Bleeding chapter: symptoms, causes, treatment, etc.

Definition

What is bloody stools?

Bloody bowel movements (BAB) is a term to describe the presence of blood that comes out through the anus, either with feces or not. Blood generally comes from bleeding in the anus, rectum, or lower part of the large intestine.

Condition known as rectal bleeding this is not always indicated by the discharge of blood with feces. If you find blood on the toilet paper, or the water in the toilet is pink, this can also indicate bloody bowel movements.

Stool mixed with blood is often a cause for concern. However, this does not always indicate serious health problems. Most cases of bloody bowel movements are usually caused by constipation or hemorrhoids.

However, the cause of bleeding is not just hemorrhoids. Blood in the stool that you see during bowel movements can also be a sign of cancer of the ducts or one of the digestive organs, such as colon cancer.

You will need to undergo further tests to be able to distinguish bloody stools due to hemorrhoids from rectal bleeding due to other conditions. Consult your doctor so that you get the right treatment.

Symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of bloody bowel movements?

When you have bloody bowel movements, people usually don't realize it or experience any symptoms. However, there are also those who experience other symptoms such as:

gag,
lethargic body,
difficulty breathing,
stomach ache,
heart beat,
passed out,
diarrhea, and
lose weight.

The various symptoms above can be a clue for doctors to determine the cause of the appearance of blood during bowel movements. However, doctors sometimes need additional instructions regarding the patient's condition from the color of the stool.

The color of the stool produced by the patient is an important marker that indicates where bleeding is occurring. Quoted from the Cleveland Clinic, the following are differences in stool color that are often observed by doctors.

Fresh red stool color indicates that bleeding occurs in the lower part of the large intestine or rectum.
The color of the stool is dark red or maroon, indicating that bleeding has occurred in the upper part of the large intestine or the lower part of the small intestine.
Dark, tar-like stool (melena) indicates that bleeding has occurred in the stomach.

When should you go to the doctor?

Red or even black stool in stool does not always indicate bleeding in the digestive tract. You can experience this condition if you eat lots of red foods or iron supplements.

However, you should be vigilant if you experience bloody stools or stool discoloration accompanied by the following symptoms.

Drastic drop in blood pressure.
Increased heart rate.
Can't urinate
Confusion or loss of consciousness.

Cause

What are the causes of bloody bowel movements?

Bloody bowel movements are a sign that your digestive tract is in trouble. The following is a list of conditions that are most likely to cause it.

1. Hemorrhoids (hemorrhoids)

Hemorrhoids are the most common cause of bloody stools. This disease, also known as hemorrhoids, is caused by swelling and inflammation of the anal tissue due to the widening of the veins.

Lack of fiber intake, prolonged sitting habits, and not drinking enough water can also be the cause. These factors cause stool to harden and lead to constipation. As a result, the symptoms of hemorrhoids get worse during bowel movements.

2. Diverticulitis

Diverticulitis is inflammation of the small pouches that form in the lining of the intestine. Apart from bloody bowel movements, diverticulitis is also characterized by fever, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain that gets worse if not treated immediately.

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, this disease can be caused by genetic and lifestyle factors. This lifestyle is less fibrous food, smoking habits, and lack of exercise.

3. Anal fissure

Anal fissure is the formation of a tear in the anal skin. Usually the blood that comes out will be bright red, but you don't need to worry because the bleeding will quickly stop and heal on its own in just a few weeks.

You may also experience a feeling of needing to have a bowel movement even though your intestines are empty. The cause of this bloody bowel movement is usually chronic constipation that is not treated properly.

4. Colitis

Colitis is inflammation of the lining of the large intestine or rectum. Inflammation can be caused by bacterial and viral infections, autoimmune disorders, Crohn's disease, and obstruction of blood flow to the intestines.

Untreated colitis can lead to wound formation or ulcerative colitis. Although the cause of bloody stools cannot be cured, medications can relieve symptoms and reduce the risk of complications.

5. Angiodysplasia

Angiodysplasia is a common cause of bloody bowel movements in the elderly. This condition occurs due to aging and damage to the walls of the blood vessels around the intestines that become swollen.

Without proper treatment, angiodysplasia can lead to anemia or even death because the body lacks blood supply. Treatment for angiodysplasia usually requires the patient to be hospitalized and undergo a surgical process.

6. Gastric ulcers

Gastric ulcers are sores that form on the lining of the stomach or duodenum, which is the upper part of the small intestine which is also known as the duodenum. This condition can occur due to bacterial infection Helicobacter pylori.

In addition, stomach ulcers also occur in people who are taking long-term, high-dose anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen.

7. Colon polyps that turn into cancer

Polyps are benign tumors that grow on other tissues. In this case, polyps form in the intestine. Polyps in the intestine that are small usually do not cause any symptoms so they are rarely noticed.

New symptoms appear once the warts have enlarged and spread, one of which is bloody bowel movements. Other accompanying symptoms include weight loss, unexplained abdominal pain, and frequent diarrhea or constipation.

8. Fistula ani

Anal fistula is a condition characterized by the formation of a small tube between the end of the intestine (anal canal) and the skin around it.

These small ducts are formed when there is an infection near the anus that causes a collection of pus (abscess).

9. Irritable bowel syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a digestive disease that affects the work of the large intestine. In IBS, the muscle contractions that occur when food passes through the large intestine are considered abnormal.

Excessive contractions can cause diarrhea, but too few contractions can actually cause constipation.

Irregular or intermittent muscle contractions are what often cause pain and cause bloody stools.

10. Other digestive tract infections

Gastrointestinal infections are usually caused by bacteria such as Salmonella, Shigella, and Yersinia.

Symptoms are diarrhea, cramps, vomiting, nausea, and fever. Because of these contractions, the blood in the intestines can come out when you have a bowel movement.

Diagnosis

How do you diagnose bloody bowel movements?

The various causes of bloody bowel movements make your doctor need to check your condition further. The doctor will start the examination by asking about your symptoms, looking at your medical history, and doing medical tests.

The health tests that are recommended to diagnose the cause of bloody bowel movements are as follows.

1. Stool examination

This check is quite easy. A sample of the patient's stool can be sent to the laboratory to be checked for blood.

2. Nasogastric lavage

This examination will tell the doctor whether the bleeding is in the upper or lower part of the digestive tract. The procedure is to take the contents of the stomach through a tube that is inserted into the stomach through the nose.

3. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD)

The EGD procedure is a form of endoscopic examination by inserting a flexible tube tipped with a camera. The EGD device will be inserted by mouth, then passed to the esophagus, stomach and duodenum.

4. Colonoscopy

The colonoscopy procedure is similar to an EGD, but an instrument is inserted through the rectum to view the large intestine. Colonoscopy is also sometimes performed to collect tissue samples through a biopsy.

5. Enteroscopy

This procedure is almost the same as a colonoscopy, but the gastrointestinal tract that is observed is the small intestine. In some cases, an endoscope will be inserted into the body to see if the digestive tract is causing bloody stools.

Medicine and medication

How to treat bloody bowel movements?

There are several techniques that doctors will use to stop bloody stools, but doctors usually need to confirm the diagnosis by endoscopy (EGD) first. This procedure is also important so that the doctor can know the point of bleeding.

Treatment is then adjusted to the cause of bloody bowel movements. That way, treatment is not only useful for stopping bleeding in the digestive tract, but also preventing recurrence.

You will also be given drugs to treat bloody bowel movements, such as antibiotics or anti-inflammatory drugs. This is done when the bleeding is caused by inflammation.

In certain cases, surgery may be needed if the cause of bleeding is a polyp in the intestine that has developed into cancer.

Prevention

How to prevent bloody bowel movements?

Here are some tips you can do to reduce the risk of bloody bowel movements.

Increase consumption of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains rich in fiber to relieve and prevent constipation.
Expand to consume foods high in folic acid and limit animal fat sources. especially red meat.
Drink lots of water to smooth bowel movements.
Defecate regularly and don't delay it.
Avoid smoking and alcohol consumption as both can increase the risk of stomach cancer.
Follow doctor's recommendations if you have to take medication regularly.
Maintain hand and food hygiene to reduce the risk of food poisoning.

Bloody bowel movements can indicate a variety of disorders in the digestive system, from hemorrhoids that can be treated with home remedies to colon cancer.

If you find blood in the stool when you have a bowel movement, you don't need to panic. Try to consult a doctor so that you can undergo further tests.