Finding blood in your stool can be alarming and warrants attention. While it can result from a minor issue, it could also indicate a more serious condition. Understanding the potential causes can help you address the problem effectively. It’s important that you contact your gastroenterologist and let them know about any other symptoms you might be experiencing so that you can start treatment and correct the root cause. Your gastroenterologists at Brookhaven Gastroenterology Associates in East Patchogue, Port Jefferson, East Islip, and Westhampton Beach, NY, can explain what causes blood in stool and how to treat the issue.

Understanding What Causes Blood in Stool

There are several conditions that could cause you to experience blood in your stool. It’s important that when you notice blood in stool, you contact your gastroenterologist serving East Patchogue and Suffolk County, NY, as soon as possible. It’s important to note the color of the blood and what other symptoms you might be experiencing.

Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in the lower rectum and anus. They can be internal (inside the rectum) or external (under the skin around the anus). With hemorrhoids, you may notice bright red blood on toilet paper or in the toilet bowl, itching or irritation in the anal region, and pain and discomfort. This can be caused by pregnancy and childbirth, chronic constipation or diarrhea, and straining during bowel movements.

Anal fissures are small tears in the lining of the anus, often caused by passing large or hard stools. You might notice sharp pain during and after bowel movements and bright red blood on your stool or on toilet paper. You may also notice visible tears in the skin around the anus.

Gastrointestinal infections caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites can lead to inflammation of the stomach and intestines, resulting in bloody stools. You might notice bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramps and pain, and fever and nausea.

Other causes of blood in the stool are colorectal polyps and cancer. Polyps are growths on the inner lining of the colon or rectum, which can sometimes develop into cancer. Blood in stool can be bright red or dark, and you may experience changes in your bowel habits or unexplained weight loss and fatigue.

Contact Our Gastroenterologists Today

Find out what’s causing blood in your stool. Contact your gastroenterologists at Brookhaven Gastroenterology Associates in East Patchogue, Port Jefferson, East Islip, and Westhampton Beach, NY, to learn more about blood in stool and what causes it. Call for more information and to schedule your appointment today at (631) 289-0300 for the office in East Patchogue, NY, (631) 289-1708 for the office in Port Jefferson, NY, (631) 289-0301 for the office in East Islip, NY, and (631) 289-5101 for the office in Westhampton Beach, NY.