What if your waste has blood

As she explains, if the blood is bright red, it may be a sign of haemorrhoids or a small tear fissure in the anus. If it's very dark or black, the bleeding has likely happened higher up the digestive tract - it could be due to a stomach ulcer or diverticulitis, or bleeding in the stomach or gut. In either case, it could also be a side effect of blood-thinning medications like aspirin. While bowel cancer is not the most probable cause of bleeding, being aware of the condition can save lives.

This means catching it early is critical. One is that you've had a change in bowel habits lasting three weeks or more. Another is tiredness for no obvious reason; another is being off your food or unexplained weight loss, and the fifth is a pain or lump in your tummy.

So if you have any any of those symptoms in combination or alone, or if you don't feel well or feel something's amiss, it's a good idea to get to the doctor. Once you're there, the doctor will endeavour to build up a picture of what's going on. They are likely to ask you what symptoms you have, when you get them, and whether anything makes them better or worse. These tests may include an endoscopy, in which a small thin tube with a camera is used to look inside the body.

If there's a concern that something's happening further up, they'd refer you for a full colonoscopy where the camera is inserted up the entire length of the bowel. Both of those tests would take place in a hospital setting.

She points out that these tests are nothing to be embarrassed about, and that the doctors administering them perform the procedure every day - usually on many patients every day.

But the procedure can save your life," she says. Sadly, despite all the evidence of benefit from bowel screening, almost half of people in the UK As a side note, It's important to recognise that, while bowel cancer is more prevalent in older people, younger people can develop the condition too.

Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. Seeing blood in the toilet bowl, in your stool, or on toilet paper can be quite startling. Bleeding in the colon the large intestine is not a symptom that should be ignored because it is never considered "normal. After the initial shock of having blood in your stool wears off, it's important to determine what is causing the bleeding. If you have other symptoms in conjunction with the rectal bleeding, the cause might seem obvious, but that doesn't mean you should go it alone.

Blood in the stool should always be discussed with a physician, even if it has happened before or you were previously diagnosed with any of the conditions listed below. While you're waiting for that doctor's appointment, find out more about some of the common conditions that could cause visible bleeding from the rectum.

One very common cause of bleeding from the rectum is hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids are actually veins in the rectum that have become swollen. They may cause pain, itching, and bright red blood on the stool or on the toilet paper, although many do not cause any symptoms at all. Hemorrhoids are typically not serious and can be treated at home.

They should be investigated by a physician in the case that they are causing a large amount of bleeding or if they aren't getting any better after being treated. When there is visible blood in the toilet, coating the stool or on the toilet paper, it should be investigated by a doctor.

This is because there is a possibility of losing so much blood that the situation becomes dangerous, or that the bleeding is not from hemorrhoids at all, but from a more serious condition like inflammatory bowel disease IBD or colon cancer. Diverticular disease is quite common; as many as half of all people over age 60 have signs of diverticular disease. Diverticulosis is the presence of weak spots on the wall of the large intestine that develop into pockets or outpouchings.

These outpouchings are called diverticula a singular outpouch is called a diverticulum , and they generally don't produce any symptoms at all. People with diverticular disease might not know diverticula are there unless one or more of them get infected, which is then a condition called diverticulitis.

Diverticulitis might make a person seriously sick and could also cause abdominal pain. In some cases, the diverticula might bleed. The blood could be found in or on the stool, or bleeding could happen even without a bowel movement. Diverticular disease could cause quite a bit of bleeding and might or might not need treatment, but people with this condition should always see a physician if there is bleeding, even if it has happened before.

An anal fissure could be a complication of Crohn's disease or of childbirth, or it could be caused by hemorrhoids that have ulcerated or straining from severe constipation. An anal fissure is a tear in the anal canal and could cause bright red blood in the stool or on the toilet paper. Fissures also may cause pain during bowel movements, which sometimes is severe. Most fissures are classified as acute and will respond to non-invasive therapies that can be done at home.

In many cases, the fissure won't come back, especially when care is taken to ensure that stools are kept soft and easy to pass in other words, not too hard or too loose. A fissure that becomes chronic and is resistant to heal is not common but may need more intensive treatment, such as surgery.

In IBD, this leads to inflammation and damage of the intestines. Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are the two most common types of IBD. Symptoms can include bloody stool, which may be red or dark and tarry. IBD can be treated in a few different ways:. Fortunately, new drugs are reducing the number of IBD patients who need surgery. Because blood in the stool may be a symptom of colorectal cancer, it is important to see a doctor if you notice this symptom. Bleeding from colorectal cancer may be red or dark and tarry.

Colorectal cancer was once thought to mostly affect people over the age of Recent research, however, found that this cancer is also the third leading cause of cancer-related death in adults younger than There is good news, though.

Thanks to earlier detection and treatment, the five-year survival rate for patients with colorectal cancer has been steadily increasing over time. Diverticula are abnormal pouches that can form in your lower intestine. There are two types of diverticular disease. The simple presence of diverticula is called diverticulosis.

Sometimes, though, diverticula become infected or inflamed. When that happens, the disease is called diverticulitis. Both forms of diverticular disease can cause pain and blood in the stool. When diverticular disease causes bleeding, it will usually appear suddenly and be red or maroon in color. Diverticula grow out of weaknesses in the wall of your colon. Sometimes they can grow to be several centimeters in size.

The disease is often blamed on a low-fiber diet, but the true cause is unknown. A surgeon can stop bleeding from diverticula during an endoscopy or abdominal surgery. Diverticula can be treated in or out of a hospital. Diverticulitis can often be successfully treated with antibiotics. Ischemic colitis happens when the blood vessels that supply the large intestine are narrowed or blocked. Most cases of ischemic colitis happen in elderly people. The condition can be short-term or long-term.

Symptoms include:. Most cases of ischemic colitis last a short time and resolve on their own. Sometimes, though, people with severe cases of ischemic colitis need to be hospitalized. Patients with severe disease may need intravenous IV fluids, antibiotics, and bowel rest, or a restricted diet. Unfortunately, surgery for ischemic colitis is very dangerous.

Sometimes, what looks like bloody stool is really just coloring from something you've eaten. Dyes used in some fruit punch and gelatin can make your stool red. Beets may do the same thing. Blood in the stool can have a number of causes. Hemorrhoids and anal fissures are annoying and painful, but not harmful. Some causes of gastrointestinal bleeding may require surgery, including upper GI bleeds, polyps, angiodysplasia, inflammatory bowel disease, diverticular disease, and ischemic colitis.

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. But because colorectal cancer is a leading cause of death, even for people under the age of 50, you should never ignore blood in your stool. Gas pain? Stool issues? Sign up for the best tips to take care of your stomach. Diagnosis of gastrointestinal bleeding: a practical guide for clinicians. World J Gastrointest Pathophysiol. Saleem S, Thomas AL.

Management of upper gastrointestinal bleeding by an internist. Sonnenberg A. Timing of endoscopy in gastrointestinal bleeding. United European Gastroenterol J. Jung K, Moon W. Role of endoscopy in acute gastrointestinal bleeding in real clinical practice: an evidence-based review. World J Gastrointest Endosc.

Anal fissure. Updated June 11, Salati, SA. Anal fissure — an extensive update. Pol Przegl Chir ;— A retrospective study of patients with colorectal polyps. Gastroenterol Hepatol Bed Bench.

Readability of colorectal cancer online information: a brief report. Int J Prev Med. Colorectal adenoma to carcinoma progression is accompanied by changes in gene expression associated with ageing, chromosomal instability, and fatty acid metabolism. Cell Oncol. American Cancer Society. American Cancer Society guideline for colorectal cancer screening. Updated November 17, Lohsiriwat V. Hemorrhoids: from basic pathophysiology to clinical management.