Bloody or Tarry Stools

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Bloody or Tarry Stools: Prevention

• Eat vegetables and foods rich in natural fiber and low in saturated fat. These may reduce constipation, hemorrhoids, diverticulosis, and colon cancer.
• Take blood thinners carefully as prescribed. Follow your doctor's instructions for checking bleeding times.
• Avoid prolonged, excessive use of NSAIDS (ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin). These can irritate the stomach and cause ulcers.
• Avoid drinking excessive alcohol. This can irritate the lining of the esophagus and stomach.
• Don't smoke. It is linked to peptic ulcers and cancers of the GI tract.
• Try to avoid too much stress -- a possible factor in peptic ulcer disease.
• If your doctor diagnoses you with a Helicobacter infection (often related to ulcers), he may recommend antibiotics to prevent a bleeding ulcer in the future.

The American Cancer Society recommends the following screening tests after age 50 for early detection of colon cancer. The earlier you detect colon cancer, the more likely treatment will be successful. These tests also detect precancerous lesions:

• Fecal occult blood testing every year.
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy or barium enema every five years.
• Colonoscopy every 10 years.

Screening tests should be started earlier if you have a family history of colon cancer or polyps. Tests should also be performed more frequently if you have had polyps, colon cancer, or inflammatory bowel disease.