Why is my poop red? If your poop is red, it could be a plethora of different things that may not be an immediate concern. It could be that you have hemorrhoids and hemorrhoids are a common cause of blood stool.
Why is my poop red? iStock-photo credit: nukrist
Hemorrhoids
And this is when you have swollen veins inside your bottom which can cause your skin to break and bleed. And this happens when you are straining to poop or doing. When your butt is itching or hurts it is a usually sign of hemorrhoids.
Anal Fissure
Another reason you may have poop that is red is that it can possibly be anal fissure. That is when you have a small cut in the anal tissue lining. And this is similar to the cracks that occur in chapped lips or a paper cut. An anal fissure is caused by a large stool that comes out with force that at times can be painful.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable Bowel Syndrome, (IBS) is common to give someone bloody diarrhea and pain. And this can last up to a couple of weeks or longer depending on whether you treat it immediately. The long-term condition can inflame your digestive tract. And there are two kinds of IBD and that is ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.
STI’s
STI’s also known as sexually transmitted diseases that can cause blood in your stool. And the different types of STI’s are syphilis, herpes, gonorrhea, chlamydia, etc. Bleeding can be part of anal sex.
Gastrointestinal Bleeding
Gastrointestinal bleeding is a sign and potential problem in the digestive system. This can happen in the upper and lower part of your digestive system. And the lower body parts would be your anus, rectum, colon, etc.
Red Foods
The types of foods can potentially cause red in your stool such eating Jello, red wine, fruit juices, red candy, Kool Aid, etc. Potential medications can cause gastrointestinal bleeding or disrupt bacteria in your stomach.
One of the best ways to diagnose any blood in your stool is through a colonoscopy. What happens in a colonoscopy is a scope that is inserted through your rectum to look at your colon. And that is the best way to see if there are any cancerous polyps in your colon.
Some of the simple things you can do to treat less serious cases of rectal bleeding is:
- Using an over-the-counter hemorrhoid cream to soothe the pain.
- Taking a bath in warm water to help relieve the hemorrhoids or fissures.
If the blood in your stool lasts more than 3 weeks you need to contact your doctor right away and get yourself checked out.
The Bottom Line is your poop can be red for a variety of different reasons such as gastrointestinal bleeding, IBS, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Anal fissure, hemorrhoids, etc.
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About Author- Obi Obadike
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References
- American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. Understanding minor rectal bleeding.
- University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics. Stools with blood.
