Why Do We Sometimes Have Blood In Our Stool?
Blood in the stool is more often present with hemorrhoidal disorders or anal fissures.
Finding blood in the stool is something that scares everyone. Almost everyone knows that it is one of the symptoms of colon cancer. However, there are many more reasons to find blood when you go to the bathroom. And all of these reasons do not indicate serious illness.
Norberto Mañas, specialist in the functioning of the digestive system at the Hospital Clínico San Carlos in Madrid, emphasizes:
Due to its frequency and importance, in this article we will explain the main causes of blood in the stool.
How does blood appear in the stool?
Blood in the stool can show up in different ways. In reality, it is often not even visible to the naked eye. The main ways to see this are:
- Red blood that can be seen with the naked eye. Usually it stains the toilet paper after you clean yourself. It can even appear as a drip after defecating. It is due to bleeding at the end of the intestine or in the anus. This is the type of blood that usually appears with hemorrhoids or cracks
- Stools as black as tar. These stools are perfectly black and very smelly. They are usually caused by bleeding in the upper part of the digestive tract. They are more serious than the previous ones
- Stool mixed with blood or clots. They tend to show up that way in inflammatory bowel disease. Also when there are polyps or even cancer
- Occult blood. Not visible to the naked eye. In reality, it can only be detected by medical tests. However, other symptoms, such as anemia with no other obvious cause, may indicate the presence of occult blood in the stool. In these cases, colonoscopy is essential
What are the causes of blood in the stool?
As we mentioned, the most alarming cause is colon cancer. However, this is not the only situation where blood appears in the stool. Other causes are:
- Hemorrhoids: they are even the main cause. These are dilated veins in the anus and rectum. They occasionally occur in 3 in 4 adults. Their most common cause is overexertion during bowel movements during constipation. They are also common in women who have been pregnant
- Anal fissure: this is a small tear in the lining of the anus. It can appear when large, hard stools are passed. It is also associated with constipation
- Diverticula: These are small bulges in the large intestine. Their incidence increases with age
- Intestinal polyps: These are tissues that most often develop in the large intestine. Most are not dangerous, but some can be carcinogenic
- Gastric or duodenal ulcer: Gastric ulcers are lesions on the wall of the stomach or intestine. Like esophageal problems, they can cause black stools
- Certain changes in blood vessels: vasculitis or angiodysplasia can cause blood in the stool
- Some infections
- Inflammatory diseases of the digestive tract: Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis often result in blood in the stool
What to do if you have blood in the stool?
As we have seen, finding blood when you go to the bathroom can have several causes. Additionally, it is not always easy to diagnose and it may be something more serious than you think. For this reason, it is advisable to always go to the doctor.
You should give your doctor as much information as possible about your stool. The color, frequency and shape of the bleeding are very important for the diagnosis. This is why doctors recommend watching your stool.
On the other hand, from the age of 50, it is advisable to periodically take a blood test on the stool. You can also test with a test strip. The intention is to detect hidden blood that is not visible to the naked eye.
Likewise, a rectal exam is usually done. A digital rectal exam helps detect hemorrhoids and tumors in the rectum. It also helps detect prostate problems. Even though this is an uncomfortable test, it is still very important.
Colonoscopy is the most effective test to rule out colon cancer. Depending on the type of blood in the stool, other diagnostic tests like gastroscopy, x-ray or scintigraphy are also used.
In conclusion
If you find blood in your stool, don’t worry. The causes can be very varied and are usually due to hemorrhoids or anal fissure. However, do not hesitate to go to the doctor to rule out any other pathology.
