Changes in bowel movements are something you shouldn’t ignore. As unpleasant as they can be to talk about with a doctor, such changes can often be a sign of digestive health problems and opening up about them is often vital to getting a diagnosis and treatment. Just what are some of the poop problems you should be wary of? This post delves into some of the unusual symptoms to look out for.
Changes in colour
A healthy stool should always be brown in colour. While changes in diet can cause our poop to come out in different shades of brown, small changes in colour are usually nothing to worry about. You should be more worried if your stools are coming out reddish – this is a sign of bleeding that could be important to keep an eye on. Black stools require urgently seeing a doctor, as this usually indicates internal bleeding. Light grey stools can meanwhile indicate a liver or pancreas issue. This stool colour chart goes into more detail.
Changes in consistency
It’s not healthy to have hard solid stools. Neither should your bowel movements be loose and watery. The former is often a sign of constipation. The latter is a sign of diarrhoea. It’s important to keep track of the consistency of your bowel movements – the odd hard or watery stool is usually nothing to worry about, but if it’s a regular occurrence, this is a sign of a problem that could be important to diagnose.
Changes in frequency
How often are you needing to poo? Average daily bowel movements can vary greatly depending on a person’s lifestyle and diet. Some people need to go several times per day, while others happily go every other day – and either one can be healthy. When does the frequency of bowel movements become unhealthy? Usually, if you have to go more than three times per day or if you go more than three days without passing a stool (three is the danger number!).
Loss of control
Many people experience incontinence – particularly as they get older. Urinary incontinence is most common, however faecal incontinence is very common too. This condition can have many different causes including IBS, allergies, spinal injuries, MS, medication, diet or dementia. If it has come on suddenly, it is worth seeing a doctor. There is not always a treatment for incontinence, however there are ways to manage this condition including practising kegels and changing one’s diet. You can also buy incontinence pads for men and women that can catch leaks.
Pain while passing stools
Going to the loo shouldn’t be painful. A common cause of painful poos is haemorrhoids (also known as ‘piles’). These are swollen veins around the rectum that can get irritated and may bleed. Fortunately, there are many treatments for haemorrhoids that are worth looking into. This is not the only cause of pain while passing stools, and it may be worth seeing a doctor if you don’t think you have piles but are experiencing pain.