Bowel movements are generally considered private and even a little bit embarrassing. You probably don’t talk about them with your friends and you might not even want to discuss such intimate things with your own physician. However, bowel movements can reveal a lot about your overall health. Here, we will look at what is normal.
Comfortable Bowel Movements
Your bowel movements should never cause pain or distress. They should always be comfortable. In fact, you should not have to push excessively. The entire experience should feel smooth and easy.
You should also make note of the color, shape, and size to ensure that everything looks good. Also, the smell might matter, so don’t overlook it if the smell of your stool is much nastier than usual.
What color is “normal”
Stool usually ranges in color from brown to green. This usually depends on the food you have consumed in the last three days. If your stool appears green, then it might have taken less time to digest. However, any time your stool appears black or tar-like, you should be concerned because this may be a sign of internal bleeding.
What number of Bowel Movements is normal?
Normal bowel habits vary greatly between people. Some people might have a bowel movement three times a week and others more frequently. However, if you do not have a bowel movement at least three times every seven days then you might be constipated.
You should also monitor changes. If you have always experienced a bowel movement every other day but then you start having three a day, you may consider seeking medical advice because you might have some underlying condition that has caused the change in bowel habit. Never ignore dramatic bowel changes, especially in older people as this may be the only warning sign of colon cancer.
Frequent bowel movements might indicate that you ate something that does not agree with you. Also, dehydration can reduce the frequency of your bowel movements. However, if the unusual frequency continues then you’ll want to seek medical help.
Loose Stool
Loose stool could indicate celiac disease. People who have celiac disease cannot digest gluten. Over time, it ends up ruining the villi, which are the tiny finger-like protrusions located inside of your small intestines. Once the damage occurs, you can suffer from abdominal pain, gas, nausea, and loose stool. Many people who suffer from celiac disease remain undiagnosed because the symptoms are so vague.
In people with celiac disease, a gluten-free diet helps with the absorption of food and can tighten stool. If you suspect that you have celiac disease, consult with your physician.
Floating Stool
Sometimes stool floats in the water of the toilet. Usually, floating stool means that it is filled with gas from the digestive tract. This is usually the result of a change in diet. However, if your stool frequently floats then there might be a problem.
If the stool looks greasy or oil-covered then you might be consuming too much fatty food. Also, it can mean that your body is unable to effectively absorb the fat from the foods you are eating. The failure to absorb fat can occur with pancreatitis or malabsorption syndromes such as celiac disease. If you start to notice that your stools have become greasy, floating and foul smelling, consult with your physician to determine if there might be a problem.
Constipation
If you open your bowels daily, then you probably don’t think you are constipated. However, even with daily bowel movements, you still might suffer from constipation.
If your stool is hard or lumpy OR if you have to strain to have a bowel movement, you may have inadequate fiber intake which can lead to constipation.
The recommended daily intake of fibre for an adult is 15 grams but many people do not consume enough fibre. Try to read the labels on your foods to check for fiber content. Also, consider keeping a food journal to monitor how much fiber you are eating daily. Add fruits, whole grains, nuts, seeds, beans, and vegetables to your diet to increase your fiber intake.
The Shape of Stool
Healthy stool looks like a hot dog or sausage link. It is not too hard and not too soft. Deviations in appearance might indicate a problem such as constipation or irritable bowel syndrome. Other causes of stool shape changes include Crohn’s disease, cancer, and bowel obstruction. If your stool looks like pencil lead or thin ribbons, then you might want to schedule an appointment with your doctor to make sure everything is okay.
Medication and Bowel Changes
If you take a prescription medication, it might cause diarrhea. Certain meds, such as metformin, antibiotics, antacids, and NSAIDs, can all cause loose stools.
Some over the counter drugs can lead to color changes too. Iron supplements are notorious for causing black stool. However, the discoloration is always temporary and harmless.
Bloody Stool
Any time you notice blood in your stool,you should pay close attention and report it to your physician. The bloody stool can indicate cancer, peptic ulcers, anal fissures, hemorrhoids, and a variety of other conditions. Blood in stool might appear bright red or the stool might simply be black and tar-like.
