4 Things Your Poop Is Telling You about Your Health

In some cases, your body can tell you there is something wrong before you start feeling really sick. One thing that can tell you a lot about your health is your bowel movements. Below are four things that indicate your poop may be trying to tell you something.

Constipation

If you have been feeling constipated lately and this is something that is not normal for you, you should first look to see if you have made any changes to your diet. Fiber adds bulk to your stools, and not getting enough of it will make your poop dry. Get some fiber by eating raisins, bananas, oranges, oatmeal, oat bran muffins, and more.

If you change your diet and still have constipation, it could be the sign of a medical condition, such as:

Chronic Diarrhea

Chronic diarrhea means you have diarrhea on a regular basis. This could be due to something like a food allergy or side effects of a medication you may be taking. It can also be the sign of something much more serious. For example, you could have an infection, inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, or an endocrine disorder.

Chronic diarrhea can make you become dehydrated, so if you have this problem, make sure you drink enough water.

Poop Color

The color of poop is generally brown because of bile, which is produced in your liver. In some cases, medication, the food you eat, or the things you drink can temporarily change the color of your poop. If the color is not due to this, however, this is a red flag. If your poop is black, this likely means you are bleeding somewhere internally. This can be the result of colon cancer or an ulcer. Poop that is much lighter than normal, much like gray clay, could be a sign that you have a block in your bile duct or have liver disease.

Blood in Stool

If you notice blood in your stool, this could be due to hemorrhoids, or you may have tiny tears in your anal tissue because of straining during constipation. Blood in stool is also a symptom of colorectal cancer, so you should take this symptom very seriously.

See your family physician if you notice any of these symptoms or changes in your bowel movements. There are tests your primary care physician can do to make sure you do not have a serious problem and get you any treatment you may need. Click here for info on one of the healthcare organizations you could look at if you don't currently have a primary care physician. 


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