What causes rectal bleeding?
There are several reasons why people pass blood when they open their bowels. Specialists will check you thoroughly, and carry out a rectal examination. They may arrange further tests such as a barium enema (passing barium into the rectum) or bowel telescope procedure (known as a sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy) to discover where the blood came from. One cause of heavy blood loss is haemorrhoids or piles – these are cushion pads of body tissue that are normally inside the entrance to the bowel, in the mucosa or lining of the rectum. They have a large blood supply and may stick out through the anus or opening of the bowel but settle back in after a while. Piles aren’t usually painful unless they remain stuck out and then thrombose. This is called strangulation, and can cause the piles to bleed. The blood is usually bright red, and may be accompanied by mucus and itching. Bleeding can also be caused by a fissure or tear in the anus. This may be a result of constipation and the passage of har
