What Causes Blood In Stool?

Peptic Ulcer

The underlying cause of blood in the stool may be the presence of a peptic ulcer. A peptic ulcer describes sores that form in an individual's small intestine or stomach lining. Ulcers that develop in the stomach lining are referred to as gastric ulcers, while ulcers that develop in the upper portion of the small intestine are referred to as duodenal ulcers. Peptic ulcers form when an individual's inner stomach or duodenal lining is being eaten away by acids in their digestive tract. Healthy individuals have a mucus layer that protects the duodenal and stomach lining, but an increase in acid or a decrease in mucus can cause an individual to develop a peptic ulcer. Excessive use of non-steroidal inflammatory drugs, steroids, SSRIs, risedronate, anticoagulants, and alendronate can cause a peptic ulcer. An infection by helicobacter pylori bacteria can cause a gastric ulcer by irritating the inner stomach layer. Peptic ulcers are known to bleed and cause an affected individual to vomit red or black blood depending on the location of the ulcer. Black or tarry blood may also appear in stools. Dark coffee ground material in the stool indicates an ulcer in the stomach, where non-grainy dark blood in the stool indicates an ulcer in the duodenum.

Learn about a serious cause behind blood in the stool now.