Lower gastrointestinal bleeding, this is the cause

Lower gastrointestinal bleeding is a signal given by the body that there are certain diseases that we are suffering from. This condition may be a sign of a certain disease that needs immediate examination and treatment. The digestive tract is an organ in the body that functions to digest, absorb, and process nutrients from food and drinks to support life. In general, the digestive tract is divided into two parts, namely the top and bottom. The lower gastrointestinal tract covers part of the small intestine, large intestine, rectum, to the anus. If your stool is black or mixed with blood, there may be lower GI bleeding. Lower gastrointestinal bleeding refers to all kinds of bleeding that occurs in some small intestine, large intestine, rectum, and anus. Lower gastrointestinal bleeding is not a kind of disease, but one of the signs or symptoms of the disease. Here are some diseases that can cause lower GI bleeding:

• Hemorrhoids, which are swollen blood vessels in and around the anus. This disease is the most common cause of the appearance of bright red blood or fresh blood from the lower digestive tract. Hemorrhoids can indeed rupture and cause itching around the anus, but this disease can also heal by itself. If the size of the hemorrhoids is large or interferes with activity, you should immediately see a doctor.
• Intestinal infections, for example due to diarrhea or gastroenteritis. These lower gastrointestinal infections are often caused by viruses, but can also be due to bacteria or parasites, such as amoebas. In bacterial or amoebic infections, gastroenteritis can be as symptomatic as bloody diarrhea and foul smelling, accompanied by fever as in dysentery.
• Neoplasia or colorectal cancer, which is colon cancer (colon) and rectal cancer (the end of the large intestine, before the anus). Symptoms are often accompanied by anemia, abdominal pain, changes in the pattern of bowel movements, difficult bowel movements, and the most frequent is bleeding in the rectum. If it has developed into an advanced stage, this malignant disease can also cause enlargement of the liver, a buildup of fluid in the abdominal cavity (ascites), a lump in the stomach, and drastic weight loss. To detect cancer early you can check vague blood screening, DNA screening in feces, colonoscopy, and sigmoidoscopy. Colonoscopy examination is recommended to be carried out every 10 years, starting from the age of 50 years. Risk factors for colorectal cancer include Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, a family history of colorectal cancer, a diet high in red meat and low in fiber, consumption habits of alcoholic beverages, obesity, and smokers.
• Anal fissure, which is a small tear in the anal skin that can be painful because of very sensitive anal skin. Anal fissure can often heal itself in a few weeks. If there is a wound in the anus, we may feel the need to defecate even in the digestive tract
• Intestinal polyps, which are tissue growth in the large intestine or rectum and can be the beginning of cancer. Intestinal polyps are common and often cause no symptoms. There are two types of intestinal polyps, namely: hyperplastic type and adenoma type. Adenoma type intestinal polyps are types of polyps that can develop into colorectal cancer if not treated early.
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), which is an inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract consisting of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Ulcerative colitis, is inflammation and bleeding in the rectum and colon that were small but become enlarged. Crohn's disease is a long-term disease that causes inflammation in the walls of the ducts. Symptoms of both diseases can resemble one another, namely abdominal pain that often disappears, bowel movements or diarrhea that is sometimes accompanied by blood that often appears at night, malnutrition, weight loss body, fever, and pain or discomfort when bowel movements. 50 percent of people with Crohn's disease will complain of anomalous disorders such as fistulas or perianal abscesses. If not treated properly, the disease is at risk of causing gastrointestinal cancer.
• Diverticulum disease, which is the appearance of protuberances or small pockets in the walls of the large intestine. These bulges contain blood vessels that can burst suddenly and cause bleeding. Bleeding in this disease is usually not accompanied by pain, and when defecation will appear fresh blood. When the bag or bulge in the large intestine is inflamed, diverticulitis will occur, which is inflammation of the diverticulum due to infection or rupture of blood vessels. Symptoms can include sudden stomach pain, fever, and diarrhea.
• Vascular abnormalities or angiodisplasia. As we get older, abnormalities can occur in the large intestinal blood vessels to cause recurrent bleeding without pain.
• Ischemic colitis, inflammation of the large intestine (colon) due to insufficient blood flow to the area. This disorder often appears in the age group above 60 years. This disease is caused by the presence of blood clots that block blood vessels in the large intestine. This condition is more at risk for patients with heart failure, arrhythmias, diabetes, low blood pressure, aortic surgery history, and the use of drugs that can cause constipation.
• Radiation enteritis, the condition of damage to the intestinal lining due to radiation therapy to treat cancer, especially cancers in the pelvic or abdominal areas such as cervical cancer, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, and colorectal cancer.

Seeing that many diseases that may cause lower gastrointestinal bleeding, it is necessary to do a thorough and thorough examination to determine the cause. You need to do regular routine checks, especially if there are complaints that should not be taken lightly like this. To explore the causes and symptoms, the doctor will conduct a general physical examination and rectal examination. Other investigations may be needed such as a special x-ray called barium x-ray, angiography, radionuclide scan, abdominal CT scan, and endoscopy. Now, if you already know the cause of lower gastrointestinal bleeding, the doctor can immediately take appropriate and effective treatment measures. Medications to overcome lower gastrointestinal disorders need to be adjusted according to the cause. If you already have other complications such as anemia or dehydration, you may need to be hospitalized to get adequate treatment. Colon surgery is highly recommended if there is colorectal cancer. Endoscopy in addition to the examination (diagnostic) can also be done to stop the bleeding and take a sample of the lower gastrointestinal tissue for examination (biopsy procedure). After bleeding can be controlled, you may be asked to take medication so that the lower gastrointestinal bleeding does not recur again. Lower gastrointestinal bleeding you should be aware of especially if there are other symptoms or factors, such as fever, severe abdominal pain, weakness or weakness, pale skin, weight loss with no known cause, history of anal sex, and family history of cancer. colorectal. Do not wait until the condition is severe, so aware if your stool is black or mixed with blood, the possibility of lower gastrointestinal bleeding and other dangerous diseases especially if there are symptoms above, you are advised to immediately go to the doctor to get a diagnosis and proper treatment.