood clot.
You’ll most often notice the blood when wiping. Many people don’t even realize they have hemorrhoids until one bleeds. The symptoms of hemorrhoids tend to come and go and can usually be treated successfully at home.
Anal fissure is a medical term for a small tear in the anus, like a paper cut. A tear can be caused by pushing to have a bowel movement, large stools, frequent diarrhea, or otherwise putting strain on the anus. They can be uncomfortable and itchy but generally heal at home.
Soaking in warm water can help the healing and discomfort. Like hemorrhoids, you’ll most often notice the blood from anal fissures when wiping.
Bacterial or parasitic infections can cause bloody diarrhea. Bacterial infections are most often foodborne, like Salmonella or E. coli. Infections may also cause abdominal pain, fever, nausea, and vomiting. Antibiotics may be needed to clear up an infection in the bowel.
Certain bowel conditions can cause inflammation or sores, leading to bleeding in the colon. Diverticular disease and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which include Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, can all cause bleeding.
Polyps are growths in the large intestine that can turn into cancer over time. They don’t often cause symptoms, and most people don’t realize they have polyps. When they do cause symptoms, they often include red blood in the stool with no pain or rectal bleeding.
Bleeding caused by cancer tends to continue or get worse over time. The only way to know if you have polyps is to have a colonoscopy.
Bright red blood in stool is often caused by hemorrhoids or anal fissures, but it should not be ignored. If the bleeding lasts more than a day or two, keeps coming back, or happens with other symptoms, it’s a good idea to see a doctor.
Always call your healthcare provider if:
Bright red blood in stool is often caused by something common and treatable, but the only way to know for sure is to get evaluated. If rectal bleeding continues or comes back, scheduling an appointment is the best way to find the cause and get the right treatment.
Bright red blood in stool is often caused by something common, such as hemorrhoids or an anal fissure. But you shouldn’t have to guess.
If you’ve noticed rectal bleeding and you’re in the San Antonio area, the team at Gastroenterology Consultants of San Antonio can help find the cause and recommend the right next step. Schedule an appointment today.
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