Is bloody stool dangerous? This concern must have arisen in the head of Friends of Persada. Defecation accompanied by blood is indeed a matter of concern. This condition can occur due to several causes.
Starting from normal to abnormal. Get to know the full causes of blood in the stool and the steps you need to take to overcome them. Information on how to treat bloody stools and the causes of bloody stools can be seen in this article.
Bloody bowel movements do not always indicate a dangerous condition. The color of the blood usually determines which part of the digestive tract the bleeding occurs in. Here are the colors of blood that may appear:
1. Bright red blood indicates bleeding in the lower gastrointestinal tract such as the colon or rectum.
2. Dark red blood indicates bleeding in the small intestine or early part of the large intestine.
3. Black stools may indicate bleeding in the stomach or upper part of the small intestine (stomach or esophagus).
Apart from bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract, sometimes consumption of certain foods can also make the stool black. Therefore, further examination and looking at other symptoms is needed to confirm the cause.
The cause of bloody bowel movements can be due to several factors. Here are the causes of bloody bowel movements:
Diverticula are part of the large intestine. In some conditions diverticula can bleed and become infected. This is what causes the presence of blood in the stool.
Small tears in the tissue lining the anus. They are similar to the cracks that occur in chapped lips. This condition is caused by large, hard bowel movements that cause pain.
This is the most common cause, an infection or inflammation of the intestines can cause blood in the stool.
A condition that occurs due to bleeding caused by fragile and abnormal blood vessels.
Peptic ulcers are commonly caused by an infection with a bacterium called Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). These are open sores that occur in the lining of the stomach or duodenum, the upper end of the small intestine.
Intestinal polyps are growths of tissue in the intestinal wall in the form of clumps. Over time polyps can become cancerous. This cancer can be the main cause of bleeding, to find out the details you need to do tests in the laboratory.
Varicose veins in the esophagus or tears in the esophagus can cause severe blood loss.
Bloody bowel movements itself can be referred to as a symptom of the disease. The appearance of blood in the stool may also be accompanied by other symptoms, depending on the underlying condition.
If you experience bloody stools caused by bleeding in the lower digestive tract (hematochezia), then you may experience:
1. Change in frequency of bowel movements
2. Weight loss
3. Fever
4. Diarrhea
5. Stomach pain.
Meanwhile, if you experience bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract, then you can experience bloody stools accompanied by symptoms, such as dark-coloured feces, with a soft and sticky texture. As well as vomiting blood or coffee colored.
Doctors usually use one of several techniques to stop acute bleeding. Endoscopy is often the first choice to ascertain the cause of bloody bowel movements. It is also not uncommon for this method to be used at the same time to administer certain therapies or medications.
Other methods include treating the bleeding site with an electric current or laser, or placing a band or clip to close the blood vessel. If endoscopy cannot reduce the bleeding, the doctor may use angiography to inject medication into the blood vessels to control the bleeding.
In addition to stopping the immediate bleeding, if necessary, treatment involves addressing the cause of the bleeding so that it does not return. The type of treatment will vary depending on the cause, such as to treat H. pylori bacterial infection doctors use antibiotics; to treat colitis, doctors
recommend stomach acid suppressants and anti-inflammatory drugs. Surgery may be needed to remove polyps or parts of the colon damaged by cancer, diverticulitis or inflammatory bowel disease.
Some things that can be implemented to reduce the risk of bloody bowel movements include:
1. Consume high fiber foods
2. Exercise regularly
3. Keep the rectum clean
4. Maintain body fluid intake
5. Do not consume alcoholic beverages, prevent diabetes mellitus and obesity, as they can cause fatty liver and cirrhosis.
6. Treat hepatitis B completely.
Bloody stools do not always indicate a dangerous condition, but if the symptoms experienced do not go away and interfere with daily activities, you should immediately come and consult Persada Hospital. Check the schedule of Persada Hospital general practitioners for further consultation regarding the health problems you are experiencing. Also learn a variety of the latest health information through a long list of Persada Hospital articles.
For more information on medical treatments, please call the Persada Hospital hotline at 0811-3058-8585.
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