February 8, 2010
Blood in stool is often discovered with some fear, accompanied suitably by exclamations of bloody (the adjective, not the expletive). Scarlet red dots of blood cover the excrement. Maroon red blood besmirches the toilet tissue. Down the legs and into the toilet bowl trickles bright red spots of blood. A sudden pang of perplexity causes our hearts to skip a beat or two.
But really, there is no reason to panic as the rectal hemorrhaging or bleeding could be ascribed to any number of 7 possible reasons originating in the colon. Disturbing they will be but the majority of the 7 causes are treatable with early detection and the right approach. Do not be complacent. Start paying close attention. Visit your doctor without delay if bleeding, with pain, persists for over a week.
Appropriate treatment can be rendered to solve the problem once skillful diagnosis establishes the exact cause. More overwhelmingly, blood in stool may be find its root cause in some type of cancer.
Hematochezia or Melena
Whilst usually known as rectal bleeding, medically it is identified as hematochezia (bright red or maroon colored blood) or melena (black sticky or tarry stools). Though so called because the blood exits the body via the rectum, the 7 causes may begin in the small or large (colon) intestinal tract. In the colon, the 7 known causes are cancer, colon polyps, diverticulosis, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, intestinal ischaemia and peptic ulcer.
Colorectal Cancer
640,000 people internationally die annually from colorectal cancer, making it the 3rd most frequent cause of of cancer-related death. For this very reason one must see a medical professional for persisting blood in stool.
Malignant growths in the colon, appendix and rectum are classified as colorectal cancer. Surgical excision and chemotherapy are standard treatment for colorectal cancer which is chiefly spotted by colonoscopy (visual inspection by micro-camera introduced via the anus. Complete healing is possible with early detection. Higher risk groups comprise those over 50 years of age and those with family history of cancers. Among the top killer cancers, colorectal cancer distresses both women and men indifferently..
Another vital piece of information needs to be highlighted. Contrary to popular internet literature, colorectal cancer commonly results in occult (not visible to the naked eye) blood in feces i.e it is NOT a frequent reason for visible blood in stool! Bleeding produced by colorectal cancer may be visible or occult (imperceptible to the naked eye), needing special tests for detection; this based on work done by the University of Michigan Health System. Diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, weight loss, appetite loss and incessant fatigue are attendant symptoms to watch out for.
Colon Polyp
Mostly benign, polyps are raised or flat growths on the intestinal or rectum wall. They are likely to appear in those above 50 years of age and those with a family history of polyps and colorectal cancer. Smoking, alcohol, obesity and lack of exercise are contributory causal factors. In truth, the actual cause is unknown.
For safety sake, benign polyps are typically removed during colonoscopy as they may become malignant. The majority of with polyps demonstrate few or no symptoms at all|Symptoms may not be exhibited at all in many who have polyps|Polyps do not usually cause conspicuous symptoms. But in others, blood in stool occurs.
Diverticulosis
Diverticulosis causes pouches (diverticula) to stretch out of the colon wall. The reasons behind diverticula, whilst unknown, are presumed to be primarily abnormal colon pressure. Deprivation of dietary fiber is believed to be a contributory factor. If food gets trapped in diverticula, infection may set in resulting in diverticulitis. Further damage can occur if the infected diverticulum ruptures to release bacteria to the abdominal lining. Peritonitis, which is potentially fatal, can develop.
Symptoms, if at all, are seldom observable. Constipation, bloating and mild cramps are some experienced symptoms. Rectal bleeding, nausea and vomiting are the more acute symptoms. The dangers posed by peritonitis reaffirm the view that blood in stool should first be examined by a doctor. Diverticulitis can be effectively diagnosed with a CT (computed tomography) scan.
Ulcerative Colitis
Colitis falls under the classification of IBD or inflammatory bowel disease. Inflammation in itself is a normal reaction of the human body to heal itself in the event of an injury to its tissue. Tissue remedied by the inflammation process can also be wounded by it if the process becomes unchecked. Ulcers cause colitis in the colon by eroding the mucous membrane lining.
Apart from other symptoms, blood in stool is common. The dire prospect of peritonitis from colitis is the key reason for confirming it as the cause of rectal bleeding.
Crohn’s Disease
Crohn’s disease is an auto-immune disease whereby the body’s immune system provokes harmful inflammation by turning on the gastrointestinal tract. The whole gastrointestinal tract, from the mouth to the anus, is susceptible to Crohn’s disease. However, the large intestine (colon) and small intestine, are the main sites~But it typically affects the small and large intestine (colon)~The small and large intestine (colon), however, are the primary afflicted areas.
Absolute causes are not known but it is believed to be due to one or all of several factors including industrial environmental exposure, genetic makeup and smoking. The symptoms are blood in stool, serious bloody diarrhea, blood in toilet bowl or on toilet tissue, fever and weight loss.
Occasionally reappearances throughout life or permanent remission both characterize Crohn’s disease, also commonly described as granulomatous colitis. Currently, there is no known surgical or pharmaceutical solution for Crohn’s disease. Early diagnosis is vital for effective management of the symptoms and inhibiting relapses.
Intestinal Ischemia
The suppression of blood supply to any part of the body is described as ischemia. Usually due to dysfunctional arteries, it leads to tissue damage from denial of oxygen and nutrients. Causing inflammation of the large intestines, intestinal ischemia is a inadequacy blood supply that is a consequence of blood vessel constriction, blood clots and high blood pressure.
Symptoms include blood in stool, urgent and violent bowel movements, weight loss, nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain and cramps, abdominal bloating and fever. The restoration of intestinal blood supply is a medical emergency if there is continual pain. It may be unavoidable to surgically circumvent blocked blood vessels and remove blood clots and injured tissue. To counteract clots and infections, respective medication includes anticoagulants and antibiotics.
Peptic Ulcer
An immensely painful ulcer, this is found in the gastrointestinal tract. An ulcer is an deterioration of the mucosal membrane that is at least 0.5cm in diameter. Frequently mistaken to occur in the stomach, peptic ulcers are actually prevalent in the duodenum (initial part of the small intestine). The primary cause is postulated to be a bacterium that causes chronic gastritis that develops into ulcer formation.
Symptoms include blood in stool (melena), abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, appetite and weight loss, vomiting of blood and at the extreme, perforation of the intestine. Potentially deadly peritonitis, which needs emergency surgery, can manifest. Treatment of milder cases includes antibiotics to resist the bacteria and antacids to moderate the acidity.
Hemorrhoids
Rectal bleeding may result from any of the above 7 causes and only precise diagnosis by a doctor can pinpoint the exact one, if any. Correct treatment and medication, possibly including surgery, can accelerate the path to recovery.
After reading this far, it will certainly be an immense relief to know that the most common cause of blood in stool is simply hemorrhoids, both external and internal.
Further Reading
If you are interested in finding more about this topic, we have a related post on Bowel Movement Bleeding - Six Possible Causes Of Rectal Bleeding at our site. Do check this out.