Blood in your stool is never normal. It usually indicates one of the many diseases of the digestive system. The most dangerous of these is colorectal cancer, which, after several years of development, may only manifest itself as blood in the stool, or the so-called occult bleeding. Find out what diseases the blood in the stool indicates. What are the causes of bloody stools? What is occult blood?

Blood in the stoolis cause for concern. The most commoncause of this condition is gastrointestinal bleeding. Usually the blood comes from his lower section, but bleeding can also be caused by esophageal varices or gastric or duodenal ulcers, which are characterized by the characteristic tarry stools.

Blood in the stool - causes. Blood in the stool may be a symptom of what disease?

  • Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids, also known as haemorrhoids or haemorrhoids (haemorrhoids), are an overgrowth of venous plexuses around the anus and the lower part of the rectum. Anal varices are caused by venous insufficiency, the symptoms of which are: pain, itching and burning in the anus, and rectal bleeding during bowel movements. The stool appears to have been sprinkled with fresh, vivid red blood. In order to eliminate the symptoms of the disease (not the causes, e.g. an incorrect diet), you can use preparations that are available at any pharmacy without a prescription. Surgical treatment may be necessary in the advanced stage of the disease.

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  • Ulcerative colitis

The essence of the disease is the formation of numerous ulcers in the mucosa of the large intestine on the basis of inflammation. Characteristic for this disease are foul-smelling stools containing an admixture of mucus, pus and some fresh blood that comes out of the ulcer.

  • Crohn's disease

Another inflammatory disease that presents as red blood in the stool (usually mucoid). In addition, there are pains in the right lower abdomen or perianal changes (anal fissure, abscess and anal fistula).

  • Colon polyps

Blood in the stool is not a characteristic symptom of polyps (benign adenomas) that form on thethe inner walls of the large intestine. In the case of this disease, the so-called latent bleeding, which is a threat to the he alth and life of the patient. The bleeding may be so intense that it causes iron deficiency anemia. The amount of blood, both overt and latent, depends on the number of vessels in the vicinity or inside the polyp, as well as the size of the adenoma.

Important

What is occult blood?

Occult bloodis blood that is not visible to the naked eye but is detectable by stool tests. If occult blood is present in the stool, the patient reports symptoms that may suggest gastrointestinal bleeding. Then it is necessary to perform a test for the presence of occult blood in the stool.

  • Colorectal cancer

Bleeding from the lower gastrointestinal tract may be the result of malignant lesions in the rectum and the anal canal. Then blood appears not only in the feces. Traces of it can be found on toilet paper or underwear. Rectal bleeding may also occur. It is necessary to visit a doctor in order to rule out other diseases that may cause similar symptoms, e.g. ruptures of hemorrhoids, i.e. hemorrhoids.

CHECK>>Symptoms characteristic of colorectal cancer Important

Fecal Occult Blood Test

In most cases, neoplasms arise from polyps. It can take up to 10 years for an adenoma to turn into a tumor. If there is at least one disturbing symptom that may indicate this dangerous disease of the gastrointestinal tract, you can independently performstool blood tests(the so-calledoccult blood test). The test kit can be purchased at the pharmacy.

You can also perform fecal occult blood laboratory tests known as FOB (Fecal Occult Blood). They detect the presence of the red blood pigment - hemoglobin or the enzymes that transform it. You should remember not to consume iron preparations, vitamin C, blood thinners, aspirin, horseradish or alcohol for a few or several days before the test.

A positive test result may indicate colon cancer, a cancerous tumor in the stomach, colon polyps, and even a ruptured stomach ulcer.

  • Bacterial infection

If fresh blood appears in watery stools that are donated more than 3 times a day, the most likely cause is a bacterial infection. If the diarrhea does not go away after a few days or the symptoms gradually worsen, see your doctor to find out which pathogen caused the diarrhea: staphylococcus, bacilluscolon (E. coli), typhoid, salmonella, etc.

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  • Peptic ulcer disease, esophageal varices and other inflammation of the gastric and duodenal mucosa

If you have black tarry stools, this indicates bleeding from the upper gastrointestinal tract (esophagus, stomach, and the leading part of the duodenum). The tarry color of the faeces gives the blood which is sheared - biochemical changes under the influence of hydrochloric acid in the stomach. This is often accompanied by vomiting that resembles coffee grounds, which is also curd blood. Sometimes it is a signal of the development of dangerous esophageal varices that require surgical treatment.

Blood in your stool may mean colon cancer

Source: youtube.com/ Simply Saying

Category:

Gastrology