You have signs of blood in your stool. This is called rectal bleeding. The bleeding may have begun in another part of your gastrointestinal (GI) tract. If the blood is bright red, it's likely coming from the lower part of the GI tract. If the blood is black or dark, it might be coming from higher up in the GI tract. Very small amounts of GI bleeding may not be visible and can only be discovered during a test on your stool. Possible causes of lower GI bleeding include:
- Swollen inflamed veins in the rectum (hemorrhoids)
- Tear in the lining of the anus (anal fissures)
- Bleeding from a blood vessel in a small pouch in the large intestine (diverticular bleeding)
- Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis)
- Polyps (growths) in the intestine
- Swelling and irritation of the colon (infectious colitis or other types of colitis)
- Colon cancer
Note: Iron supplements and medicines for diarrhea or upset stomach can cause black stools. Foods, such as licorice and red beets, can also discolor the stool and be mistaken for bleeding. These are not bleeding and are not a cause for alarm.
Home care
You have not lost a large amount of blood and your condition appears stable at this time. You may resume normal activity as long as you feel well.
Don't take NSAIDs, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen. They can irritate the stomach and cause further bleeding. If you are taking these medicines for other medical reasons, talk to your doctor before you stop them.
Follow-up care
Follow up with your doctor, or as advised. Further tests may be needed to find the cause of your bleeding.
When to contact your doctor
Contact your doctor right away if any of the following occur:
- Rectal bleeding
- Increasing belly (abdominal) pain
- Weakness, dizziness
- Current symptoms get worse, or you have new symptoms
Call 911
Call
- Loss of consciousness
- Vomiting blood
- Large amount of rectal bleeding
