Bright Red Blood in stool can be frightening. Whether you discover it while wiping after a bowel movement or from a test ordered by your health care provider. Sometimes, blood in your stool is not a big problem, but you should still tell your regular doctor about it.
Bloody stool is a sign that there is bleeding somewhere along the digestive tract. When rectal bleeding occurs, the blood can range in color from bright red to maroon, and it can even appear tarry and black.
Dark blood is an indication that bleeding is occurring higher up in the digestive tract. Not all rectal bleeding is visible to the eye.
At times, rectal bleeding can only be seen through a microscope. Do you suffer from painless rectal bleeding or prolapse of anal tissue? If so, this can be associated with symptomatic internal hemorrhoids and anal fissures. Inflammatory bowel disease is a term used to describe two conditions, Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis. In some cases, IBD can lead to serious, life-threatening complications. Always have a doctor evaluate any bleeding in the stool.
Any details you can give about the bleeding will help your doctor locate the site of the bleeding. For example, a black, tarry stool is likely an ulcer or other problem in the upper part of the digestive tract. Bright red blood or maroon-colored stools usually indicate a problem in the lower part of the digestive tract. This may include hemorrhoids or diverticulitis. After getting a medical history and doing a physical exam, the healthcare provider may order additional tests.
