There is Blood in My Stool - Is That Normal?

By Mary Bodel

Blood in the stool can be bright red and highly noticeable, but it can be anywhere from that red to a deep maroon. This means that somewhere in the last few inches of your large intestine, something is bleeding. If the bleeding occurs in the stomach or small intestine, it is likely to be black, tarry and/or resemble coffee grounds.

While many of the most common reasons for bloody stools are relatively minor, some are life threatening. If you see evidence for blood, you should always talk to your doctor about it. Catching problems early often makes them easier to treat.

Constipation: This problem can be caused by a variety of reasons. Lack of proper hydration is a leading cause, but IBS, certain medications and lack of fiber are the most usual. When this happens, it can form extremely hard stool and it is often painful to eliminate. The hardness of it can cause tiny tears in the tissue, which bleed.

For this problem, your doctor may suggest two things. One is a stool softener and the other is fiber. If bulk fiber is chosen, here are a couple of tips. Don't take any medication at the same time as the fiber. Don't take anything with licorice root in it, either. That combo can cause an interaction. Make sure you drink a lot of water and follow all package instructions.

Hemorrhoids: While this is considered a very embarrassing subject to discuss, it's a very common problem. It involves swelling of the veins in your lower intestines and anus. They itch, they burn...and they can bleed. There are many causes of this problem, the two most frequent are straining when eliminating and pregnancy. The good news is they can usually be treated at home. There's bad news as well. You may have to do some lifestyle changes to prevent a recurrence.

Some hemorrhoids require a doctor's care to get rid of them. However, if the situation is minor, you can take care of it at home. Good hygiene in the region is important. You may want to get moist toilettes instead of toilet paper. Regular bathing in warm water can help relieve the pain, and you can use over the counter pain relievers to ease they symptoms.

Witch hazel and other topical treatments may be useful. Like any other swelling, they respond well to ice packs, though I recommend throw aways in this instance.

Cancer: One of the biggest fears when dealing with bloody stools is cancer. Both anal and colon cancer can cause bleeding in this manner, though they often have other symptoms. This is why it's important to see your doctor if you have this symptom.

All of the reasons for these cancers aren't known, but a few risk factors are known. If you have a family history of these cancers, you are more likely to develop them. Precancerous growths are another problem that can develop. If that is detected before they turn cancerous, you may be able to avoid the problem.

While there are many other reasons for this problem, these are some of the most common. As you can see, it's not necessary to panic should you have this problem, it is necessary to find out the cause.

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