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What Causes Black Stool Along With Blood?

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Posted on Mon, 3 Aug 2015
Twitter Mon, 3 Aug 2015 Answered on
Twitter Tue, 25 Aug 2015 Last reviewed on
Question : I noticed that my stool is black, and recently saw blood in the toilet
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Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (36 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
it could be gastrointestinal bleeding

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

black stool (tarry black) signifies gastrointestinal bleeding, mostly of the upper gastrointestinal tract (stomach and duodenum in most cases).
Sometimes the stool may be dark (like black) but not really tarry black, because of iron supplementation, some types of food, etc

Fresh red blood in the toilet usually originates from the lower gastrointestinal tract (usually from dilated hemorrhoids or anal fissure). Rarely red blood may come out of the anus because of massive upper gastrointestinal bleeding but this is supposed to be accompanied by significant symptoms (like faintness, tachycardia, etc).

Black stool is a good reason to visit the emergency room, particularly if you have symptoms.

I hope you find my comments helpful!
You can contact me again, if you'd like any clarification or further information.

Kind Regards!
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis

Internal Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :1999

Answered : 3817 Questions

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What Causes Black Stool Along With Blood?

Brief Answer: it could be gastrointestinal bleeding Detailed Answer: Hello, black stool (tarry black) signifies gastrointestinal bleeding, mostly of the upper gastrointestinal tract (stomach and duodenum in most cases). Sometimes the stool may be dark (like black) but not really tarry black, because of iron supplementation, some types of food, etc Fresh red blood in the toilet usually originates from the lower gastrointestinal tract (usually from dilated hemorrhoids or anal fissure). Rarely red blood may come out of the anus because of massive upper gastrointestinal bleeding but this is supposed to be accompanied by significant symptoms (like faintness, tachycardia, etc). Black stool is a good reason to visit the emergency room, particularly if you have symptoms. I hope you find my comments helpful! You can contact me again, if you'd like any clarification or further information. Kind Regards!