Although rectal bleeding is rarely a medical condition, rectal bleeding symptoms – diarrhea, constipation, hemorrhoids, anal fissures and ulcers – can be serious.
Bleeding from the rectum is a terrible but surprisingly common phenomenon. A person who bleeds from the rectum bleeds from the rectum or anus. Bleeding from the rectum usually refers to the bleeding from your lower intestine or rectum, which makes the last few inches of your large intestine. Excessive bleeding from the stomach, duodenum, or small intestine into the intestinal tract can also pass through the large intestine and is seen in the rectum.
Bleeding from the rectum can range in color from red to maroon to black or brown, and this color often indicates a source of bleeding. There may be blood in the stool or stool. Together with mucus in the stool. Or show up in your clothes and underwear, toilet paper, or toilet water.
Although rectal bleeding may be completely asymptomatic, the symptoms that can occur with normal rectum include stool pain, diarrhea, constipation, black stools, and mucus.
Symptoms of severe rectal bleeding include abdominal pain, bloating, or unintentional weight loss. Bleeding from the rectum can cause anemia symptoms, including mild skin rash, weakness, fainting, dizziness when standing up from a seat, fatigue, rapid pulse and fainting.
If you are bleeding from the rectum, the first thing to do is to try to identify the cause. The reason will determine any treatment for you. Treatment for rectal bleeding may include constipation, dietary changes, weight loss, or over-the-counter medications or supplements.
More modern treatments may include blood transfusions, prescription vitamin or iron supplements, and medications. Surgery may also be needed to treat the underlying cause of rectal bleeding.
Causes and Risk Factors of Rectal Bleeding
The most common causes of rectal bleeding are hemorrhoids, ulcers and sores.
Often called hemorrhoids, hemorrhoids are swollen veins that appear below the colon and outside the anus. Hemorrhoids are common, affecting about 75% of the American population throughout life. These are caused by excessive pressure, such as bowel movements, sitting on the toilet for long periods of time, or in women, pregnancy and childbirth. People who have persistent hemorrhoids are often constipated, overweight or obese, or eat a low-fiber diet.
Hemorrhoids can be itchy, painful and annoying, but they are rarely serious and often go away on their own. Losing weight, eating high-fiber foods, and taking over-the-counter treatments are usually helpful in treating the symptoms of hemorrhoids. People with severe or treatment-resistant hemorrhoids may be eligible for infrared coagulation (IRC), a laser treatment for outpatients.
A person who has abdominal pain, fatigue, and black stools with a burning sensation in the abdomen and intestines may have an ulcer, which is itching or rubbing in the lining of the abdomen. The two most common causes of ulcers are bacterial infections Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin or ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin).
Another cause of rectal discharge is small tears in the anus and anal canal, usually caused by pressure from hard stools. They can usually be treated with constipation and moisturizers, which soothe the area around the anus. Anal abscesses rarely require treatment or surgery.
Less common causes of rectal bleeding include intestinal polyps, diverticulosis, proctitis, colon cancer, and inflammatory bowel disease.
Intestinal polyps are large tissue tissues that rupture through the intestinal wall, sometimes causing minor bleeding. Proctitis is an inflammation of the lining of the rectum. If you have proctitis, you may have a constant feeling of pain in the rectum and bowel movements.
Bowel cancer is the most serious cause of rectal bleeding. According to the American Cancer Society, Canon is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women and the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men, although early detection is reducing mortality. Anal cancer, which is less common than bowel cancer, can also cause rectal bleeding.
People with a higher risk of colorectal cancer should be screened regularly, primarily for colonoscopy. Bowel cancer should be diagnosed and treated by gastroenterologists and colorectal or general surgeons.
People with bowel disease, such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, may have rectal bleeding and an increased risk of related symptoms, such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, ulcers, and colorectal cancer.
When Should you see a Doctor about Rectal Bleeding?
Mild rectal bleeding or spotting due to constipation or hemorrhoids in people under the age of forty. However, if your rectal bleeding is persistent or heavy, or you feel faint or nauseous with it, see a doctor or go to the emergency room right away.