Red Poop: What Are the Causes?

Although green poop is not a cause for concern, red poop is. Hematochezia, the scientific term for red poop, is caused by bleeding in the digestive tract or rectum. The blood stains the stools, making it bright red to maroon in color. It is also caused by other factors, such as eating bright red foods or taking iron supplements. Hematochezia is the most common cause of red poop, however.

Red Poop Causes: What is Hematochezia?
Hematochezia describes the color of bloody stools when it passes through the rectum. Hematochezia is easily defined by your stool's appearance, bright red to almost black in appearance. Darker colors indicate more blood loss. Hematochezia is commonly caused by bleeding in the GI tract, although it is also caused by rectal fissures and internal hemorrhoids.

Other Causes: Health Issues
More specifically, bloody poop is caused by internal hemorrhoids and Diverticulitis. Both conditions are not life threatening. Internal hemorrhoids stain stools by mixing in with poop before defecation. Diverticulitis, a disease that affects the colon, causes poop to look bright or rust colored. In rare instances it causes black stools.

Other health issues that cause bloody poop are ulcerative colitis or a gastrointestinal hemorrhage. The upper GI tract bleeding is indicated by dark red stools, requiring immediate treatment. Both conditions require immediate treatment, however. A persistent red color or other symptoms, such as cramping and vomiting, also require medical attention.

Non-Health Related Causes: Food
Another cause is food, especially strongly colored food or food modified with food coloring. According to the National Institutes of Health, licorice, beets, tomatoes, and blueberries cause dark maroon colored stools. It is usually dark in appearance. Physicians still encourage you to seek medical care because colored stools may still indicate gastrointestinal issues, not food.

Supplemental Causes: Iron Supplementation
Iron pills also cause dark stools, although not as commonly. Stools should look dark maroon to black in appearance. Iron is naturally this color in the body but turns stools brown when it leaves the rectum. If the body does it digest it properly, however, it causes the stools to turn maroon or black.

Red Poop: Are These Causes Serious?
If you produce rust or maroon colored stools for more than two days, it may indicate a serious digestive issue. The only way to confirm this is by visiting a doctor. This is not a laughing matter - see a doctor immediately if you have persistent red or bloody stools. The most common causes of red poop are fatal if not treated.

Sources:
Jacob L. Heller M.D., "Bloody or Tarry Stools" (National Institutes of Health)
Donna Myers, "There's Bright Red Blood in My Stool" (About.com)