After the kids get out of diapers, no one seems to talk about bathroom habits anymore. Our trips to the restroom are kept private in our society, and “potty talk” is considered impolite and even taboo. Change in the frequency, color and texture of stools is actually one of the major symptoms of colon cancer, so it is time that we set social norms aside in favor of our digestive health. After all, our poop is one of our only indicators of our digestive health.
Anish Sheth, M.D., is the author of What’s Your Poo Telling You? She says that we should not get caught up in day-to-day changes regarding bowel movements, but look for “consistent changes.” Alterations in our stool can be caused by the food we eat or how much water we are drinking or not drinking (Source: Prevention). Here are a few indicators that you may want to visit your doctor to evaluate your digestive health:
- Your poop is black or bright red. This is usually an indicator that you have a bleed in your GI tract. It may be something harmless like hemorrhoids or it could be due to an ulcer or cancer. Over-the-counter medications like Pepto-Bismol turns your stool black and tarry, so consider whether you have taken any different medication in the past few days. If you are concerned, make an appointment right away with your doctor.
- Your poop is loose but not diarrhea. You may want to talk to your doctor about getting tested for celiac disease. Only about one percent of the U.S. population has celiac disease, but almost 85 percent of those affected are unaware. Having celiac disease means that you are allergic to gluten, a protein in wheat, rye and barley. Gluten harms the small protrusions in your small intestines called the villi and that would be a major contributor in having loose stools. The good news is that gluten screenings are common and easy, and the treatment is to switch to a gluten-free diet.
- Your poop is pencil-thin. You may just be constipated, or it could be indicative of a bigger problem. Sometimes, thin stools can mean rectal cancer or colon cancer. In the case of rectal cancer, the tumor is rigid and fills some of the space in the rectum so there is less space for the stool to pass through. If your symptoms persist for more than a few days, call your doctor and make an appointment.
