What is rectal bleeding?

Rectal bleeding is a symptom of conditions such as hemorrhoids, anal fissures, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), ulcers, and colorectal cancer. Usually, you notice rectal bleeding on the toilet paper, in the toilet bowl, or in your stool. The colors of the blood can be different, ranging from bright red to dark red to black.

The color of the blood you see can also indicate where the bleeding may be coming from. Light red blood usually means bleeding in the colon or rectum, dark red or maroon blood could mean you're bleeding in your colon or small intestine, and darker blood often indicates bleeding in the stomach, such as bleeding from an ulcer.

Sometimes, rectal bleeding is not visible to the naked eye and can only be seen through a microscope. This type of bleeding is usually found during a laboratory test of a stool sample.

Is rectal bleeding dangerous?

In some cases, rectal bleeding can be a minor symptom of an easily treatable condition. Hemorrhoids, for example, which does not last long. However, rectal bleeding can sometimes be a sign of a serious underlying condition such as colorectal cancer.

How does rectal bleeding appear?

You may see or experience rectal bleeding in a number of different ways, including:

-Seeing blood on the toilet paper.

-Seeing blood in the toilet bowl while using the bathroom.

-Noticing dark red or black stools during bowel movements.

What are the symptoms of rectal bleeding?

Symptoms of rectal bleeding can vary depending on what is causing the bleeding. Some of the symptoms you may experience with rectal bleeding include:

-Feeling pain and/or pressure in the rectum.

-Seeing bright red blood in the stool, underwear, toilet paper, or in the toilet.

-Having red, maroon, or black stools.

-The presence of tar-like stools.

-Suffering from mental confusion.

-Dizziness.

-Fainting.

In some very severe cases, rectal bleeding can lead to shock. If you experience any symptoms of shock, seek immediate medical attention. 

Oftentimes, blood can make your stool look very dark and almost black. Food like black licorice, beets, dark berries (blueberries, blackberries) and red gelatin can also make your stool look very dark. This can easily be confused with blood in the stool. If you notice very dark stools during a bowel movement, think about what you've eaten recently. There is a possibility that what you ate is the cause of the usually dark stool.

Can straining too much to have a bowel movement cause rectal bleeding?

Severe straining during a bowel movement can cause rectal bleeding. This is often associated with constipation. When you strain, it can cause conditions such as hemorrhoids or anal fissures. Very hard stools can tear the skin around the anus, leading to blooding. Treating constipation can help prevent this from happening.

At Hemocure, we have provided the latest diagnostic and treatment technologies to provide an integrated medical service to the patient.