Blood in your stool can cause panic but there is a way on how to know the reason for blood in your feces. There are times when blood in the stool is harmless but when it gets frequent and your stool starts to turn black and smell foul, it could be an indication of an internal bleeding. There is a possibility that the bleeding occurs in the upper part of your intestines since it takes more time for the stool to travel through the intestines which allows the chemical changes to push through.
Evaluating yourself for any possible medical conditions is one way on how to know the reason for blood in your feces. If you are suffering from hemorrhoids, it can cause bleeding. The swollen veins can get ruptured when the stool passes through the anus and causes bleeding.
Possible Causes of Blood in Your Stool
Blood in your feces can be caused by various reasons:
•Anal fissures – Anal fissures are small cuts on the tissue lining of the anus that appears like paper cuts or chapped lips. Anal fissure occurs when you pass a hard, large stool that causes pain.
•Colitis – Inflammation in the colon can also cause internal bleeding.
•Angiodysplasia – This is a condition in which the abnormal blood vessels become fragile and results to bleeding.
•Diverticular disease – These small pouches known as diverticula usually does not cause any harm but they can get infected and can cause bleeding.
•Polyps/Cancer – Polys or benign growths can lead to bleeding and become cancerous. In the US, colorectal cancer is the third leading type of cancer that affects many Americans.
•Problems in the Esophagus – varicose veins or tears can occur in the esophagus and may likewise cause bleeding.
When you see blood in your stool, you should consult your doctor for proper evaluation. One of the ways on how to know the reason for blood in your feces is by conducting some tests such as:
•Colonoscopy – The scope is inserted through the rectum to take a view of the colon. Tissue samples can be collected through colonoscopy that can be used for biopsy.
•Nasogastric lavage – A tube is inserted through the nose going to the stomach. The stomach will then be emptied of its contents to check for evidence of blood.
•Enteroscopy – This procedure involves swallowing a capsule equipped with tiny cameras to take a view of the digestive tract.
•Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) – The endoscope is inserted through the mouth, down to the esophagus, stomach and duodenum. This procedure is used to locate the source of bleeding and to collect tissue samples for testing.
•Radionuclide scanning – This procedure involves injecting a vein with radioactive materials then using a special camera to detect where the bleeding comes from.
When there is blood in your stool, the best thing that you can is to seek the advice of a medical professional. It is important to know the root cause of the bleeding to properly treat the condition using the right treatment and medications.
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