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First Aid & Emergencies

Call 911 NOW if you are having:

  • Chest Pain
  • Difficulty Breathing
  • Severe Bleeding
  • Sudden Weakness or Numbness
  • A Medical Emergency
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Rectal Bleeding Treatment

Call 911 if you have:

  • Large amounts of rectal bleeding or nonstop bleeding
  • Shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, or extreme weakness with bleeding
  • Black or deep maroon bleeding
  • A history of liver disease, bleeding disorder, severe anemia, or a bleeding ulcer

1. Call the Doctor

  • Make an appointment to see your health care provider. While some causes of blood with bowel movements are minor, others, such as colon cancer, are serious.

 

2. Monitor Symptoms

  • Before the appointment with your health care provider, keep track of color and consistency of the blood and stool. Also keep track of symptoms such as rectal or abdominal pain, rectal pressure, constipation, diarrhea, cramping, fever, or mucus and pus in the stools.

 

 

3. Follow Up

  • The health care provider may do a rectal exam and order tests, such as a colonoscopy, to find the cause. Rectal bleeding may stem from hemorrhoids, anal fissures, anal abscesses or fistulas, diverticulosis, diverticulitis, inflammatory bowel disease, ulcers, polyps, or colon cancer.

 

WebMD Medical Reference

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Reviewed by Andrew Seibert, MD on October 02, 2011
© 2011 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.

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