Why Is My Poop Red? Discover Potential Causes and When to Seek Help

Red poop can be caused by foods like beets or by bleeding in the lower digestive tract. See a doctor if there is no food cause.

Common causes

• Foods: beets, tomatoes, red gelatin, red drinks.
• Hemorrhoids.
• Anal fissures.
• Diverticulosis.
• Colitis, IBD.
• Polyps or colon cancer.

Color clues

Bright red blood usually comes from the lower tract. Black, tarry stool suggests upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

What to do

Think about what you ate.

See a doctor

If the red persists.

Emergency

Heavy bleeding, dizziness or pain. Call 911.

Color clues

Red stool is often from bleeding in the lower digestive tract, such as hemorrhoids, anal fissures, diverticular disease, inflammatory bowel disease or colorectal polyps and cancer. Foods and medicines can also redden stool: beets, red gelatin, tomato juice, cranberries and red food dye.

• Bright red blood on tissue or in the bowl commonly comes from hemorrhoids or fissures.
• Black, tarry stool (melena) suggests bleeding higher up, like the stomach.
• Maroon stool with cramping suggests bleeding in the colon or small intestine.
• Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in the US, and screening is recommended starting at age 45.

What to do

If you ate red foods, the color should clear within a day or two. See a doctor for blood in stool lasting more than a couple of days, or with changes in bowel habits, weight loss or fatigue. Go to the emergency department for large amounts of blood, dizziness, fainting, rapid heartbeat or severe abdominal pain. Tests include blood count, colonoscopy and stool tests.

Color clues

Red stool can come from hemorrhoids, anal fissures, diverticular bleeding, or foods like beets and red gelatin. Bright red usually means lower GI bleeding, while black tarry stool suggests upper GI bleeding.

What to do

See a doctor for red blood in stool, especially with dizziness, pain or if it persists. Emergency care for heavy bleeding.

Possible causes

Red stool can come from food and drink, such as beets, tomato products, red gelatin and fruit punch, or from bleeding in the lower digestive tract. Hemorrhoids and anal fissures are the most common sources of bright red blood on toilet paper or in the bowl. Diverticular disease, colitis, polyps, infections and colorectal cancer can also cause blood.

What to do

If you ate red foods and the color fades, it is likely harmless. Bright red blood with pain or in large amounts, black tarry stool (upper gastrointestinal bleeding), dizziness, fainting, fast heartbeat or abdominal pain are reasons to seek urgent care. Any unexplained rectal bleeding in adults, especially over age 45, should be evaluated by a doctor, who may order a colonoscopy. Colorectal cancer screening starts at age 45 for average risk adults in the US.

Based on data from the American Cancer Society and the Mayo Clinic