A full-time GP and TV star is urging people to ‘get it checked’
A full-time GP and regular face on ITV, Dr Amir Khan, is urging people not to ignore bleeding from five parts of the body. The doctor took to Instagram on Wednesday to share this potentially life-saving advice.
He started by explaining that bright red blood in your stool could indicate an anal fissure or haemorrhoids. Dark, black, or tarry stools can signal bleeding in your stomach or small bowel, he added.
Blood in stools can also be a sign of inflammatory bowel disease, “but really importantly, it can be a sign of bowel cancer, especially if accompanied by things like abdominal pain, weight loss, or a change in bowel habits”. He stressed the importance of getting it “checked out”.
Next, he mentioned blood in the urine, saying: “This could be an infection, it could be a kidney stone, or it could be a chronic kidney disease issue – but it can also be a sign of bladder or kidney cancer, so get it checked”.
Blood in your vomit can be caused by a bleeding ulcer or a tear in your oesophagus if it’s bright red, he added, while dark “coffee ground-like” vomit suggests a bleed in your stomach. Dr Amir continued: “Sometimes coughed up blood can appear like vomit and that can be a sign of lung cancer or TB. Vomiting blood can also be a late sign of stomach or oesophageal cancer and is always worth getting checked out.”
The fourth warning sign, according to the GP, is unexpected vaginal bleeding outside of your regular menstrual cycle. He highlighted the seriousness of this symptom, saying: “Heavy, irregular bleeding can be a sign of fibroids, endometriosis, adenomyosis, or hormonal imbalances.
“Any bleeding from the vagina after the menopause should always be checked out. I can’t stress that enough. It doesn’t matter if it was small, if it stopped, if it hasn’t happened for weeks, if it happened just once and it was tiny, get it checked. It can be womb cancer.
“Bleeding between your periods can have a number of causes too, always worth looking at. Bleeding after sex can be a cervical polyp, can be an infection, but it could also be cervical cancer and is always worth investigating.”
Dr Amir also warned that ear bleeding is a symptom that should never be overlooked. He listed possible reasons, adding: “A ruptured eardrum, it could be an ear infection or an injury, but it could also be a sign of head trauma or a skull fracture”.
For those experiencing unexplained ear bleeding, the familiar face from Lorraine and This Morning advised seeking medical attention – “especially if it’s linked to hearing loss, pain, or dizziness. Always see a GP if you’re concerned”.