Blood in Poop?

Although stool might be something we don’t pay too much attention to, it’s an important part of your health. Many people go day to day minding their business without a second thought about what’s coming out of their body until one day the unthinkable happens – bloody stool.

For many people, the first thing that comes to mind is cancer and although this can be a sign of colorectal cancer (colon cancer), there is still hope. Factors like the medication you just started or stopped taking, the last foods you consumed, a drastic change in diet or even pregnancy can play a large role in these symptoms.

Before modern medicine the most common way to catch a problem was by monitoring what came out of the body. Examination of urine and stool played a huge role in medicine and believe it or not; still does to this day. Some of the oldest tests using urine and stool are dated before 400 BC where physicians would often taste the patient’s urine.

• Over wiping with toilet paper may cause your rectum to bleed
• Overconsumption of indigestible foods, such as sunflower seeds may cause trauma to your rectum
• Hemorrhoids
• Consumption of foods like beets that can cause your stool to appear a reddish color
• Certain types of food poisoning and intestinal infections like E. Coli and Salmonella may cause bleeding
• Intestinal parasitic infections
• Cancer

Bloody stool comes in many different forms.

• Dark tar looking stool (can be caused by Pepto-Bismol)
• Bright Red
• Specks of red blood
• Occult (not visible) blood can be in the stool as well

Usually bright red blood indicates a problem close to the rectum while darker blood in the stool may indicate a problem higher in the digestive system.

There are many things that might cause bloody stool. Some of these can be rather harmless, while others more severe. The most common culprit behind bloody stool is hemorrhoids. A hemorrhoid can be caused by increased straining during bowel movements, due to diarrhea or constipation. Hemorrhoids can also be caused by excessive caffeine and alcohol consumption, obesity, by increasing the pressure on rectal veins and pregnancy. Before you exclude hemorrhoids from the cause, it is very common for the hemorrhoid to be internal. The most common symptom of an internal hemorrhoid is bright red blood on the stool, on the toilet paper/wipe or in the bowl. If you’re exhibiting these symptoms, it’s a good idea to get checked out by a doctor to make sure a more serious problem doesn’t exist. If you are suffering from hemorrhoids make sure you increase your water intake, increase your dietary fiber with fruits, vegetables, high fiber natural cereals and Vitamin E.

In the case of colon cancer, you may also experience blood in your stool. Tumors tend to bleed, not necessarily very often, but this might very well be a symptom. If bleeding is brighter red, it can indicate the source is closer to the rectum. Bloody stool can range from dark colored stool to bright red. If colon cancer is found early on it often can be treated and bloody stool should be taken seriously. If you exhibit any signs of bloody stool you should contact your health care physician immediately.