If a person is he althy, then all his organs and systems work smoothly. By the state of feces, you can determine whether everything is in order with the human digestive system. Sometimes there are situations when an adult has streaks of blood in the stool. This condition is not normal and requires urgent medical attention. What does it mean if there are streaks of blood in the feces of an adult? This will be discussed in the article. The causes of streaks and the main methods of treatment will also be presented.
Streaks of blood in adult stool
As you know, the human gastrointestinal tract is very long. Most often, bleeding from the anus occurs due to the presence of lesions in the lower digestive system.
If the pathology arose in the stomach itself or in the small intestine, then along with the feces, you can notice dark, clotted blood. If there are streaks of blood in the feces of an adult, then this isserious reason to go to the hospital. In this case, you need to go to the doctor immediately.
Main causes of this phenomenon
In fact, there are simply a huge number of reasons why bloody discharge can be noticed in the feces. Please note that all these reasons are very dangerous and can lead to very serious consequences, including death. Therefore, if you notice such a dangerous symptom, immediately go to the hospital for medical help.
So, let's look at the most common reasons why this phenomenon may occur:
- Presence of anal fissures (symptoms and treatment of this pathology can be found in this article).
- Hemorrhoids - a nodular bulging of veins in the anus.
- Ulcers of the gastrointestinal tract.
- Cancer of the rectum. Treatment should be started on time, inaction can be fatal.
- The presence of pathogenic microflora in the intestines.
- Crohn's disease.
Each of the above reasons is very dangerous and can cost a person's life.
Anus fissure
Everyone should be familiar with the symptoms of anal fissures. Treatment can only be started if an accurate diagnosis has been made by specialists. Usually, cracks occur with prolonged constipation, severe overexertion, and also in the presence of very hard feces. The disease can occur when leading a sedentary lifestyle or, conversely, when performing heavy physicallabor, as well as non-compliance with proper nutrition.
This pathology often worries women who have anal sex, as well as those who had a very difficult birth.
Usually, patients only experience symptoms during a bowel movement. Signs of pathology are severe pain, burning in the anal region, as well as blood discharge from the anus. For treatment, the doctor will prescribe physiotherapy exercises, lifestyle correction, as well as special medications.
Presence of bleeding with hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids are another reason why there may be blood in the stool. After all, as you know, this pathology is inflammation of the veins. If the blood vessels are in good shape, then you should not worry about the occurrence of bleeding. With strong surges, the hemorrhoids can expand very much, which will lead to their rupture. This is the reason why bleeding occurs. It is very important to treat hemorrhoids, as pathology can cause you a lot of trouble.
Ulcerative colitis
Non-specific ulcerative colitis of the intestine quite often leads to bloody discharge. This disease is characterized by the presence of inflammatory processes that occur in the rectal mucosa. Many factors influence the appearance of such a disease. However, according to scientists, poor living conditions, malnutrition, and the use of hormonal drugs, including oral contraceptives, most often lead to its occurrence.
Let's consider what symptoms indicate the presence of ulcerative colitis of the intestine:
- loose stools in the form of gruel, which may contain blood streaks;
- the patient often has a false urge to defecate;
- pain in the abdomen;
- loss of appetite, and with it a sharp weight loss;
- increased body temperature and generally feeling unwell.
If you have these symptoms, be sure to contact a medical institution.
Peptic ulcers
Perforation of an ulcer occurs if the patient has suffered from an acute or chronic stomach ulcer for a long time. Such a complication is extremely rare, but if it does occur, it can quickly lead to the death of the patient.
Perforation of an ulcer is a penetrating injury to the stomach wall. The disease is accompanied by the presence of blood discharge, as well as nausea and very sharp and severe pain in the abdomen. However, these are not all signs. In parallel, the patient has problems with the cardiovascular and respiratory systems.
Cancer
Unfortunately, very often stomach cancer, as well as rectal cancer, leads to the appearance of blood streaks in the feces. Treatment of such dangerous pathologies, started immediately, can save a person's life. However, to date, a lot of deaths have been recorded as a result of cancer of the digestive system. In addition to bleedingoncology makes itself felt with other symptoms, namely:
- A person completely loses the desire to absorb food. He is rapidly losing weight, suffers from a strong decline in strength and frequent overwork.
- There are strong pain sensations in the abdomen, as well as the intestines, which increase even more when a person tries to exercise.
- Patient has increased gas production accompanied by intestinal disorders.
- Skin becomes pale.
As the cancer progresses, the stool will change in appearance. They will take on a ribbon shape, while the patient will very often experience false urges to go to the toilet. There will be more and more blood streaks in the feces of an adult. What to do if you have such symptoms? Urgently call an ambulance. The sooner the patient is taken to the hospital, the greater the chance of saving his life.
About Crohn's disease
The main symptom of Crohn's disease in adults is rectal bleeding. Most often with this disease there are representatives of both sexes aged from fifteen to thirty or forty years, but there are exceptions. This disease consists in the formation of inflammatory processes in some parts of the digestive tract. In addition to spotting, the disease will also be accompanied by loss of appetite, diarrhea and pain in the abdomen.
At a special risk group are people who abuse alcoholic beverages andsmoking, as well as women taking oral hormonal contraceptives for a long time.
Why does this problem occur in men
Neither women nor men are immune from bleeding from the anus. Now we will look at the main causes of blood in the stool in men:
Hemorrhoids should be put first. Men face this problem much more often than women, as they are more prone to the occurrence of vascular pathologies and more often perform hard physical work. At the same time, for representatives of the strong half of humanity, this disease is considered shameful, so not everyone is in a hurry to seek help from a doctor
- Fishes in the rectum. This phenomenon can occur as a result of hemorrhoids or as an independent problem. Keep in mind gay men are prone to this.
- Proctitis and cryptitis are male diseases that can lead to blood streaks in the stool.
- Cancer of the digestive system. This is probably the most dangerous thing that can lead to blood in the stool.
- Any diseases of the digestive system.
Women's Issues
Of course, all of the above phenomena can occur in both men and women. However, there are also some phenomena that only the fairer sex is subject to. What is it about?
If a woman suffers from hemorrhoids, then it should be borne in mind that before menstruation, the course of this disease can become more complicated, sincethe pelvic organs will receive a large amount of blood, which means that the vessels and hemorrhoids will have a very large load. They may not withstand and simply begin to burst, which will lead to bleeding.
If the blood in the feces of a woman can be detected directly during menstruation, then this may indicate the presence of such a pathology as endometriosis. This suggests that the uterine mucosa is able to penetrate into other organs of the female body. If the endometrium has penetrated the intestines, then this will lead to blood discharge from the anus.
Where to contact
A lot of people are interested: with streaks of blood in the feces of an adult, which doctor should I contact? The first thing to do is to go to the proctologist. He will conduct the necessary research and, if necessary, refer to other doctors. This may be an endocrinologist, gynecologist, gastroenterologist, oncologist or urologist. Everything will depend on the results of the examination.
Diagnostic measures
Examinations with streaks of blood in the feces of an adult can be very diverse. First of all, the proctologist will examine your anal area, and also conduct a rectal examination of the mucous membrane and sphincter.
However, in addition to this, it is very important to carry out other diagnostic measures in order to be able to make the diagnosis as accurately as possible. Here are the diagnostic tests that are commonly used:
- First of all, a blood test is taken to detect the presence of inflammatory processes in the body, as well as symptomsanemia.
- Next, a coprogram is performed. This analysis allows you to determine whether there are eggs of worms or other pathogens in the feces.
- Sigmoidoscopy can determine if there are problems in the large intestine.
- It is very important to have an x-ray and an ultrasound of the digestive tract.
- In addition, procedures such as colonoscopy and gastroscopy are performed.
One of the most accurate tests to determine the presence of occult blood is the Gregersen reaction. Before carrying out such a procedure, you can not eat food containing proteins for three days, as well as brush your teeth. The material taken from the patient will be treated with special reagents. If, with their participation, the material acquires a blue or green tint, this will indicate a positive result.
Features of treatment
Methods of treatment for blood streaks in the stool in an adult will depend on the etiology of the pathology. Please note that if you notice blood in your stool, this is a very important reason to urgently go to the hospital. The sooner you do this, the more chances there will be for a full recovery, especially for cancer. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that you follow all the advice of your doctor without the slightest hesitation.
At the first symptoms of such a phenomenon, be sure to call an ambulance, and until it arrives, the patient needs to lie on his side and apply something cold to the perineum. This method will narrow the blood vesselsand stop the bleeding. Hold ice or a cold object until the ambulance arrives, but no more than twenty minutes.
If there are streaks of blood in the stool, the treatment will not be to eliminate this symptom, but to eliminate the root cause. First of all, you will need to visit a proctologist who will conduct an initial examination and coordinate further actions. If he finds out that hemorrhoids were the cause of the bleeding, he will prescribe you rectal suppositories, as well as drugs that tone the veins.
If such a phenomenon was caused by oncology or serious pathological processes in the organs of the digestive system, the patient is strictly forbidden to make body movements. In this case, self-treatment at home is out of the question. It is very important to exclude from the diet foods that will irritate the mucous membranes. Usually treatment is carried out with the help of special medications and dietary nutrition. However, in very advanced cases, surgery is indispensable.
Preventive measures
In order not to encounter such an unpleasant phenomenon as blood streaks in the feces, you need to learn how to lead a proper lifestyle. To do this, patients should eat properly and fully, as well as lead as active a lifestyle as possible. It is very important to completely eliminate bad habits, as well as to normalize the mode of work and rest. Take medication only as directed by your doctor. Women are advised to abandon oral contraceptive methods and choose otherprotective measures, because hormones adversely affect the activity of the whole organism and the gastrointestinal tract as well. It is very important to normalize the mode of work and rest so that your body has enough time to recover, as well as to fight many diseases on its own. Try to rest more often and not overexert yourself physically.
Conclusions
Streaks of blood in the feces can be in every person. However, it is in your power to do everything possible to prevent the occurrence of such a dangerous and unpleasant phenomenon. Try to lead a he althy lifestyle and take care of your body comprehensively. In no case do not ignore a visit to the doctor, because only he will be able to correctly diagnose the disease and prescribe a treatment that will be ideal for you, taking into account examinations and all the needs of your body. Take care of yourself and be he althy, and do not forget that you have only one he alth.
