Don't Ignore Rectal Bleeding

The appearance of blood in places where it isn’t normally found is typically cause for some concern, and this applies to blood in your stool or rectal bleeding.

While a one-off occurrence of rectal bleeding due to an unusually large or hard stool may not qualify as particularly concerning, if you’re regularly experiencing rectal bleeding, it’s time to have us investigate further.

At our gastroenterology practice, Dr. Sam Weissman and our team are experts in all things related to your digestive tract, from your mouth all the way down to your bottom. And, if you’re experiencing rectal bleeding, something may be amiss somewhere along this route, and it’s our job to find out what it is.

In the following, we explore the different ways in which rectal bleeding presents itself and some of the more common culprits behind this symptom.

Different types of rectal bleeding

Rectal bleeding is a symptom that can take on different forms and has telltale characteristics that can help us identify the underlying condition.

For example, is the blood darker and mixed in with your stool? This implies that there’s a problem somewhere higher in your digestive tract. Conversely, if you see bright red blood around the outside of your stool or in the toilet bowl water after you have a bowel movement, this typically points to an issue in the bottom part of your colon or in your rectum.

Or, maybe there’s only blood on the toilet paper after you wipe, which indicates a more external issue around your anus.

So, when you come see us, expect that we’ll ask about the color, amount, and location of the blood that you’re finding.

Potential culprits behind rectal bleeding

Now let’s grab a look at some of the more common causes of rectal bleeding. We’re going to start with the less serious issues and work our way toward the more serious.

The most common cause of rectal bleeding is hemorrhoids, which affect 1 in 20 people and half of people over the age of 50. Hemorrhoids are inflamed veins around your anus and rectum, and bright red rectal bleeding is a common side effect.

Another issue that can lead to rectal bleeding (and anal pain) is an anal fissure, which usually occurs due to constipation.

If you have a stomach bug or some other issue that leads to diarrhea, you could have bloody stools, but the bleeding problem usually clears up with the diarrhea.

Other, more serious issues, that can lead to ongoing rectal bleeding include:

• Ulcerative colitis
• Peptic ulcers
• Diverticulitis
• Crohn's disease
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Sexually transmitted infections

Rectal bleeding is also a possible sign of colorectal cancers, which are diagnosed in more than 152,000 Americans each year.

When to seek help for rectal bleeding

If you're on the fence about whether to seek help for your rectal bleeding, here are some questions to ask yourself:

• Are you in pain?
• Has the bleeding persisted for longer than a week?
• Is there a good deal of blood in your stool?
• Is there no explanation for the rectal bleeding?

If you answer yes to any of these questions, it’s worth coming to see us so we can diagnose and treat the issue.

For expert diagnosis and treatment of rectal bleeding, please call our Brighton Beach area office in Brooklyn, New York, at 609-793-9375 or request an appointment through this website.