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What Causes Blood in Stool?

By Brookhaven Gastroenterology Associates
April 23, 2018
Category:

Gastroenterology

Tags:

Blood in Stool  

It can be a startling experience to discover blood in your stool. Though bloody stools are often the sign of serious medical conditions, they blood in stoolare not always a cause for concern. Discover the common meanings of bloody stool and how it can affect you with help from your gastroenterologist. Find out more about bloody stool and what it signals with Brookhaven Gastroenterology Associates in Patchogue, NY, and serving Suffolk County, NY.

What causes bloody stool?

Your digestive tract runs from your mouth to your anus and includes all of the areas through which food passes, including the esophagus, stomach, colon, small intestine, and more. Blood in stool indicates that there is bleeding somewhere along the digestive tract. In some cases, the blood will be obvious and discovered by the patient themselves. Other cases have small traces of blood in stool not seen by the naked eye, requiring a test to check for blood.

What are some common conditions related to blood in stool?

Bright red blood in stool indicates a bleed somewhere toward the bottom of the digestive tract, while black or dark red blood indicates a bleed higher up in the digestive tract. An anal fissure is a small cut or tear in the anus tissue, causing bright red blood in stool. Certain diseases and infections like cancer or peptic ulcers cause bloody stools as well, though many cases of cancer require a test to indicate small traces of blood in stool while conditions like ulcers have a more obvious bloody appearance. Colitis, which causes inflammation and irritation of the colon, can also cause bloody stools.

Bloody Stool Treatments in Patchogue and Suffolk County, NY

Treating your bloody stool will require a diagnosis and vary depending on the condition causing the bleeding. Conditions like cancer require much more in-depth and complex treatments, such as chemotherapy, than an anal fissure, which requires simple methods to heal. In some cases, issues like polyps or inflammatory bowel disease may require surgery. However, some treatments will require simple lifestyle changes like eating more fiber or sitting in a hot bath. With your gastroenterologist’s guidance, you can find the best treatment plan for you.

If you have bloody stool, the best course of action is to contact your physician. For more information on blood in stool or what it means for you, please contact Brookhaven Gastroenterology Associates in Patchogue, NY, and serving Suffolk County, NY. Call (631) 289-0300 to schedule an appointment with your gastroenterologist today!

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