What does Blood in Stool means?
Stool that is black and tarry may also be a sign of bleeding in the stomach, especially if it happens after a person has taken aspirin or another anti-inflammatory drug.
Unexplained bleeding in the digestive tract is a symptom of a problem rather than a disease itself.
It usually happens due to conditions that can be cured or controlled, such as haemorrhoids.
Blood in stool can be frightening.
Whether you discover it while wiping after a bowel movement or from a test ordered by your health care provider.
While many causes of blood in stool are benign, some require prompt medical attention.
The cause of the bleeding may not be serious, but it’s important for your doctor to find the source of this symptom so that the cause can be treated.
See your doctor whenever you notice blood in your stool.
Serious complications are rare, but they do occur.
If the bleeding continues unabated, you could become anaemic — meaning that your blood doesn’t have enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen to all parts of your body.
You could also become lightheaded and weak from blood loss.
Blood in your stool can be caused by several things, including:
- 1) Haemorrhoids
- 2) Peptic ulcer disease
- 3) Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) including Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis
- 4) Infection including bacterial and parasitic infections
- 5) Colon polyps (benign tumours)
- 6) Diverticulitis, which is inflammation of a diverticulum (a bulge that forms in the wall of the colon when tissue pushes through a weak spot in the colon wall)
- 7) Cancer of the colon or rectum
Anal fissures also cause rectal bleeding and tend to be very painful. These tiny tears in the anus are often caused by constipation or straining during bowel movements. They may also be responsible for some cases of chronic diarrhoea.
Certain medications, including aspirin and other blood thinners, can lead to bloody stools or bloody vomit, but those symptoms are usually minor and don’t require medical treatment unless they persist or are accompanied by serious symptoms such as chest pain, difficulty breathing or dizziness.
Blood in stool is typically a symptom of another medical condition. The best way to know for sure what’s causing it is to get checked by a doctor.
Your doctor will likely run tests to determine which part of your digestive tract is bleeding, then plan a treatment based on the results.
Please note that regular First Aid and CPR Training is the best way to make sure that you’re prepare in the case of an emergency. Book a course with us!
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