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The Main Cause of Traces of Blood in the Stool

Stool can range in color from brown (healthy) to green, yellow, clay color, red and black. Red or black indicates a bloody stool, which can be caused by a variety of conditions. Knowing the different characteristics of bloody bowel movements is essential in determining the cause.

  1. Color

    • Bloody bowel movements can occur in shades of red or can be black. The darker the stool, the more serious the cause.

    Bright Red Stool

    • Bright red stool is an indicator of hemorrhoids, or dilation of anal blood vessels. Blood is picked up in the stool as the stool exits your body.

    Dark Red/Black Stool

    • Bloody bowel movements that are darker in color indicate internal bleeding, like a bleeding ulcer. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs used to treat arthritis can sometimes disturb a person's stomach and small intestine, which in can trigger a bleeding ulcer.

    Pain

    • Experiencing pain with bloody stool is a sign of inflammatory bowel disease, a digestive disorder. The cause of inflammatory bowel disease is unknown.

    Considerations

    • Consult a doctor if you are experiencing bloody bowel movements. While hemorrhoids, bleeding ulcers and inflammatory bowel disease are common causes of bloody stool, there are other conditions that can cause bloody stool. These include colon cancer and diverticulosis.

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