Loose Bowel Movements (Diarrhea)

Occasional loose bowel movements may be normal, but having over three loose stools per day is a symptom of diarrhea.

Check characteristics of normal and excessive bowel movements. Read how to find the cause of loose bowel movements from medical symptoms.

Constipation

Constipation means having less than three bowel movements in a week.

Check the causes of chronic constipation and severe constipation.

continue reading Bowel Movement Problems

Bowel bleeding is a popular term for rectal bleeding, what refers to blood in the bowel movement.

These terms only mean that blood comes out from the bowel/rectum, but actual origin of the blood may be in the bowel (small/large intestine, rectum), stomach, esophagus, throat, mouth, nose, para-nasal sinuses, lungs (after swallowing blood) or any other organ from which the blood may flow into the bowel (for example in stitching injuries or metastatic cancer).

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• Blood in your Stool

How Does the Blood in the Stool Look Like?

The blood in the stool may appear as:

• Invisible (occult)
• Bright red fluid
• Red streaks on the stool surface
• Red or maroon colored stool
• Black tarry stool

Is Blood in the Stool a Symptom of a Dangerous Disorder?

When blood in the stool results from rough wiping or hemorrhoids, it is usually not dangerous. In most other cases, it may be a symptom of a serious disorder, and has to be checked by a doctor as soon as possible.

In general, blood in the stool from the end of the gut (anus, rectum) is bright red and liquid, and blood from the stomach or above is black and thick. Massive bleeding from the stomach may still appear as red blood, and blood from the rectum may be dark, since colonic bacteria may change it color (in several hours).

continue reading Causes of Blood in Your Stool and Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT)