Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Bloody bowel movements (BAB) is a condition in which the stool contains blood. The blood that appears is usually bright red, but sometimes it can also be dark. Check out an explanation of the causes to how to treat it in the following review.

What is Bloody CHAPTER?

Bloody bowel movements do not always indicate a dangerous condition. The color of the blood usually determines in the digestive tract which part of the bleeding occurs.

The following blood colors may appear:

• Bright red blood indicates bleeding in the lower digestive tract such as the colon or rectum.
• Dark red blood indicates bleeding in the small intestine or the beginning of the large intestine.
• Black stools can indicate bleeding in the stomach or the upper part of the small intestine (stomach or esophagus).

Apart from bleeding in the upper digestive tract, sometimes consuming certain foods can also make the stool black.

Therefore, further examination is needed and look at other symptoms to determine the cause.

Also Read: Frequent Defecation Can Lose Weight, Really?

Symptoms of Bloody Chapters

Bloody defecation itself can be referred to as a symptom of the disease. The appearance of blood in the stool can also be accompanied by other symptoms, depending on the underlying condition.

If you experience bloody bowel movements caused by bleeding in the lower digestive tract (hematochezia), then you may experience:

• Change in the frequency of bowel movements.
• Weight loss.
• Fever.
• Diarrhea.
• Stomach ache.

Meanwhile, if you experience bleeding in the upper digestive tract, you may experience bloody bowel movements accompanied by symptoms, such as:

• Stool is dark in color, with a soft, sticky texture.
• Bloody or coffee-colored vomit.

When is the Right Time to See a Doctor?

As previously mentioned, bloody bowel movements generally indicate a dangerous disease. However, there are some conditions where you need to be vigilant and may need immediate medical treatment.

Immediately consult a doctor if you also experience the following symptoms:

• Cold and clammy skin.
• Confusion.
• Persistent bleeding.
• Very intense abdominal pain.
• Quick breath.
• Faint.
• The eyelids look pale.
• Vomit mixed with blood.

Causes of Bloody Chapters

Why do bloody stools come out? Basically, many underlying conditions can range from mild to serious medical conditions. Here are some conditions that can cause this:

• Hemorrhoids. Swelling of the veins in the rectum or anus. This condition can be accompanied by pain, itching, and bleeding from the anus.
• Anal fissure. There is a tear in the lining of the anus which causes pain during bowel movements. This condition is generally characterized by large and hard stool sizes.
• Anal fistula. An abnormal hole or sac is formed between two adjacent organs, either between the anus and the rectum or the anus and the skin. Apart from bloody stools, there is also white liquid during bowel movements.
• Colon polyp. Benign abnormal tissue growth in the rectum or colon area.
• Colon cancer. Approximately 48% of colon cancer patients experience bloody bowel movements.
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). This autoimmune disease can cause inflammation and damage the intestines.
• Gastroenteritis. Pain in the stomach and intestines caused by viruses, bacteria, or parasites can cause bloody diarrhea.
• Angiodysplasia. Abnormalities of blood vessels in the digestive tract can cause blood vessels to be damaged and brittle, causing bloody bowel movements.
• Divetricular disease. The formation of pouches in the lower intestine can cause abdominal pain and stools that contain blood.
• Ischemic colitis or intestinal stroke. Blood flow to the large intestine is obstructed or cut off. This condition is characterized by stools containing blood.

Risk Factors

There are several factors that can increase a person’s risk of experiencing rectal bleeding, including:

• Cirrhosis. Liver disease that causes the size of the liver to shrink, can cause engorgement of blood vessels and bleeding of esophageal varices.
• Excessive alcohol consumption. This behavior can cause fatty liver and cirrhosis, alcohol also causes thinning of the gastric mucosa which can cause gastric bleeding.
• Hepatitis B can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer.
• Constipation or constipation. This condition can cause hard stools and then cause sores in the rectum or hemorrhoids / hemorrhoids.
• Family history. Someone who has a family history of ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease has an increased risk of developing the same condition.
• Age factor. Someone with an older age has a higher potential for stomach bleeding.
• Long term blood thinning medication such as aspirin and warfarin can cause gastrointestinal bleeding. NSAID painkillers such as ibuprofen, piroxicam, meloxicam, diclofenac, and corticosteroids such as dexamethasone, prednisone, methylprednisolone can also cause stomach bleeding.

Diagnosis of bloody chapters

Examination to diagnose this condition can begin with anamnesis which is then followed by a physical examination and other tests if needed.

1. Anamnesis

The doctor will ask about your symptoms and your overall medical history. Here are some questions you might be asked:

• When did you first notice bleeding?
• What other symptoms are experienced?
• What color is blood?

2. Physical Examination

Next the doctor will do a physical examination, which is to look at the area that is bleeding. Some of the checks that can be done include:

• Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). Insert a tube equipped with a camera to view the bleeding stomach and duodenum. At this time a biopsy or tissue sampling can also be done.
• Colonoscopy. Inserting a camera-equipped instrument through the rectum to view part of the colon and look for the source of bleeding.
• Enteroscopy. The same procedure as the EGD and colonoscopy is done to view the small intestine.
• Barium enemas. This examination involves a contrast material in the form of barium to make X-ray photos of the digestive tract clearer.
• Angiography. Injecting a special dye into the veins to make the veins visible on a CT scan.
• Laparotomy. Surgery by opening the abdomen to see the cause of bleeding.

3. Other Tests

The doctor can also suggest other tests such as a complete blood test or complete blood count (CBC) to find out how much blood you are losing. Examinations such as imaging tests to biopsies may also be recommended if the doctor suspects a more serious disease such as cancer.

Treatment of bloody chapters

What to do if bowel movements are bloody? How to overcome of course must be adjusted to the cause. Treatment can be done at home independently to medical treatment.

Home Care

Some causes of this condition, such as hemorrhoids and anal fissures, can sometimes heal on their own and do not require medical treatment. Home treatment can help to deal with the symptoms you are experiencing.

You can take a warm bath to relieve the discomfort from hemorrhoids. Over-the-counter creams at pharmacies can also usually help reduce irritation.

Medical treatment

Here are some possible ways to deal with bloody bowel movements:

• Doctors can prescribe stool softeners to treat constipation and help anal fissures heal.
• Surgery to treat hemorrhoids that continue to cause bleeding.
• The doctor will prescribe antibiotics if this condition is caused by a bacterial/amoeba infection.
• Treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy can be used to treat cancer and reduce the risk of cancer recurrence.
• Endoscopy in case of bleeding esophageal varices.

Also Read: 10 Characteristics of Healthy Digestion and Working Well

Bloody CHAPTER complications

If it continues and is not treated, this condition can also cause complications such as:

• Anemia.
• Diffuse cancer (if the cause is cancer).
• Spreading infection.
• Shock.
• Encephalopathy (brain poisoning).

Prevention of Bloody Chapters

Here are some things that can be applied to reduce the risk of bloody bowel movements, including:

• Consumption of high fiber foods.
• Exercise regularly.
• Keep the rectum clean.
• Maintain body fluid intake.
• Not consuming alcoholic beverages, preventing diabetes mellitus and obesity, because it can cause fatty liver and cirrhosis.
• Treating hepatitis B to completion.

Bloody bowel movements do not always indicate a dangerous condition, but if the symptoms you are experiencing do not go away and interfere with your daily activities, you should immediately consult your condition with a doctor. Hopefully this information is useful, Healthy Friends.

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