It is easy to pass, and it remains intact when it is flushed. Stool types 5 through 7 are watery and mushy. These stools are in the large intestine and colon for the least amount of time and may present in the form of diarrhea. Stools that are gray in color may also be concerning for liver problems.
This could be caused by a disease of the intestinal lining such as celiac disease or chronic pancreatitis. To keep your bowel movements frequent and healthy, Dr. Cheng suggests the following tips:. Eat a balanced, high-fiber diet. Fiber can help prevent or relieve constipation. Try fiber-rich foods like apples, carrots, beans, and whole wheat cereals. Exercise regularly. Exercise can decrease the time it takes for food to move through the large intestine, helping with constipation.
Get a colonoscopy. Colonoscopies allow doctors to look for polyps inside the colon and rectum, which could be an early sign of cancer. Consider scheduling a screening if you:. Stay hydrated. You can request an appointment by calling or filling out a form online. Previous Next. View Larger Image. We all do it! But have you ever experienced a sudden change in your stools? Maybe they turned green or black one day? Or you went three days without pooping — when you usually go at least once a day!
Or maybe it has a foul odor — and not even the air freshener can mask it! Understanding the Bristol Stool Scale The Bristol Stool Scale is a useful reference for patients and healthcare professionals to check if the form of poop is healthy — looking at size, shape and consistency. But what can the Bristol Stool Scale tell you about your health? Constipation can be an indicator of the following conditions: Poor lifestyle choices — A sedentary lifestyle, a diet lacking in nutrition or simply not drinking enough plain water.
Diabetes — Poorly managed diabetes can damage the nerves supplying the digestive tract, causing constipation. Thyroid conditions — Low levels of thyroid hormone often leads to chronic constipation. Pregnancy — An increase in the hormone progesterone during pregnancy relaxes the muscles in the lining of the digestive tract, leading to more sluggish movement of the bowels and constipation.
Bowel obstruction — When a blockage inside your colon prevents your waste from passing through your digestive tract, constipation can be one of the first signs, but abdominal pain or cramping and a bloated stomach are other important indicators. Stool Color The color of adult poop can also reveal a lot about your health: Dark brown — A healthy color caused by bilirubin — a pigment released by the breakdown of old red blood cells.
Bowel Movements and Colon Cancer There are several bowel movement characteristics that are red flags for colon cancer. When to See a Doctor About Your Poop Either due to embarrassment or minimizing their symptoms, many patients wait before booking an appointment with a gastroenterologist — often taking months to give us a call.
Still wondering if you should book an appointment? Have you experienced: Blood in your stool or in the toilet bowl? A significant change in bowel movements — for example, have you gone from two daily bowel movements to only going every other day? Chronic diarrhea? Chronic constipation? Do you have questions about your poop and your health?
Request an appointment to discuss your bowel movements with a Penn Medicine primary care provider online or by calling Get information on a variety of health conditions, disease prevention, and our services and programs. It's advice from our physicians delivered to you on your time.
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