Colon Bleeding

Blood in your stool is usually a symptom of an underlying disease. Usually there is no need to be alarmed by colon bleeding as it can be easily addressed. Sometimes however, the bleeding can be a symptom of something very serious. Therefore, you should get in touch with a doctor at the very first signs of abnormal blood in the stool.

Where Am I Bleeding?

If you are vomiting bright red blood or your stool looks tarry and black then the blood is coming from the upper part of your digestive track- from the esophagus to the upper portion of the small intestine. Other symptoms of upper GI bleeding include vomitus that appears grainy like coffee grounds or dark red blood in the feces. If colon bleeding is from the lower small intestines, then you will notice bright red blood in the stool or the stool will have dark blood mixed in it.

Is My Bleeding Severe?

Colon bleeding becomes an issue if you have other acute symptoms. If you feel dizzy or weak, have difficulty breathing with abdominal pain, it is important to seek medical treatment immediately. With severe bleeding you can go into shock and experience a rapid loss of blood pressure. If the bleeding is light and continuous over a long period of time you might suffer from excessive blood loss. This will cause fatigue, anemia and shortness of breath. Alternatively, you may notice a little blood in the stool with no physical symptoms. While all bleeding should be addressed by a medical professional, severe bleeding requires immediate attention.

Why Am I Bleeding?

Bleeding in the upper part of the digestive tract can be due to several abnormalities. Your esophagus might be bleeding due to a vein rupture. Alternatively, it could be the result of a tear in the lining due to excessive vomiting or pressure on the esophagus. If you take too much aspirin or ibuprofen, this could lead to a peptic ulcer or gastritis that can cause stomach bleeding. Other causes of upper GI bleeding are GERD, tumors and cancer. Colon bleeding can occur in the lower portion of the digestive track due to diverticulitis, which are pouches in the colon or because of hemorrhoids and fissures or colitis. Colon bleeding can also be caused by weaknesses in the blood vessels of the colon called angiodysplasia or polyps and cancer.

How Does The Doctor Diagnose My Bleeding?

First the doctor will work to determine the site of the bleeding as it could be from the upper digestive tract or from the colon. The stool might be tested for blood. Blood tests will help determine if the colon bleeding is extensive or chronic. A nasogastric lavage is performed to see if the bleeding is in the upper portion of the digestive tract. A tube is inserted nasally into the stomach and its contents are removed and examined for blood. If blood is not seen then this indicates that the bleeding might be lower in the digestive tract. The doctor can also thread a camera through the digestive system to look for bleeding. It can be inserted through the mouth or in the colon to determine the source.

Treatment Of Digestive Bleeding

Colon bleeding can be stopped by an endoscopy. A doctor uses an endoscope to treat the affected area with laser, electricity or heat. Chemicals can also be used to treat the site of the bleeding. Further, blood vessel bleeding can be contained by clips or bands. If an endoscopy does not stop the bleeding then an angiography might work. In this case medicine in injected directly into blood vessels to stop the bleeding.

Colon bleeding or upper digestive bleeding is merely a symptom of another health issue. Usually the reason for the bleeding is easy to control. An endoscopy is the primary mode of treatment for simple digestive bleeding. One way to help prevent damage to your colon is to keep it clean using a colon cleanser.