Blood in the stool is mostly caused by inflammation and internal injuries of the gastrointestinal tract. However, other conditions, such as hemorrhoids, colon cancer or intestinal polyps can also cause blood in the stool.
What is blood in stool?
Although there are some serious diseases (e.g., colon cancer) in which blood in the stool occurs, most causes of it are rather harmless. If blood in the stool is excreted during daily bowel movements, or if the stool is covered or layered with blood, it can usually be assumed that there is internal bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract. This symptom should not be taken lightly, but should be clarified by a doctor. Medically, blood in the stool can be divided into four categories:
Hematochezia:
In this case, there are red or bright red blood deposits on the stool. This gastrointestinal bleeding usually originates from the lower intestinal segments, upper segments of the digestive tract or from burst hemorrhoids. Occult blood in stool:
In this type of blood in stool, the blood is not visible in the stool but is found mixed in with the stool. To actually detect the blood a hemoccult test at the doctor’s office is necessary. Blood stool:
In so-called blood stool, the stool is mixed with dark and light blood. Tarry stools (melena):
In this form, the stool is very dark to black in color and sometimes has a pungent, foul odor. Here, bleeding occurs in the upper digestive areas and is also called upper gastrointestinal bleeding.
Causes
Although there are some serious diseases (e.g., colorectal cancer) in which blood in the stool occurs, most causes of this tend to be harmless. Nevertheless, if there is blood in the stool, a doctor should always be consulted to determine the exact cause. Among the more harmless causes are the well-known hemorrhoids, where mainly bright red blood deposits are visible. Likewise, fissures (cracks in the mucous membrane) can also be considered as a cause. These fissures can occur in the context of chronic intestinal inflammations, such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. Likewise, mucosal tears are also possible in the course of anal intercourse. Furthermore, intestinal polyps, intestinal diverticula, vascular inflammations and rare blood diseases are also possible causes of blood in the stool. Sometimes parasites or intestinal infections can also cause intestinal bleeding. The well-known stomach ulcers (Ulcus ventriculi) can also cause the stool to turn black.
Diseases with this symptom
- Mesenteric infarction
- Intestinal polyps
- Small intestine cancer
- Duodenitis
- Stomach cancer
- Ulcerative colitis
- Gastrointestinal flu
- Diverticulitis
- Reflux esophagitis
- Hemorrhoids
- Crohn’s disease
- Tarry stools
- Colon cancer
- Colon polyps
- Mallory-Weiss syndrome
- Esophageal variceal hemorrhage
- Duodenal ulcer
- Gastric ulcer
Complications
Blood in stool almost always has serious causes. However, diagnosing this cause can take some time – enough time for complications to develop. For example, if blood in the stool is a cancer of the bowel, there is a risk that the severity of the disease will not be recognized until then. If it is an advanced stage, the tumor may have already perforated the intestinal wall – as a result, serious internal bleeding will occur if the tumor continues to do so. This requires immediate emergency surgery, as blood loss from such internal injuries is not insignificant. A similar thing can happen with another cause of blood in the stool, and that is hemorrhoids. These are not only uncomfortable and painful, they can at the same time lead to high blood loss if the injuries to these blood vessels become more significant. Hemorrhoid patients are already familiar with blood in the stool and sometimes do not take it seriously, even if it is more than usual. However, this could cause them to quickly miss when there is a more serious injury to the hemorrhoids that would require medical attention. To avoid complications, a doctor should always be consulted if there is blood in the stool, and changes should be taken seriously especially if there is more blood in the stool than usual, even if a diagnosis has been made.
When should you go to the doctor?
As a general rule, blood in the stool is not to be trifled with. It is better to see a doctor as early as possible. It is true that most bleeding stops on its own without the intervention of a medical professional. However, the cause of the bleeding should be clarified so that treatment can be initiated if necessary and serious illnesses can be ruled out. This is particularly true in the case of recurrent incidents that cannot be attributed with bordering certainty to a specific activity. Also, if other complaints occur in addition to blood in the stool, such as pain, nausea, vomiting, a feeling of fatigue and tiredness, a doctor must be consulted immediately. The first port of call here is a general practitioner. If necessary, he or she can refer the patient to a specialist, such as a proctologist. The latter specializes in diseases of the rectum, rectal and anal canal. If there is a suspicion that anal fissures or similar injuries are not the reason for the blood in the stool, other internists may also be considered. Only in individual cases is it advisable to observe the patient’s own bowel movements for a certain period of time. This may be the case with merely marginal bleeding that is almost certainly due to a certain external activity. However, the visit to the doctor must necessarily follow if there is no improvement after a short time.
Treatment and therapy
Blood in stool mostly requires medical examination and diagnosis in order to exclude dangerous diseases. Here, the medical examination will primarily try to find out where and at what point the bleeding occurs in the gastrointestinal tract. Likewise, a sample of the stool can provide initial clues, by color and consistency, to a possible cause. Here, the so-called hemoccult test, as a stool blood test, comes into question. With its help, the doctor can biochemically detect the blood in the stool if it is not directly visible to the naked eye. Once the bleeding site has been found and the cause identified, the bleeding must be closed. Especially in the case of gastric ulcers or bleeding due to varicose veins of the esophagus, rapid intervention is necessary. Any further treatment then depends on the course or other causes of the disease. For example, hemorrhoids are usually treated with suppositories and ointments. Intestinal polyps may need to be surgically removed. For colorectal cancer, surgery with chemotherapy is also often necessary.
Outlook and prognosis
Blood in the stool is definitely an indicator of disease. How this disease will progress over time, with and without medical treatment, cannot be determined until the cause of the bleeding is clearly established. If the person affected only notices very small amounts of blood in the stool, it is very likely that hemorrhoidal disease is present. Smaller fissures in the gastrointestinal tract can also cause small amounts of bleeding in the stool. Without medical treatment, this condition should disappear all by itself. After about two to three days, these small injuries heal completely on their own, so that a serious course of the disease can be ruled out. However, caution is advised if the amount of blood in the stool increases. Such a symptom may be a sign of internal bleeding. If left untreated, this can lead to death. There is also the possibility that the affected person has colon cancer. This is mainly noticeable by regular bleeding, which can be seen in the stool within a short time. If such symptoms are recognized and treated at an early stage, the prognosis for a complete recovery is very likely. Therefore, the following applies: anyone who detects blood in their own stool should definitely have this examined by a doctor.
This is what you can do yourself
In the case of blood in the stool, the patient can do a few things himself. With regard to hemorrhoids, suppositories and ointments have proven their worth. Thus, witch hazel ointment helps in mild cases, cortisone suppositories in the more severe ones. Many ointments – including the witch hazel ointment – have an astringent (contracting) effect, which ensures that smaller vessels close. Sitz baths with oak bark also help. The tannins in oak bark have an anti-itch, mild anti-inflammatory and astringent effect. For hemorrhoids, diverticulosis, ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease – all possible causes of bleeding from the lower digestive tract – a high-fiber diet and exercise are effective. When stools become softer, less pressure builds up in the intestines.Causes of blood from the upper digestive tract, are usually inflammatory processes in the stomach or esophagus. In acute cases of gastritis, a light diet is sufficient. Plenty of fluids and avoidance of substances that irritate the mucous membrane of the stomach – coffee, alcohol and carbonated drinks – are beneficial. Antacids are effective against gastric ulcers. Coffee and tobacco should also be avoided in the case of gastric ulcers. A proven home remedy is cabbage juice in raw food quality, available e.g. in health food stores. Stress reduction and relaxation exercises also help with stomach ulcers. Proton pump inhibitors, which reduce acid production in the stomach, are prescribed for esophagitis. Healing clay and alkaline powders are naturopathic recommendations.
