Rectal bleeding refers to bleeding from the anus—this can be of any cause. Usually rectal bleeding is used to refer to bleeding that takes place in the rectum or lower colon. The rectum is the final part of your large intestine making up about a few inches of it.
There are many ways to detect rectal bleeding. Blood may appear in your stool, your urine, toilet bowl or toilet paper. The color of the discharge ranges from bright red to darker shades of red and brown.
Causes
There are several causes associated with rectal bleeding, some of which include:
- Constipation
- Angiodysplasia
- Hemorrhoids
- Anal cancer
- Anal fissure
- Colon cancer
- Colon polyps
- Diverticulitis
- Diarrhea
- Food poisoning
- Ischemic colitis
- Proctitis
- Ulcerative colitis
- Rectal prolapse
First Aid
Call 911 or a local emergency number if:
- You are bleeding severely—this can be a large amount of blood being lost or bleeding that does not stop
- You experience other symptoms such as dizziness, chest pain, fatigue or severe weakness while bleeding
- The blood is deep maroon, a darker shade or black
- You have a history of certain medical conditions such as severe anemia, liver disease, bleeding ulcer and other bleeding disorders
Call a doctor
- There are numerous causes of rectal bleeding, while some can be as minor as bowel movements, others such as anal cancer are more severe and require immediate treatment
1. Keep an eye on your symptoms
- Before meeting your doctor, in the mean time, observe the color changes, consistency of the blood and the stool and keep track of the changes till your appointment. It would be helpful for the doctor to determine the cause and provide prompt treatment if you keep record of the symptoms, and changes such as rectal pressure, abdominal pain, constipation, cramping, diarrhea, fever, and other discharges such as pus or mucus in the stool
2. Rectal exams
- Your doctor or health care provider will perform certain tests and rectal exams to determine the cause of the bleeding
Learn More
To learn more about serious medical emergencies, recognizing and managing them, enrol in workplace approved first aid and CPR training. We have training providers located throughout Canada that encompass a wide range of training topics with “hands on” scenarios and lessons.