Does a change in poop color indicate a health problem? You really need to look at it after you poop!

Do you look back after you poop?

"No! Because I can't pull it out..."

Why is my poop so black?

Is smelly poop a disease?

Is it a big deal if there is red blood on the poop?

Regarding poop, you must read this popular science article!

We can judge whether poop is healthy from three aspects: shape, color and smell !

The shape of normal stool: mostly cylindrical , similar to a banana or intestine, not too dry or moist .

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The color of normal stool is mostly light yellow or light brown , because the stool contains bilirubin produced by the decomposition of red blood cells.

The smell of normal stool: It is usually smelly because it contains indole and skatole . The poop of people who like to eat meat often smells stronger than that of vegetarians.

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It is normal to have 1 to 3 bowel movements a day, or once every two to three days !

Because intestinal peristalsis affects the frequency of bowel movements, it takes a certain amount of time to digest food and absorb nutrients ;

In addition, due to various factors such as diet, age, and lifestyle habits, there are individual differences in the frequency of bowel movements among different people .

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Attention! When your bowel movement frequency becomes less (less than 3 times a week) , and the stool is dry and hard to pass, accompanied by a feeling of incomplete defecation and the need for auxiliary means to defecate, then it is constipation .

The color of poop can indeed reflect intestinal health. So what kind of health status do poops of different colors reflect?

Let’s take a look at it——

Dark brown or black stools

Before judging whether it is a disease, we must first rule out food and medicine. Some foods, such as pig blood, duck blood, etc., can cause black stools ;

In addition, certain drugs can also cause black stools, such as bismuth in stomach medicine, iron supplements taken by patients with iron deficiency anemia, charcoal powder, etc. This type of stool is usually not shiny .

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If there is no influence of food or medicine, you should pay attention if dark brown or black stools appear!

It is usually caused by upper gastrointestinal bleeding, such as gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer, etc.

Bright red

It is common in hemorrhoids and anal fissures , and is caused by excessive force during defecation, which causes the mucosa to be scratched.

Dark red

It usually indicates lower gastrointestinal bleeding, which is common in dysentery, ulcerative colitis, colorectal cancer, etc.

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Off-white

It may be caused by bile duct obstruction, such as gallstones, cholecystitis, etc.

Bile cannot flow into the intestines, causing the stool to appear grayish white.

green

It may be caused by intestinal, bile duct diseases or indigestion, such as gastroenteritis, parasitic infection, etc.

Eating large amounts of foods containing chlorophyll, such as spinach, broccoli, etc., may also cause your stool to appear green.

① Patients with occasional or long-term diarrhea;

② Patients with long-term constipation (including constipation after medication);

③ Patients with unexplained abdominal pain, bloating, and indigestion around the navel;

④ Found abnormal stool color, changes in stool characteristics, etc.;

⑤ Undigested food and oily spots are clearly visible in the stool;

⑥ Patients with fever of unknown cause;

⑦ Patients clinically suspected of having gastric cancer, colon cancer, pancreatic cancer, etc.;

⑧ Those with a history of intestinal parasites (the type of intestinal parasites can be determined);

⑨Patients with jaundice due to various reasons.

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Diet and medication precautions

To avoid interference, do not eat spicy or indigestible food, animal blood or iron-rich food 3 days before the examination .

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If not necessary for treatment, it is best to stop taking iron supplements, clamp drugs and vitamin C.

No feces discharged after enema

Pick up bean-sized pieces of feces and put them into the feces container. Do not keep feces excreted after enema or using oil laxatives .

Must not be contaminated by urine

The stool specimens collected must not be contaminated by urine (especially during menstruation).

Note on sampling location

If there is no abnormality in the appearance of the stool, take samples from different parts of the surface and inside several times; if there is abnormality in the appearance, try to take the stool stained with mucus or blood .

Timely inspection

Correctly place the specimen in the sampling cup and send it for inspection in time to avoid affecting the test results.

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It is recommended to have a routine stool examination at least once a year .

People with a history of intestinal diseases or those at high risk need to pay closer attention and increase the frequency of examinations according to the doctor's advice to better monitor intestinal health.

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1

diet

You should eat more foods rich in dietary fiber, vitamins and minerals to maintain normal intestinal function.

2

Work and rest

Regular diet and adequate sleep should be ensured to allow the intestines to fully rest and repair.

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3

sports

Choose moderate exercise according to individual differences , such as walking, yoga, etc., to promote intestinal peristalsis, improve intestinal blood circulation, and prevent intestinal diseases .

4

psychology

Maintain a good attitude, adjust your emotions, and avoid excessive anxiety and stress .

Pay attention! Stool routine

It is an important method to maintain intestinal health

Regular inspection, timely detection and timely intervention

Lay a solid foundation for good health

Prevent intestinal diseases

Let’s start with daily exercise and diet.

Statement: This article is a medical-related educational popular science article. It does not involve specific treatment methods or medical behaviors and cannot replace hospital visits.

Author

References

1. Li Zenglie. Is your bowel movement normal? [J]. Family Medicine, 2011(10):54-55.

2. What conditions can cause stool color changes? PLA Health, 1998(1):38-38.

3. Tang Shifang. What problems can be found in routine stool examination? Family Health (Popular Medical Science), 2019(9):60-60.

4. Meng Qingyi, Liu Yuanyuan. Routine stool examination and clinical interpretation. Doctor Online, 2021, 11(5): 30-31.

Content Production

Editor: Yang Yali

Map: Eastern Zhou Dynasty