What Are the Causes of Dark Red Blood in Stool?

Hematochezia is mainly divided into two types of symptoms. One is that the blood in the stool is fresh and does not mix with the feces. The other is that the feces and blood are mixed, and the blood appears dark red. Dark red hematochezia is usually considered to be caused by upper gastrointestinal bleeding, which is commonly seen in diseases such as ulcers in the digestive tract and intestine, or digestive tract tumors. Different disease symptoms can lead to different characteristics of hematochezia. Once hematochezia occurs, it is necessary to go to the hospital for examination in time to understand the specific cause.

1. What Causes Dark Red Hematochezia

Dark red hematochezia is usually caused by upper gastrointestinal bleeding, which is commonly seen in diseases such as ulcers in the digestive tract and intestine, or digestive tract tumors. It is common to see soft and well-formed stool, black stool, or hard stool with dark red blood adhering to the surface of the feces.

2. Causes of Hematochezia Are Varied

There are many reasons for hematochezia. Firstly, it is necessary to go to the hospital for routine blood, urine, and stool tests. Hidden blood in the stool cannot be excluded when blood is not visible to the naked eye. When necessary, fecal occult blood tests can be performed. After clarifying the cause of hematochezia, targeted treatment can be given to alleviate the symptoms based on the cause of the disease, so that the body can get rid of the troubles of the disease as soon as possible. One of the causes of hematochezia is the inflammation of the anus caused by the contamination of the stool due to the rupture of hemorrhoids. In daily life, it is necessary to strengthen physical exercise, develop the habit of regular bowel movements every day, and avoid constipation, which may lead to the occurrence of hemorrhoids. Drinking plenty of water, eating more fresh fruits and vegetables, and maintaining a reasonable diet can prevent constipation and indirectly prevent the occurrence of hematochezia.

3. What Examinations Are Needed for Hematochezia

If the color of the blood in hematochezia is relatively fresh, usually manifesting as post-defecation bleeding or fresh blood adhering to the surface of the stool, then it is necessary to perform a digital rectal examination and a colonoscopy to determine whether the patient has perianal diseases such as internal hemorrhoids, external hemorrhoids, anal fissures, etc. If the color of the blood in hematochezia is dark, the amount is small, the duration is long, and the patient is accompanied by anemia, emaciation, or abdominal pain, then it is necessary to perform gastroscopy and colonoscopy to rule out digestive tract tumors. In addition, routine tests such as blood routine, liver function, kidney function, and electrolytes should also be performed.