Is Your Poop Normal?

June 7, 2022

It’s a fact of life, even if no one talks about very often, if at all: everyone poops. When the body digests food, it needs to get rid of the waste, either in the form of urine or stool. The stool may include some undigested food, bacteria, and more. While everyone does poop, there can also be a fair amount of variance when it comes to not only how often they go to the bathroom, but also how easy or hard it is to pass stool, and also, differences in the stool’s appearance. Due to this variance, many individuals may find themselves wondering whether or not their poop would be considered normal, or if they should be concerned.

Frequency Of Bowel Movements

For the most part, individuals do not have to worry about the frequency of their bowel movements on a day to day basis. On average, individuals can expect to urinate roughly six to eight times in a day if they are well-hydrated. When it comes to bowel movements, it can vary quite significantly from person to person, but typically individuals should go up to four times a week, though it can vary from there to as much as three times a day. A good guideline to consider is actually a change in the frequency of bowel movements, as well as their difficulty. This could indicate an issue such as constipation, which, particularly when it becomes chronic, can be a symptom of quite a few medical conditions that will require treatment.

Color Of Stool

When it comes to color, stool most would consider normal ranges from medium to dark brown. This color is due to bilirubin, a pigment that forms when red blood cells break down. Some also argue a small amount of green in addition to the brown is alright. When poop turns entirely green, however, it can indicate something like an increased amount of dark greens in the individual's diet (e.g. spinach), or the stool is passing through the body too fast. The latter could be an issue, so individuals are encouraged to mention a persistent issue with this to their doctor.

Black-colored stool could be down to a simple issue such as consuming iron supplements, bismuth medication, or licorice, but if an individual has done none of these, black stool could be a symptom of bleeding in their upper gastrointestinal tract. Pale or chalky stool is evidence of a lack of bile or a side effect of medication, both of which doctors should be notified of. Red stool could indicate bleeding, though it could also be down to the high consumption of foods like beets or red gelatin. Finally, yellow stool, particularly when it smells, is typically a sign of too much fat or a condition like celiac disease.

Appearance And Consistency

When it comes to the appearance of stool, the Bristol Stool chart is an excellent way for patients to communicate how their stool look to their doctor with decent accuracy, which is crucial when attempting to diagnose a potential health issue. On the chart, stool considered normal is either classified as type 3 or type 4. Both types are sausage-like in shape, though type 3 would have slight cracks in the surface, and type 4 would be smooth. Types 1 and 2 denote different levels of constipation.

The former is small, hard lumps, which means the individual is extremely constipated, and the latter is quite lumpy and sausage-like, which indicates slight constipation. Soft blobs of stool, classified as type 5, demonstrate a lack of fiber in the individual’s diet. Type 6 and 7, which are either mushy or liquid in consistency, both indicate inflammation.

Pain Or Strain During A Bowel Movement

Individuals should not take any longer than ten to fifteen minutes on average to pass stool. Additionally, it should be relatively easy to pass. When someone experiences longer bowel movements, or if they are dealing with pain or strain during a bowel movement, it could be an indicator of issues such as constipation, hemorrhoids, or similar. Sometimes individuals experience constipation due to excessive stress, dehydration, or food intolerances., In any case, pain or strain during bowel movements, particularly when it is persistent, should be evaluated by a doctor.

Changes In Bowel Movements

As mentioned earlier, changes in the frequency of bowel movements could be a reason for individuals to speak to their primary doctor. This also applies to all of the other elements discussed so far. Thus, individuals should seriously consider discussing any changes, particularly abrupt ones, in their bowel movements with their doctor. This is important because since there is a fair amount of variance in what is generally considered normal, what is normal for one person might not be for another. Changes, once again, are the best indicator for patients to use. Even if it turns out to be nothing of concern, it is far better to be safe than to not catch an issue as early as possible.

The Deal With Odor

The odor of stool can change according to an individual's diet. Specific foods and drinks are known to alter the bacteria present in the stool, and this alteration creates different gases that generate particular odors. Patients may notice strong odors from their stool when they eat processed foods. These foods contain additives, unhealthy fats, and emulsifiers that may contribute to constipation and cause stool to remain in the digestive tract for longer than usual before it is passed.

Stools that stay in the digestive tract for prolonged periods have stronger odors than those passed more quickly. Consuming large quantities of meat and dairy could result in strong-smelling stools, and eating vegetables that contain sulfur, including cabbage and garlic, could also produce strong odors. Antibiotics, overconsumption of vitamin supplements, and imbalances in gut bacteria are associated with noticeable changes in the smell of the patient's stool too.

Greasy Stool

Greasy stools tend to stick to the toilet bowl, and they may be difficult to flush. Drops of oil may be visible in the toilet bowl as well. Patients with greasy stools could have issues with digesting fat, and they may notice symptoms such as weight loss, diarrhea, gas, abdominal pain, and indigestion. Greasy stools can occur with lactose intolerance, celiac disease, Crohn's disease, Whipple disease, and biliary atresia. They may also develop due to issues with the pancreas, including pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. Patients who notice greasy stools regularly should see a doctor for an evaluation.

After taking the patient's medical history and performing a physical examination, the doctor will order additional tests. Patients may need to provide a stool sample, and blood tests could be recommended. Some individuals might need to have imaging studies too. Greasy stools caused by lactose intolerance or celiac disease may be treated with dietary modifications, and individuals with other conditions could be advised to take medication. Some causes of greasy stool could require surgical intervention.

Most Common Causes Of Abnormal Stool

Abnormal stools are usually caused by diet and certain medications, and they can also be an indication of an underlying health issue. Patients may notice changes in the color of their stool after eating certain foods. For example, eating blueberries, beetroot, or licorice could cause the stool to turn black, and patients might also notice a black stool during treatment with iron supplements.

Changes in stool texture could be triggered by diet and medication as well. If the stool becomes hard or lumpy, this may indicate a lack of fiber in the diet. Watery, loose stools may occur after consuming artificial sweeteners or overly spicy food. Common medical conditions such as hemorrhoids and irritable bowel syndrome are associated with stool changes such as blood in the stool. Patients should mention stool changes to their physician.

How To Keep Stool Healthy

To keep stool healthy, experts suggest patients increase their fiber intake. High-fiber foods give the stool more bulk, and they can help improve the regularity of bowel movements. Beans, peas, lentils, oats, grapes, and apples are recommended, and patients should aim to increase their fiber intake slowly to avoid bloating and gas. Regular physical activity helps prevent constipation, and patients are encouraged to practice healthy stress management to promote bowel health. It is beneficial to schedule a regular time each day for having a bowel movement. In fact, most individuals with healthy bowels have bowel movements at roughly the same time each day. When choosing this time, patients should ensure they select one that is unhurried. The colon is especially active in the morning and immediately after meals, so attempting to have a bowel movement after breakfast may be ideal.

Some experts believe the angle at which a person empties their bowels may play a role in stool health, too. A straight anorectal angle helps patients empty their bowels more easily. When using a Western-style toilet, placing something underneath the feet to provide support naturally moves this angle into a straighter position. The support should be about six inches tall. Patients should monitor the health of their stool regularly, and they should discuss any changes in stool consistency or color with their physician. In particular, patients should seek medical attention if they notice blood in the stool or if they have persistent or severe abdominal pain.

Composition Of Stool

Stool is composed of approximately seventy-five percent water and twenty-five percent solids. It contains bile (the fluid that the liver makes to digest fats), mucus, protein, fats, salts, fiber, and the linings of various cells. Stools also contain cholesterol and dead bacteria. In fact, studies show just one gram of healthy fecal matter has 100 billion bacteria along with 100 million viruses and archaea. Additionally, healthy stools have around ten million colonocytes (epithelial cells that protect the colon) and at least one million unicellular fungi, including yeast. Stool composition will vary depending on diet, medication, and overall health. Patients could sometimes notice bits of undigested food in their stools, and visible mucus may be present occasionally.

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