Havingred stool(poop) is not always a reason to worry. Sometimes, your poop is red because you've had red or orange foods. However, if you can’t trace the color back to something you’ve eaten, don't ignore it. It may be bloody stool, known as hematochezia.
If there is bright blood in your stool, it's likely coming from the lower gastrointestinal tract, such as the colon (large intestine). Darker blood may be caused by problems with theesophagus, stomach, orsmall intestine. The most common causes of bloody stool include:
- Hemorrhoids
- Anal fissures
- Constipation
- Diverticular bleeding
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
- Medications
If a more serious condition like colon cancer is the cause of red poop, the other symptoms can include rectal pain, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, unexplained weight loss, andanemia.
This article covers the reasons why your poop might be red and when you should see a provider for red-colored stool.
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Red Foods
If your stool is red because of some food that you recently ate, you may just notice the color with no other symptoms. In this case, you do not have blood in your stool. Your stool is red because of the dye or natural color of the food you ate.
Check food labels carefully because even foods that don't look red may have artificial dyes in them that could color your stool.
One way to tell the difference between blood in your stool and red coloring from food is that you'll notice the color change after eating or drinking something specific, and it won't last long. You also won't see it at other times when you haven't had anything red to eat or drink.
Some of the foods that can cause red poop include:
- Red gelatin, popsicles, Gatorade, or Kool-Aid
- Tomato juice or soup
- Large amounts of beets
- Anything colored with red food coloring (red #40)
If your stool is discolored from a food's natural color or an artificial dye, you probably won't have any other symptoms that could suggest a GI problem, like abdominal pain or fever. However, if you have these symptoms along with red-colored stool, they could be signs of something more serious going on with your gut.
If you have not eaten redor other brightly-colored foods recently and have red stools, contact a healthcare provider right away to get it checked out. This is especially true when you've had more than one red stool but you've had nothing red in your diet.
Hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids are a common cause of bright red blood in the stool or on toilet paper. A hemorrhoid is a form ofvaricose vein.You may have rectal pain, especially during or after going to the bathroom. You may also notice anal lumps, swelling, and constipation. You may just see some red blood on the toilet paper after wiping if you have hemorrhoids.
Hemorrhoids can often be managed by increasing fluids and fiber in your diet (either with foods or a fiber supplement). This can keep stool soft and ease constipation, which allows fissures or hemorrhoids to heal.
Anal Injuries or Conditions
There are some conditions or injuries that can affect the anus and may lead to bleeding.
- An anal fissureis a tear or ulcer (sore) in the lining of the anal canal (the last part of the rectum before the anus). Anybody can get an anal fissure but they’re more common in middle-aged people and infants. They can be caused by constipation with straining and childbirth.
- Proctitis is inflammation of the lining of the rectum. It can be an acute or long-term (chronic) health problem. Some people with inflammatory bowel disease get proctitis, and it can also be caused by radiation treatment.
- Anorectal abscess is a pocket of pus around the anus. It can be caused by things like infections, trauma, blocked glands, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
With these conditions, you will likely have pain in and around the anus. You may see blood on the toilet paper when you wipe as well as drops of blood in the toilet. If you have an infection, you may also have a discharge (pus) from your anus.
To treat infections and inflammation, you may need medications like anti-inflammatories, steroids, and/or antibiotics. An anorectal abscess may need to be drained by a provider.
Constipation
Straining from constipation can lead to hemorrhoids and torn tissue that may bleed. If you have chronic constipation, the stress of consistently passing hard stools can irritate the rectum and anus. You may notice blood when you wipe or in the toilet after you've had a bowel movement, particularly if it was difficult to pass.
If you have constipation, talk to your provider about how to treat it. They'll probably have you start by slowly increasing your intake of fiber-rich foods like whole grains and possibly taking a supplement. If you need a little more help, they might recommend you try over-the-counter (OTC) products like Miralax. For chronic constipation that hasn't gotten better with these strategies, your provider might recommend a prescription medication.
Diverticular Bleeding
A diverticulum is a small pouch in the colon that bulges out of a weak spot in the colon wall. Havingdiverticula in the colonis called diverticulosis. It's not understood what causes the condition, but researchers think that age and genetics play a role.
Diverticulosis affects about 10%percent of Americans over the age of 40, and about half will have the condition by they are 60 years old.
You may not have symptoms of diverticulosis. It's not common, but diverticulosis can cause bloody stools. However, the bleeding does not usually need treatment unless it's continuous or severe.
If you have diverticulosis, you may have abdominal pain (usually on the left side) and a fever. This condition needs to be treated, often with medication to help with inflammation or infection, and a special diet (often a liquid diet) to let your GI tract rest. If it's severe, diverticulosis may require a hospital stay.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Ulcerative colitisandCrohn's diseaseare incurable chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Together, they are known asinflammatory bowel disease (IBD). IBD has active periods ("flares") that can cause hematochezia.
It's not known what causes IBD, but it's thought to be linked to an overactive and problematic immune system response. Genetics also appear to play a role in these conditions.
If you have bloody stools caused by IBD, a healthcare provider may recommend diet changes and anti-inflammatory medications to control inflammation. In rare cases,surgeryis needed to repair or remove parts of the gastrointestinal tract and relieve IBD symptoms.
Colon Polyps or Cancer
A less common cause of blood in the stool is a colon polyp. Sometimes, a polyp can bleed and lead to blood in the stool. Although rare,colon cancerscan develop from polyps.
If a colon polyp or cancer is the cause of hematochezia, the growth will need to be removed during a colonoscopy or other surgery.
Medications
Certain medications may make you more likely to have bleeding issues which could show up in your stool, depending on where the bleeding is.
For example, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)increase the risk of stomach ulcers that can cause stomach bleeding that leads to hematochezia. Corticosteroidshave also been linked with an increased risk of stomach bleeding that may show up as hematochezia.
These side effects are more common in those over the age of 60, especially when the medications are used for 14 days or more.
Never stop taking a medication your provider has prescribed for you without talking to them first. If you think you're constipated from one of your medications, tell your provider. They might have you try reducing your dose or suggest switching to a different drug.
Don't Ignore Your Symptoms of Gastrointestinal Bleeding
When to See a Healthcare Provider
If you notice blood in your stool, on toilet tissue, or in your clothing, see your healthcare provider as soon as you can.Even though most cases of hematochezia are not caused by serious conditions, you won’t know what the cause is until you see a provider.
Seek immediate medical attention if you have bloody stool along with fatigue, fever, and/or vomiting. You also should not wait to get care if you have frequent and/or excessive amounts of blood in your stool.
Diagnosis
Before your healthcare provider can make a diagnosis and offer treatment, they will need to figure out the location and causeof the bleeding. They will first ask you questions about your symptoms and medical history.
First, they’ll ask you questions about your symptoms and medical history. For example, if you’ve had changes in bowel habits (like constipation or diarrhea). They will also want to know the location of any pain you’ve been having.
Next, your provider will do arectal exam. During the exam, they will insert a gloved, lubricated finger into the anus. It’s a useful test that’s over quickly and won’t hurt.
Your provider may recommend/perform one of these tests to figure out why you have bloody stool:
- Afecal occult blood test(FOBT) checks for blood in the stool. You will have to collect a stool sample at home and drop it off at a healthcare provider's office or a laboratory.
- Blood testsmeasure substances in the blood to see if your immune system is working correctly. They can also diagnose or monitor certain diseases and conditions.
- Acolonoscopylooks at the inside of the rectum and colon using a small scope (endoscope). This test is used to look for colon polyps and cancer.
- Asigmoidoscopylooks at the lower part of your colon (sigmoid colon). It's less invasive than a colonoscopy, as it only checks the lower third of the colon (a colonoscopy looks at the entire colon).
- Agastroscopy(esophagogastroduodenoscopy), uses an endoscope to check the upper gastrointestinal tract, from the mouth to the stomach. This test looks for abnormalities such as ulcers, cancer, infection, and bleeding.
- Astool culturechecks stool to see if pathogens such as bacteria could be causing an infection. Similar to FOBT, it requires you to collect a stool sample at home and drop it off at a healthcare provider's office or a laboratory.
- Abarium swallow(esophagogram) is a test that looks for abnormalities in theupper gastrointestinaltract using X-rays. Before taking the images, you will drink a liquid containing barium sulfate, which outlines the walls of the esophagus and upper gastrointestinal tract, making it easier to see in the pictures.
Summary
Red-colored stools can be caused by foods you eat or bleeding somewhere in your gastrointestinal tract.When red stools are caused by blood, it can be from a fairly simple cause like hemorrhoids or anal fissures. However, it can be a warning sign for conditions like colon polyps or cancer.
Blood in the stool is never normal, but it’s not always a sign of something serious. You should see your provider if you are noticing red stools and are not sure what’s causing it.If you have severe pain, a lot of bleeding, or vomiting along with the blood in your stool, get medical attention right away.
