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Is Blood In My Stool Today A Cause For Concern?
Question: I'm a healthy 60 year old male, noticed blood in my stool today, what's up?
Brief Answer:
Thoughts on this
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
Blood in the stool can be from anywhere in the gastrointestinal tract. I'll assume it is your only symptom (i.e. no abdominal pain, nausea, etc) as you write that you are healthy.
If the blood is on the surface of the stool, on the toilet paper, the most common reasons are from anorectal irritation from a hard or large stool or an anal fissure or an irritated hemorrhoid. Treatment is increased fiber and water or stool softeners, and sitz baths. Usually this type of bleeding is just a small amount.
If blood is mixed into the stool, then it is coming from higher up in the colon, possibly from a polyp or other growth.
If the stool is black and tarry looking, it is bleeding from the stomach or esophagus, as the acid in the stomach changes it to this appearance. But ulcers with a brisk bleed can produce bright red blood in the stool.
Diverticulitis and inflammatory bowel diseases can cause bleeding too, but usually there are other symptoms such as pain or diarrhea.
If:
-the amount of blood was small, and
-you know for sure that you have rectal irritation, hemorrhoids, or you had a hard BM, and
- you are up to date on colon screening (colonoscopy)
then you can use stool softener, increased water drinking, and sitz baths.
Otherwise, I recommend that you go in to see your doctor who may want to have you get a colonoscopy.
Thoughts on this
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
Blood in the stool can be from anywhere in the gastrointestinal tract. I'll assume it is your only symptom (i.e. no abdominal pain, nausea, etc) as you write that you are healthy.
If the blood is on the surface of the stool, on the toilet paper, the most common reasons are from anorectal irritation from a hard or large stool or an anal fissure or an irritated hemorrhoid. Treatment is increased fiber and water or stool softeners, and sitz baths. Usually this type of bleeding is just a small amount.
If blood is mixed into the stool, then it is coming from higher up in the colon, possibly from a polyp or other growth.
If the stool is black and tarry looking, it is bleeding from the stomach or esophagus, as the acid in the stomach changes it to this appearance. But ulcers with a brisk bleed can produce bright red blood in the stool.
Diverticulitis and inflammatory bowel diseases can cause bleeding too, but usually there are other symptoms such as pain or diarrhea.
If:
-the amount of blood was small, and
-you know for sure that you have rectal irritation, hemorrhoids, or you had a hard BM, and
- you are up to date on colon screening (colonoscopy)
then you can use stool softener, increased water drinking, and sitz baths.
Otherwise, I recommend that you go in to see your doctor who may want to have you get a colonoscopy.
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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