Causes of Bloody Stool

Bloody stool is one of the most unpleasant things in life and you wouldn't want to face it in the form of a symptom or a chronic problem. However, it's always good to have some information handy lest you spot bloody stools in the toilet and you have no clue what to do or how to proceed in the matter.

There are a number of reasons why you might spot blood in your stool. Given the vast number of reasons, it's extremely important that you consult your doctor without delay in this matter. The sooner you consult them, the faster they can diagnose the problem and put you on a course of treatment. You may think that a small amount of blood in your stool can hardly be cause for so much concern, and you may even be right in some cases. However, you should let more informed professionals make that decision for you.

Bloody Stool Causes

As with everything else, there are minor and major causes of bloody stool. The minor causes are hemorrhoids, anal sores or fissures, excessive straining while passing stool, minor irritations in the bowel, and rough wiping of the rectum with a tissue. In minor cases, the blood simply flows out after you've passed the stool. However, in more serious cases, the blood is already present in the stool before it exits your body. The major causes include peptic, bowel, or anal ulcers, cancerous growth in the colon, known as Colon polyps, diverticulosis, Crohn's disease, and stomach cancer.

Bloody Diarrhea

Bloody diarrhea is yet another form of bloody stools. It can be caused by a number of reasons, which would include gastroenteritis, Crohn's disease, Colitis, and food poisoning. In addition to this, an infection of the digestive tract, Celiac disease, Diverticulosis, and A.I.D.S. could also cause blood to appear in your stools.

Bowel Bleeding

Bowel bleeding, also known as rectal bleeding is closely associated with blood in the stools. Rectal bleeding is a form of gastrointestinal bleeding which can happen due to injuries caused by the insertion of a foreign object, anal fissures, or hemorrhoids. Bowel bleeding aren't always related to blood in your stool, and they can generally refer to blood that is flowing from the anus. Other causes of bowel bleeding are Crohn's disease, Colon Polyps, Cancer, and Diverticulosis.

Stomach Bleeding

Stomach bleeding is a major cause of blood, especially black or dark red blood in the stool. Stomach bleeding can be caused by Gastritis, Ulcers, Stomach cancer, and Cirrhosis of the liver.

There are times when you may get the impression that there's blood in your stool, but it could be several other factors that are at play in your body. For instance, if you are on Bismuth medication, your stool may change color and appear black or red. You may confuse this for blood in stool. Eating foods such as beets can have the same effect.

Some medications, such as aspirin, medicines for arthritis, certain antibiotics, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents can cause blood in your stool. Have a word with your doctor, discuss your bloody stool symptoms, and wait for him to diagnose your problem before you jump to a conclusion.