For many people, it happens from time to time that blood on the anus leaves traces on the toilet paper after defecation. Sometimes this is accompanied by unpleasant pain. There are several causes for these symptoms.
What is blood on the anus?
The causes of blood on the anus can be many. The most common cause is hemorrhoids. During or after defecation, blood on the anus is a common but taboo occurrence as we age. The rectal mucosa of the anus is surrounded by a ring-shaped network of blood vessels. This vascular cushion ensures that the closure of the anus functions. Without this vascular cushion, fecal continence (opposite: fecal incontinence) would not be possible. If changes in the blood vessels occur in the anal area, such as enlargement or displacement of the blood vessels, this is commonly referred to as hemorrhoids or hemorrhoidal disease. The term hemorrhoid is derived from the two ancient Greek words for blood “haima” and for flow “rhein”. Depending on the severity of the hemorrhoidal condition, it is referred to as first, second, third or fourth degree hemorrhoids. Blood at the anus can also have other causes. For example, it can also come from thrombosis or varicose veins in the area of the anus.
Causes
The causes of blood at the anus can be varied. The most common cause is hemorrhoids. In this case, the muscular structure and elasticity in the anal area change, so that blood vessels shift towards the anus. This is often also accompanied by an enlargement of the vessels. Damage to the vessel walls then occurs during defecation, or circulatory problems develop. The bleeding that occurs during defecation is a result of mechanical stress and is of arterial origin. This blood is therefore very bright. In other conditions that result in blood at the anus, the blood may be of venous origin. This blood is much darker in color. Causes for the development of hemorrhoids and the symptoms associated with them are, for example, a poor diet that leads to stools that are too hard. But it can also be that too violent pressing during defecation or even a family predisposition triggers the said problems.
Diseases with this symptom
- Anal prolapse
- Anal eczema
- Cancer of the rectum
- Hemorrhoids
- Weakness of the veins
- Crohn’s disease
- Intestinal polyps
- Anal carcinoma
- Thrombosis
- Phlebitis
- Ulcerative colitis
- Anal fissure
- Anal fistula
- Fecal incontinence
- Circulatory disorders
Diagnosis and course
Blood in the anus is manifested either by bloody traces after defecation on toilet paper or by traces of blood on the stool itself. Light blood originates from arteries leading away from the heart. Dark blood indicates a venous origin. Here, the blood is flowing toward the heart. Bleeding in hemorrhoidal disease is always accompanied by light blood. In anal thrombosis, for example, the blood is darker. The symptoms of anal disease are similar in many cases. The following complaints may occur: Blood at the anus, anal oozing, severe itching and stool smearing. In some cases, there is also unpleasant pain during and after defecation. First-degree hemorrhoids are barely visible externally. In second-degree hemorrhoids, lumps are visible externally during straining. Third- and fourth-degree symptoms are present when nodes no longer retract on their own.
Complications
Blood at the anus is usually the result of diverticula (bulges) and does not usually result in long-term complications. However, depending on the underlying condition, blood from the anus can lead to complications and promote secondary diseases in the intestinal area. For example, if the blood from the anus is underlying rectal cancer, there will inevitably be further discharge and sometimes severe pain in the abdomen. Further complications are physical discomfort, the spread of pathogens and, as a consequence, inflammation, anal fissures or hemorrhoids. If the source of bleeding is in the small intestine, blood on the anus is the first sign of further intestinal bleeding and other complications. Here, too, the actual bleeding primarily triggers complications such as anal fistulas, anal abscesses or ulcers, which sometimes also have a drastic effect on physical well-being.Early treatment of blood at the anus is therefore recommended. If the cause is not recognized and detected early, the probability of far-reaching complications and mentioned complaints is high. Blood at the anus, which is caused by diverticula mentioned at the beginning, is usually harmless. Although the discomfort can lead to complications similar to injuries to the intestine and anus, it has a natural cause. Nevertheless, in the case of blood at the anus, a doctor should be consulted in any case to be able to exclude serious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
When should you go to the doctor?
In order for the anus to close properly, there is a ring-shaped mesh full of blood vessels at its exit like a padded cuff. On the one hand, this vascular cushion very effectively prevents fecal incontinence, but on the other hand, it is very sensitive to injury. Even too hard a bowel movement can result in blood at the anus due to an injury. This is often due in part to the associated strong pressing during defecation. Another cause of blood at the anus are hemorrhoids, which form from enlarged or displaced blood vessels in the anal area and where damage to the blood vessel wall leads to blood at the anus. Hemorrhoids should be distinguished from common varicose veins in the anal area. In addition to these causes, blood at the anus may also be a symptom of anal fistula or anal carcinoma. If blood is discovered at the anus, which cannot be clearly attributed to hardened stool or another mechanical effect, a doctor should be consulted immediately. The first port of call here is best the family doctor. In addition to a thorough anamnesis, the color of the blood at the anus also gives him clues as to the cause of the symptom of blood at the anus: light arterial blood or dark venous blood. Specialists in the case of blood at the anus are general practitioners, proctologists, dermatologists, gynecologists, urologists and, if necessary, still surgeons.
Treatment and therapy
Treatment for blood in the anus depends on the particular cause. Since the cause can also be life-threatening diseases, such as colon cancer, an appropriate medical examination must absolutely take place. A colorectal cancer screening provides clarity here. General practitioners (family doctors), surgeons, dermatologists (dermatologists), gynecologists, urologists or proctologists are suitable for an appropriate consultation. Proctologists are specialists in diagnoses and treatments of the rectal area. Medications offered for the treatment of hemorrhoidal disease mainly relieve symptoms such as burning, pain or itching. However, this type of treatment does not have a causative curative effect. Some medications for internal use contain natural substances known as flavonoids. Ointments, creams and suppositories are intended to relieve the symptoms of acute symptoms by external local application. In the case of first- and second-degree hemorrhoids, outpatient surgery by a physician is usually sufficient. In this procedure, the first-degree nodules are held in place with a proctoscope and caused to shrink and die by injecting an appropriate substance. This treatment is repeated at approximately four to six week intervals and is relatively painless and uncomplicated. Another method is rubber band ligation, in which the second-degree nodes are covered with a rubber band and then die. More serious conditions require surgical procedures, which require the person being treated to be hospitalized for a few days.
Outlook and prognosis
Patients suffering from blood at the anus usually experience pain during defecation. This can be relatively uncomfortable and can limit the person’s daily life. The pain also causes less food to be consumed. In most cases, a disease in the intestine or stomach leads to the blood at the anus. In rare cases, cancer may also be responsible for the symptom. For this reason, a doctor should be consulted for this symptom, since blood at the anus cannot be treated by self-help. In many cases, ointments and suppositories are used, which are inserted into the anus and can treat the symptom in the process. Usually, if the treatment is successful, the symptom disappears after a few days and does not lead to further problems. In cases of severe inflammation, surgical procedures are used to find and remove the cause of the blood at the anus.After the procedure, the patient suffers from the surgical pain for a short time, but it disappears by itself.
Prevention
To prevent the progression of the disease or avoid its occurrence, a diet rich in fiber and adequate fluid intake are very important. This gives the stool more volume and makes it softer. Bowel emptying should take place without heavy pressing, if possible. Constipation promotes the formation of hemorrhoids. Sufficient exercise increases bowel activity in a completely natural way.
What you can do yourself
Since problems in the digestive tract often reflect a very unhealthy diet, there are very many ways to counteract them. In the case of bleeding at the anus, it is first recommended to check the eating habits. If, in addition to the bleeding, there is also excessively hard feces, an inadequate intake of fiber and water is very likely. So first try to control their problems by eating a balanced diet. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables and check how the change in diet affects the symptoms. Organic natural yogurts are also recommended to rehabilitate the intestinal flora. On the other hand, refrain from eating foods with a high sugar content, as these are only beneficial for an existing poor intestinal flora. Should these measures ensure softer bowel movements and thus less blood at the anus, the goal is already achieved by an independent change in diet. If this is not the case, there are other products that can help them with digestion: A spoonful of psyllium dissolved in water, apple spritzer or another drink has a very positive effect on bowel movements. A glass of concentrated prune juice can also stimulate digestion (be sure to check how much prune juice is tolerable for them). Medications such as Symbioflor or similar preparations can also help. However, if the bleeding at the anus is serious and severe, a visit to a proctologist or gastroenterologist is absolutely necessary. Here it may be an anal fissure or similar injuries, which can not be controlled by a mere change in diet.
