Why does rectal bleeding happen?
When you see blood in your bowels, on the toilet paper, or in your stools, you are experiencing rectal bleeding.
Rectal bleeding is most frequently caused by haemorrhoids, however there are other potential causes, some of which are listed below.
Piles
Haemorrhoids, sometimes referred to as piles, are inflamed, bulging veins. They may bleed if the walls of enlarged veins become thin and inflamed, rupturing or bleeding.
Numerous factors, like
- Straining during bowel movements
- chronic constipation
- pregnancy (because there is pressure on veins during pregnancy)
- anal sex (because it damages the veins in the anus and rectum, causing bleeding),
- obesity, and being overweight also increase the pressure on veins
could all contribute to the irritation and thinness of the wall.
Anal fissure
An anal fissure is a small tear in the skin of the anus that can cause rectal bleeding,. and causes pain while passing the stools. Anal fissures could happen because of several reasons like
- passing hard stools
- chronic constipation
- diarrhoea (as frequent passing stools disturbing the lining) and
- anal intercourse
- Childbirth,
- inflammatory bowel disease like Crohn's and ulcerative colitis.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
IBD encompasses diseases that can inflame and bleed the digestive system, such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. IBD can also develop into anal fissures and cause inflammation by irritating the mucosal membrane.
Colorectal cancer
A particular form of cancer that appears in the colon or rectum is called colorectal cancer. The large intestine, which is in charge of eliminating waste from the body, includes the colon and the rectum. On the inner surface of the colon or rectum, colorectal cancer typically starts as a little growth known as a polyp.
Rectal bleeding can occur as a result of colorectal cancer, particularly in more advanced cases.
Diverticular disease.
Diverticula are small pouches or bulges in the colon where, over time, blood vessels can erode, rupture, and bleed. When there are no symptoms, it’s called diverticulosis, but if inflammation occurs, this is diverticulitis. Together, they’re called diverticular disease.
Gastrointestinal infections:
Infections such as bacterial or viral gastroenteritis can cause rectal bleeding. Such as salmonella.
Anal or colorectal polyps.
Polyps are growths that can appear in many places throughout the body. If polyps develop in the intestine, they can bleed. Polyps aren’t cancerous, but some can become malignant in time.
Diagnoses
The many methods for diagnosing are described here.
- Physical examination Doctors examine the rectum and anus for swelling, lumps, fissures (tears in the anus), and prolapse (internal lumps that have protruded from the anal region). The doctor could then advise you to undergo further testing.
- Anoscopy: To observe the lining of the anus and lower rectum, a hollow tube containing a light and camera called an anoscope is used. Here, a doctor examines the lining of the anus and lower rectum tissues as well as any signs of bowel disease or lower digestive tract issues.
- Colonoscopy: With an anoscopy, the anal canal and lower the are inspected, but with a colonoscopy, the whole colon is examined. To view the entire colon, a flexible, lengthier colonoscope is used.
- Xray, ultrasound and blood test could be asked by doctor to know the exact cause of bleeding and deficiencies
