can drinking cause blood in stool?

If you’ve been drinking alcohol and noticed some blood in your stool, you may be suffering from gastrointestinal hemorrhage.

Gastrointestinal hemorrhage is bleeding found anywhere in the digestive system, including bleeding from the mouth to the rectum. This bleeding is caused by disorders within an individual’s digestive tract.

Gastrointestinal hemorrhage, also known as gastrointestinal bleeding, can be severe or mild. Some cases become fatal if the bleeding causes a significant amount of blood loss. The most common symptoms are black stool, pooping blood, or vomiting black or red blood.

Blood in the stool can have many causes: Alcohol, liver disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease, diverticulosis, peptic ulcers, colon cancer, proctitis, anal fissures, inflammatory bowel disease, tumors, and colon polyps can all be a cause.

Sometimes, the blood is not visible, and a fecal occult test is needed to check for hidden blood. Other times though, blood is visible both in the toilet and on the tissue. While pooping blood may be signaling a serious issue, this isn’t always the case.

Consuming too much alcohol may tear away at tissue and cause it to become more sensitive. These tears, called Mallory-Weiss tears, can cause significant bleeding and may lead to pooping blood. The tears can form anywhere in the digestive tract, including an individual’s intestines as well as their throat.

A damaged liver may cause veins in an individual’s esophagus to swell to abnormal sizes, making them susceptible to bleeding.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease is acid reflux that causes irritation and inflammation in the lower esophageal sphincter, where the gullet meets the stomach. This irritation causes gastrointestinal bleeding along the lining of the esophagus. The disease is also responsible for throat inflammation.

When the digestive tract lining develops small pockets or pouches, the condition is known as diverticulosis.

The condition affects almost 200,000 individuals yearly in the U.S. and usually has no symptoms until the pockets become inflamed. Inflammation is what causes the condition to worsen, thus causing gastrointestinal bleeding.

A peptic ulcer is a sore that develops on the small intestine or the stomach lining. It is the most common cause of gastrointestinal bleeding.The use of anti-inflammatory medications like Advil can contribute to peptic ulcer growth in the long term.

Small tears or cuts in the tissue that lines the anus can be painful. They are usually caused by passing hard stool or pooping blood.

Colitis is an inflammation of the colon.

Alcohol may cause various harmful effects on an individual’s gastrointestinal tract, including stomach inflammation, decreased nutrient absorption, diarrhea, dehydration, Crohn’s disease flares, and irritable bowel syndrome flares.

The best way to avoid the harmful effects of alcohol consumption would be to avoid alcohol. However, this isn’t a viable solution for everyone.

Other steps to take include:

In addition, you should avoid mixing drinks as it makes it harder for you to keep track of what you’ve been drinking, which may make you drink more alcohol.

If you’ve been drinking, you should also refrain from taking painkillers like paracetamol or aspirin if you have a headache, as they may damage the gut’s lining. You can instead try a cup of mint tea or an antacid.

Furthermore, try eating foods that are rich in carbohydrates before you start drinking. They may help slow the rate at which your body absorbs the alcohol. Soft drinks may also slow your drinking down, helping you drink less and, in turn, lessening the effects of alcohol on your stomach.

The long-term use of alcohol can cause bleeding in the intestines as well as the stomach. Bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract will turn the blood almost black. If you notice that you’re pooping blood or that your stool is dark or black, it may signal bleeding in the stomach. Visit your physician as soon as possible.

Did you just poop with blood? If you are a heavy drinker or consume alcohol too frequently, experiencing blood in stool is not surprising.

Having blood in stool after drinking is a clear indication of some underlying medical condition that has resulted in gastrointestinal hemorrhage and thus needs your attention. Multiple reasons could lead to tearing of the GI tract, resulting in blood in stool, black stool, and even throwing blood with vomiting. These include gastroesophageal reflux disease, liver cirrhosis, IBS, colon cancer, hemorrhoids, etc.

But how does alcohol trigger it all?

This article explores the hidden interaction of alcohol with our sensitive tissues that ultimately lead to blood in the stool.

Soon after drinking alcohol, you might have observed extreme stomach ache, bloating, and many other GI issues. The reason lies in the metabolism of alcohol.

Soon after one drinks alcohol, its prime component, ethanol, gets metabolized in the liver and breaks down into acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde is the prime ingredient that irritates the mucosa, the top lining of the GI tract, often leading to bleeding of surrounding capillaries and vessels.

This all ultimately results in either inflammation of sensitive tissues or tearing away.

In extreme cases, acetaldehyde can also disrupt gut bacteria production, leading to severe dysbiosis.

According to an NAAA study, alcohol is known to irritate the mucosal lining, which causes various metallic changes in the functioning of the normal gastrointestinal tract. As a result, it can lead to various health problems, such as liver diseases, gastritis, hemorrhoids, and an increased risk of colon cancer.

So, here are some of the possible ways in which alcohol impairs the normal functioning of our GI tract, thus leading to the onset of various medical conditions, followed by blood in the stool.

Once alcohol is ingested in our body, most of it is absorbed by the upper part of the stomach. However, if your stomach is already filled with food, or you have drunk too much, the excess alcohol is passed to the large intestine, which causes faster contraction and, thus, watery stools and less absorption of nutrients (diarrhea). This leads to the weakening of the GI tract and blood in the stool.

Another possibility behind blood in stools is liver cirrhosis.

When tolerated in the body, alcohol is metabolized in the liver, where its byproducts tear away the liver tissues, thus fueling the onset of various alcohol-related liver diseases, including liver cirrhosis.

In initial liver damage, the tissues try to repair themselves. But due to frequent alcohol consumption, metabolized products like acetaldehyde result in a permanent scar, leading to liver cirrhosis and, ultimately, a bloody stool.

And a study published in the Journal of Hepatology claims that excessive use of alcohol leads to an increased risk of various liver diseases, including liver cirrhosis.

Yes! You will probably be amazed to learn that alcohol is responsible for causing bowel cancer in every 1 in 7 people.

The excess alcohol, when not absorbed by the bloodstream, passes on and damages the bowel (colon and rectum) lining, eventually producing cancerous tumors.

Other than these, peptic ulcer, diverticulosis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease also occur, but overconsumption of alcohol leads to a weakened gut lining and, thus, results in stool with blood.

The best and the only viable way to prevent blood in stool in the future is to cut off alcohol consumption completely. However, it won’t be possible for everyone.

So, here are some easy preventative steps to go for:

Have you tried all the above prevention, but the problem of blood in stool persists? It means there is a prompt need to visit a gastroenterologist for proper diagnosis and treatment.

The treatment usually involves:

For people with less damage to the gut lining, doctors prefer prescribing them medicines like proton pump inhibitors, antacids, H2 blockers, etc. All these work by reducing the production of stomach acid, thus promoting the healing of the gut lining and alleviating conditions like blood in the stool.

If medications don’t work for you, or you experience massive blood loss while passing stool, gastroenterologists go for Endoscopy.

The inside of the digestive tract is examined by inserting a camera, and they look for signs like polyps, ulcers, and other medical problems that might be causing blood in the stool. Once the root cause is identified, they undergo further treatment (injections or surgery).

Where most abnormalities are handled using medicines and intravenous injections, colon cancer always needs surgery. So, if endoscopy confirms the presence of any cancerous tumor in the rectum or colon, surgery is done to remove the tumor and nearly infected lymph nodes, if any.

To cut it short, blood in stool after drinking clearly indicates some underlying medical condition, such as an infection of the GI tract, liver cirrhosis, or in the worst case, colon cancer.

In some cases, the problem of bloody stool may subside by reducing alcohol intake and adopting a better lifestyle. However, if it doesn’t, it is recommended to seek timely medication attention.

Certain disorders occur within the digestive tract, which can cause gastrointestinal bleeding. Gastrointestinal bleeding, also known as gastrointestinal hemorrhage, is any bleeding that is located anywhere within the digestive system. Any bleeding from the mouth to the rectum is gastrointestinal bleeding. Studies show that, on average, there are about 400,000 hospitalizations per year in the United States that account for two billion dollars in medical costs.

Gastrointestinal bleeding has the potential to cause a significant amount of blood to be lost during a short period of time. It can present vomiting red or black blood, blood in the stool, or black stool. This condition can be mild or severe, and can become life-threatening very quickly.

There are several causes for Gastrointestinal Bleeding, like Peptic Ulcer, Diverticulosis, GERD, Alcohol or Liver Disease. Other reasons for lower GI bleeding include colon polyps, tumors, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), anal fissures, and proctitis.

Treatment for gastrointestinal bleeding varies depending on the condition and the lifestyle of the patient. Patients who smoke or drink should quit their habits to allow the bleeding to subside. If damaging elements are removed, the bleeding can go away on its own. However, if the bleeding continues over time and the habits do not change, it can become chronic. It may not stop and worsen over time.

Doctors may also recommend an endoscopy. The procedure involves the use of an endoscope, which is a unique scope equipped with a small camera and a laser that goes down the throat. The device tunnels through the digestive tract and pinpoints the bleeding, and the laser attachment can help stop the bleeding. Antibiotics may also help inflammation.

The prognosis for a person with GI bleeding depends upon the cause and location of the bleeding, how bad the bleed is when the person sees the doctor, and any underlying medical conditions that may affect the patient’s recovery.

Gastrointestinal bleeding is dangerous because symptoms may not be recognized until the bleeding becomes chronic. Chronic gastrointestinal bleeding is much worse because the condition may not be easily reversible. Be sure to take notice of any irregularities in the stool color. Look for red or black colors, and always notify a doctor when blood is present in vomit, blood, or stool. Doctors can usually treat gastrointestinal bleeding as long as patients take the condition seriously. The Emergency Center provides up to 23 hours of observation to determine the severity of a Gastrointestinal Bleed.

A Gastrointestinal Bleed is very serious and can be life-threatening. If you have any signs of gastrointestinal bleeding, come to The Emergency Center immediately. We are here 24/7/365 if you or your family needs emergency care. Never second guess whether or not an illness is severe enough to require emergency attention.

The Emergency Center provides up to 23 hours of Observation and offers 24/7 care with NO WAITING. Visit  The Emergency Center’s convenient 24-hour location.

Consuming too much alcohol may tear away at tissue and cause it to become more sensitive. These tears, called Mallory-Weiss tears, can cause significant bleeding and may lead to pooping blood. The tears can form anywhere in the digestive tract, including an individual's intestines as well as their throat.

Certain disorders occur within the digestive tract, which can cause gastrointestinal bleeding. Gastrointestinal bleeding, also known as gastrointestinal hemorrhage, is any bleeding that is located anywhere within the digestive system. Any bleeding from the mouth to the rectum is gastrointestinal bleeding. Studies show that, on average, there are about 400,000 hospitalizations per year in the United States that account for two billion dollars in medical costs.

Gastrointestinal bleeding has the potential to cause a significant amount of blood to be lost during a short period of time. It can present vomiting red or black blood, blood in the stool, or black stool. This condition can be mild or severe, and can become life-threatening very quickly.

There are several causes for Gastrointestinal Bleeding, like Peptic Ulcer, Diverticulosis, GERD, Alcohol or Liver Disease. Other reasons for lower GI bleeding include colon polyps, tumors, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), anal fissures, and proctitis.

Treatment for gastrointestinal bleeding varies depending on the condition and the lifestyle of the patient. Patients who smoke or drink should quit their habits to allow the bleeding to subside. If damaging elements are removed, the bleeding can go away on its own. However, if the bleeding continues over time and the habits do not change, it can become chronic. It may not stop and worsen over time.

Doctors may also recommend an endoscopy. The procedure involves the use of an endoscope, which is a unique scope equipped with a small camera and a laser that goes down the throat. The device tunnels through the digestive tract and pinpoints the bleeding, and the laser attachment can help stop the bleeding. Antibiotics may also help inflammation.

The prognosis for a person with GI bleeding depends upon the cause and location of the bleeding, how bad the bleed is when the person sees the doctor, and any underlying medical conditions that may affect the patient’s recovery.

Gastrointestinal bleeding is dangerous because symptoms may not be recognized until the bleeding becomes chronic. Chronic gastrointestinal bleeding is much worse because the condition may not be easily reversible. Be sure to take notice of any irregularities in the stool color. Look for red or black colors, and always notify a doctor when blood is present in vomit, blood, or stool. Doctors can usually treat gastrointestinal bleeding as long as patients take the condition seriously. The Emergency Center provides up to 23 hours of observation to determine the severity of a Gastrointestinal Bleed.

A Gastrointestinal Bleed is very serious and can be life-threatening. If you have any signs of gastrointestinal bleeding, come to The Emergency Center immediately. We are here 24/7/365 if you or your family needs emergency care. Never second guess whether or not an illness is severe enough to require emergency attention.

The Emergency Center provides up to 23 hours of Observation and offers 24/7 care with NO WAITING. Visit  The Emergency Center’s convenient 24-hour location.