Learn what different shades of blood mean and how they signal changes in your health or potential medical issues.

Bright red blood in your stool, also known as hematochezia, is a sign of bleeding in the lower digestive tract. It is most likely caused by a condition like hemorrhoids or diverticular disease.

When your period blood is bright red, it means that it passed through ... also common in the weeks after you give birth. Postpartum bleeding is called lochia. However, in some cases: Dark red ...

Bright red blood indicates fresh blood and a steady flow. A period may start with bright red bleeding and darken toward the end of the period. Some people may find that their blood stays bright ...

A burst hemorrhoid can cause bright red blood to appear during a bowel movement. Bleeding from the rectum can have causes other than hemorrhoids, so people should check with their doctor if they ...

You may see bright red blood on the toilet paper, or have drops of blood in the toilet after a bowel movement, Houghton says. Aside from bleeding, you may also have symptoms like pain, swelling ...

"Always call your doctor if you experience bright red bleeding — either continuous bleeding or a sudden gush of blood," says Gelfman. If you are bleeding and find that the blood is excessive (i ...

The first sign to look for is abnormal bleeding. Knowing if there is blood in your stool can be somewhat tricky, as blood can vary in appearance — from bright red to dark or tarry — depending ...