When to worry about blood in stool

Noticing streaks of red on your loo roll can be a troubling sight.

And while the NHS says “a small amount of one-off bleeding from the bottom is not usually a serious problem,” bleeding when you pass a stool can sometimes be a sign of more serious health issues. 

In a recent TikTok, Dr Karan Rajan was asked: “How do you tell the difference between bleeding from colon cancer versus haemorrhoids?” 

Though you should see your GP if you notice any changes you’re worried about, the doctor shared some signs that might suggest where your blood is coming from. 

How can I tell haemorrhoid bleeding vs.

something more serious?

That’s because it comes from higher up in your digestive system, so may have had a longer time to sit in your bowels ― the older it gets, the darker it becomes. 

It may even be “black and tarry” due to this, Dr Rajan explained. 

Meanwhile bleeding from something lower down your digestive tract, like haemorrhoids or an anal fissure, tends to be lighter red as it comes from veins near the anus. 

Then, there’s the placement of the b

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