{"id":3125,"date":"2023-11-20T06:40:31","date_gmt":"2023-11-20T06:40:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/drhimanshuyadav.com\/rectal-bleeding-is-often-ignored-heres-why-its-dangerous\/"},"modified":"2023-11-20T06:40:31","modified_gmt":"2023-11-20T06:40:31","slug":"rectal-bleeding-is-often-ignored-heres-why-its-dangerous","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/drhimanshuyadav.com\/blog\/rectal-bleeding-is-often-ignored-heres-why-its-dangerous\/","title":{"rendered":"Rectal bleeding is often ignored. Here&#8217;s why it&#8217;s dangerous."},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<div class=\"wpds-c-jUMcim wpds-c-jUMcim-iPJLV-css hide-for-print mb-sm\">\n<div class=\"PJLV PJLV-ieDMgMI-css flex items-center\" config=\"[object Object]\" data-qa=\"article-actions\">\n<div class=\"wpds-c-mfMEg\">\n<div class=\"wpds-c-kSOqLF wpds-c-hnjNCH wpds-c-kSOqLF-bywHgD-variant-primary wpds-c-kSOqLF-biynoz-density-compact wpds-c-kSOqLF-hZSyid-isOutline-true wpds-c-kSOqLF-ejCoEP-icon-left wpds-c-kSOqLF-futxca-cv wpds-c-hnjNCH-eNNUQD-cv wpds-c-hnjNCH-jGqLyO-cv\"><button aria-label=\"Comment\" class=\"wpds-c-gPbxFP\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 16 16\" fill=\"var(--wpds-colors-primary)\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" role=\"img\" class=\"wpds-c-kKAfCG wpds-c-efqEZa flex items-center justify-center brad-lg pointer transition-400 ease-in-out transition-colors\" aria-label=\"Comment on this story\"><title>comment on this story<\/title><path d=\"M14 14V2H2v9.47h8.18L12.43 13ZM3 10.52V3h10v9.23l-2.5-1.66Z\"\/><\/svg><\/button><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wpds-c-fBEbFG\">comment<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpds-c-mfMEg\">\n<div class=\"wpds-c-kSOqLF wpds-c-hnjNCH wpds-c-kSOqLF-bywHgD-variant-primary wpds-c-kSOqLF-biynoz-density-compact wpds-c-kSOqLF-hZSyid-isOutline-true wpds-c-kSOqLF-ejCoEP-icon-left wpds-c-kSOqLF-futxca-cv wpds-c-hnjNCH-eNNUQD-cv wpds-c-hnjNCH-jGqLyO-cv\">\n<div class=\"PJLV PJLV-iPJLV-css\"><button type=\"button\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"\" data-state=\"closed\" data-testid=\"subscribe-cta-popup\" aria-label=\"Save\" aria-pressed=\"false\" class=\"wpds-c-kSOqLF wpds-c-kSOqLF-SQjOY-variant-secondary wpds-c-kSOqLF-eHdizY-density-default wpds-c-kSOqLF-ejCoEP-icon-left wpds-c-kSOqLF-icMJmxV-css\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 16 16\" fill=\"currentColor\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" role=\"img\" class=\"wpds-c-dJBvpf wpds-c-dJBvpf-idnLyH-css \" data-bookmark-status=\"notsaved\"><path d=\"M12 3v8.92l-3.38-2.7-.62-.5-.62.5L4 11.92V3h8m1-1H3v12l5-4 5 4V2Z\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"wpds-c-iSKIAI\">Add to saved stories<\/span><\/button><\/div>\n<p><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wpds-c-fBEbFG\">keep<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"teaser-content grid-center\">\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-testid=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overrideStyles font-copy\" dir=\"null\">Many people see blood in the toilet when defecating but do nothing. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bmj.com\/content\/311\/7003\/486.long\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">largely<\/a> I won&#8217;t even tell the doctor.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-testid=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overrideStyles font-copy\" dir=\"null\">Bleeding during bowel movements (also called rectal bleeding) has several causes, some of which are more concerning than others. However, the increasing number of cases of colorectal cancer, especially among young adults, has made colorectal cancer an important condition that requires medical attention. It is important to know what bleeding means and what to do next.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-testid=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overrideStyles font-copy\" dir=\"null\">&#8220;Rectal bleeding is very common. It is one of the most common complaints that occur in primary care. [gastroenterology] &#8221; said Sameer Gupta, a gastroenterologist and professor of medicine at the University of California, San Diego Health.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-testid=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overrideStyles font-copy\" dir=\"null\">However, it can be a dangerous symptom.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-testid=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overrideStyles font-copy\" dir=\"null\">&#8220;Blood in the stool is abnormal. It does not automatically mean cancer, but it is clearly not something that should be assumed to be normal and requires no further attention.&#8221; ,&#8221; said Sophie Barzola, a gastroenterologist and clinical professor at New York University&#8217;s Grossman School of Medicine.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-testid=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overrideStyles font-copy\" dir=\"null\">&#8220;It&#8217;s important to remember that benign diseases of the anus and rectum that can cause bloody stools are much more common than other diseases.&#8221; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/diseases-conditions\/colon-cancer\/symptoms-causes\/syc-20353669\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">colon<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/diseases-conditions\/rectal-cancer\/symptoms-causes\/syc-20352884\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">rectal cancer<\/a>Young people are especially at risk for this disease. But that doesn&#8217;t mean we should ignore the issue,&#8221; Barzola added.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-testid=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overrideStyles font-copy\" dir=\"null\">There are several forms of bleeding. For example, blood on the toilet bowl or toilet paper may be bright red or maroon in color and barely noticeable, or it may run out, the latter of which is a medical emergency.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-testid=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overrideStyles font-copy\" dir=\"null\">Additionally, other symptoms that may be associated with bleeding include constipation, the urge to defecate, and abdominal pain.the <a href=\"https:\/\/acsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/10.3322\/caac.21772\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">projected<\/a> Approximately 150,000 new cases of colorectal cancer are expected to occur in the United States in 2023 alone.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-testid=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overrideStyles font-copy\" dir=\"null\">&#8220;Although there is some information that may give physicians and individuals a better idea of \u200b\u200bwhether the bleeding is more likely to be due to benign causes or due to tumor growth,&#8221; , these clues are not very accurate,\u201d said Gupta.  &#8220;Trying to diagnose on your own whether rectal bleeding is due to benign causes is not so easy.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-testid=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overrideStyles font-copy\" dir=\"null\">There are many different causes of rectal bleeding, and they vary in severity.  \u201cThe list is long,\u201d Barzola said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-testid=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overrideStyles font-copy\" dir=\"null\">The most common structural causes of benign bleeding include: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/diseases-conditions\/hemorrhoids\/symptoms-causes\/syc-20360268#:~:text=Hemorrhoids%20are%20swollen%20veins%20in,are%20similar%20to%20varicose%20veins.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">hemorrhoids<\/a>, dilated veins in the anus and rectum, often caused by straining. Although not a complete list, other examples that can cause bleeding include small breaks in the skin of the anus called fissures, and bleeding from openings in the colon wall.<b> <\/b>Also called diverticula, inflammatory bowel disease, and cancer.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p><span class=\"wpds-c-sFUaP wpds-c-sFUaP-jtHNGr-variant-interstitial wpds-c-sFUaP-iPJLV-css hide-for-print\">Ask your doctor: Are my bowel movements normal?<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-testid=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overrideStyles font-copy\" dir=\"null\">Unfortunately, even doctors are not good at determining the cause of bleeding without undergoing a colonoscopy.  \u201cResearch shows that, based on rectal examination,<b> <\/b>&#8220;Clinicians are not perfect at distinguishing between hemorrhoids and other sources of blood loss, given the clinical findings,&#8221; says Lisa Strate, a gastroenterologist and professor of medicine at the University of Washington.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-testid=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overrideStyles font-copy\" dir=\"null\">Further complicating the situation is that multiple causes of rectal bleeding can coexist.  &#8220;You can have hemorrhoids or anal fissures and colorectal cancer at the same time,&#8221; says Barzola.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<h3 data-qa=\"article-header\" class=\" pb-sm pt-lgmod\" id=\"S3GRHLOSNNBHVP6WIAKEMDAOW4\">\n<p>what to do if you see blood<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-testid=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overrideStyles font-copy\" dir=\"null\">If you notice blood in your stool, the first thing you should do is ask yourself whether you need immediate testing at the emergency room.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-testid=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overrideStyles font-copy\" dir=\"null\">&#8220;If a person feels dizzy or weak, that could be a sign that they&#8217;re losing a lot of blood,&#8221; Strate says.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-testid=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overrideStyles font-copy\" dir=\"null\">Other signs that you probably need to go to the emergency room include heavy bleeding, frequent bloody stools, severe abdominal pain, fainting, shortness of breath, fever with bloody stools, or low blood pressure.  .<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-testid=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overrideStyles font-copy\" dir=\"null\">Even if it is not an emergency, you should make an appointment with your primary care physician or gastroenterologist.<b> <\/b>During your consultation, you can expect to take a detailed medical history and possibly perform blood tests.<b> <\/b>red<b> <\/b>Doctors check blood cell counts and inflammation, and do a rectal examination to check for obvious external causes of bleeding. In some cases, your doctor may refer you for a colonoscopy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-testid=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overrideStyles font-copy\" dir=\"null\">&#8220;Given the increasing incidence of colorectal cancer in people under the age of 50, the threshold for pursuing endoscopy research is much lower these days,&#8221; Barzola said. Mentioned other similar procedures that look inside.<b> <\/b>colon.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-testid=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overrideStyles font-copy\" dir=\"null\">In her view, assuming there are no red flag symptoms, it makes sense to first try to treat the bleeding conservatively, but to plan for follow-up. This means that if a clinician suspects that the cause of the bleeding is likely to be benign, they may first treat it using non-invasive methods. However, if bleeding continues, you may be referred for an endoscopy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-testid=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overrideStyles font-copy\" dir=\"null\">&#8220;All benign causes of rectal bleeding should improve with treatment,&#8221; he says. If the bleeding doesn&#8217;t improve, it may be a sign that something more worrying is going on. People who have rectal bleeding and do not initially undergo a colonoscopy &#8220;need to see a follow-up clinic within 60 days to close the clinical loop and ensure symptoms are resolved.&#8221; &#8216;And everyone else has to have a colonoscopy,&#8217; he said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-testid=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overrideStyles font-copy\" dir=\"null\">&#8220;It&#8217;s easy to ignore symptoms. It&#8217;s human nature,&#8221; Barzola said.  &#8220;Your health is paramount and bloody stool is never normal. There is no need to fear whatever it is. Take the next step and consult a medical professional.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p data-testid=\"drop-cap-letter\" data-el=\"text\" class=\"wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overrideStyles font-copy\" dir=\"null\"><i>Netana H. Markovitz is a resident at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center\/Harvard Medical School in Boston.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-body\" data-qa=\"article-body\">\n<p><span class=\"wpds-c-sFUaP wpds-c-sFUaP-jtHNGr-variant-interstitial wpds-c-sFUaP-iPJLV-css hide-for-print\">Sign up for the Well+Being newsletter for expert advice and easy tips to help you live well every day<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>comment on this storycomment Add to saved stories keep Many people see blood in the toilet when defecating but do nothing. largely I won&#8217;t even tell the doctor. Bleeding during bowel movements (also called rectal bleeding) has several causes, some of which are more concerning than others. However, the increasing number of cases of colorectal &#8230; <a title=\"Rectal bleeding is often ignored. Here&#8217;s why it&#8217;s dangerous.\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/drhimanshuyadav.com\/blog\/rectal-bleeding-is-often-ignored-heres-why-its-dangerous\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Rectal bleeding is often ignored. Here&#8217;s why it&#8217;s dangerous.\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3126,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[175],"tags":[322,2099,427,12],"class_list":["post-3125","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-anal-cancer","tag-bleeding","tag-dangerous","tag-heres","tag-rectal"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/drhimanshuyadav.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3125","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/drhimanshuyadav.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/drhimanshuyadav.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drhimanshuyadav.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drhimanshuyadav.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3125"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/drhimanshuyadav.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3125\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/drhimanshuyadav.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3125"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drhimanshuyadav.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3125"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drhimanshuyadav.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3125"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}