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Tag: Stool when to worry

  • Medstar Health – What a Healthy Bowel Movement Looks Like, and When to Call the Doctor.

    Medstar Health – What a Healthy Bowel Movement Looks Like, and When to Call the Doctor.

    Your bowel movements may not be a common topic of conversation, but they’re a window into your digestive health. According to MedStar Health, the color, shape, frequency, and consistency of your stool are key indicators of how well your digestive system is functioning. Knowing what’s normal—and what’s not—can help you maintain a healthy gut and detect potential problems early.

    What Defines a Healthy Bowel Movement?
    1. Shape and Consistency
      • A healthy stool should be smooth, soft, and log-shaped—similar to Types 3 and 4 on the Bristol Stool Chart.
      • Hard, lumpy stools often indicate constipation, while loose, watery stools can be a sign of diarrhea or rapid digestion.
    2. Color
      • Brown is ideal and reflects normal digestion.
      • Pale or clay-colored stools may signal bile duct issues, while black or red stool could indicate gastrointestinal bleeding. Green stool, on the other hand, is often linked to diet or fast-moving digestion.
    3. Frequency
      • Everyone’s bowel habits are different, but most people should have between three bowel movements a day to three a week. Consistency in your routine is a good sign of digestive health.
    4. Effort and Smell
      • Healthy bowel movements shouldn’t require straining or cause discomfort.
      • While stool naturally has an odor, excessively foul-smelling stool could point to malabsorption or an infection.
    When to Be Concerned

    Persistent changes in stool—such as color, frequency, or consistency—shouldn’t be ignored. Symptoms like blood in the stool, significant pain, unexplained weight loss, or ongoing diarrhea or constipation may indicate underlying conditions that require medical attention.

    Faex Health: Your Digestive Health Companion

    Medstar Health shares, monitoring your stool regularly might seem like a chore, but it’s an essential part of staying proactive about your health. Faex Health makes this process effortless. By analyzing a simple photo of your stool, Faex Health evaluates color, shape, and consistency, giving you real-time insights into your gut health. Whether it’s flagging potential issues or helping you maintain healthy habits, Faex Health turns an overlooked health metric into a powerful tool for wellness.

    Your gut is your body’s second brain—let Faex Health help you understand what it’s saying. Stay informed, stay healthy, and stay ahead.

    Link to Article

  • UnityPoint Health – What the Color and Consistency of Your Poop Say’s About Your Health

    UnityPoint Health – What the Color and Consistency of Your Poop Say’s About Your Health

    Your poop might not be the first thing you think about when it comes to health, but it’s a valuable indicator of how your body is functioning. According to UnityPoint Health, the color, consistency, and frequency of your stool offer insights into your digestive health and overall wellness. Knowing what’s normal and when to be concerned can help you catch potential issues early.

    What Does Healthy Poop Look Like?
    1. Color
      • Brown: The standard for healthy poop, thanks to bile and bilirubin breaking down during digestion.
      • Green: Often harmless and linked to green vegetables or food dye, but can also indicate rapid digestion.
      • Black or Red: Could signal bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract. Black stools often point to upper GI tract issues, while red may indicate bleeding lower in the digestive system.
      • Pale or Clay-Colored: May suggest bile duct obstructions or liver issues.
      • Yellow or Greasy: Often a sign of malabsorption, particularly of fats, and may be associated with conditions like celiac disease or pancreatic issues.
    2. Consistency
      • Healthy stool should be smooth, soft, and log-shaped. This corresponds to Types 3 and 4 on the Bristol Stool Chart.
      • Hard and Lumpy: A sign of constipation, often caused by dehydration or insufficient fiber intake.
      • Watery or Loose: Indicates diarrhea, which can result from infections, food intolerances, or digestive disorders.
    3. Frequency
      • Normal bowel habits range from three times a day to three times a week. Consistency is key; major deviations from your usual routine could signal a problem.
    When to Be Concerned

    UnityPoint Health continues, persistent changes in stool—such as unusual colors, consistent diarrhea or constipation, or additional symptoms like pain, blood, or weight loss—warrant medical attention. These could indicate infections, malabsorption issues, or more serious conditions like gastrointestinal bleeding or inflammatory bowel diseases.

    Faex Health: Your Personal Gut Health Tracker

    Monitoring your stool can seem awkward or time-consuming, but it doesn’t have to be. Faex Health makes it simple. With a quick photo, Faex Health analyzes your stool’s color, shape, and consistency to provide real-time insights into your digestive health. It flags abnormalities and helps you stay on top of your gut health effortlessly.

    Your gut is your body’s health compass—let Faex Health help you navigate it. Stay informed, stay proactive, and keep your digestive system thriving.

    Link to Article
  • Nebraska Medicine – What does Healthy poop look like?

    Nebraska Medicine – What does Healthy poop look like?

    Your poop says more about your health than you might think. According to Nebraska Medicine, paying attention to the color, shape, and consistency of your stool can give you valuable insights into your digestive health. A healthy gut means a healthier you, and knowing what’s normal can help you detect potential problems early.

    What Does Healthy Poop Look Like?
    1. Color
      • Brown: This is the ideal stool color, thanks to bile, a digestive fluid produced by your liver.
      • Green: Often linked to eating leafy greens or food coloring, but can also indicate that food is moving too quickly through your gut.
      • Black or Red: Could signal bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract. Seek medical attention if this persists.
      • Pale or Clay-Colored: May point to bile flow issues or liver problems.
    2. Shape and Consistency
      • A healthy stool should be smooth, log-shaped, and easy to pass. This corresponds to Types 3 and 4 on the Bristol Stool Chart.
      • Hard, Pellet-Like Stool: Indicates constipation, often caused by dehydration or a lack of fiber.
      • Loose, Watery Stool: Suggests diarrhea, which could stem from infections, food sensitivities, or other digestive issues.
    3. Frequency
      • While bowel movement patterns vary, going between three times a day to three times a week is considered normal. What matters most is consistency in your personal routine.
    4. Effort
      • Healthy bowel movements should be pain-free and require minimal effort. Straining could point to constipation or other underlying problems.
    When to Be Concerned

    Nebraska Medicine says changes in your stool’s color, shape, or consistency, especially if persistent or accompanied by symptoms like pain, weight loss, or blood, should not be ignored. These changes may indicate more serious conditions, such as infections, malabsorption issues, or gastrointestinal disorders.

    Faex Health: Gut Monitoring Made Simple

    While it’s important to monitor your stool, doing so can feel awkward or inconvenient. That’s where Faex Health steps in. With one quick photo, Faex Health analyzes your stool’s color, shape, and consistency, providing personalized insights into your digestive health. Whether it’s flagging early warning signs or confirming that all is well, Faex Health empowers you to take control of your gut health effortlessly.

    Your gut is talking—Faex Health helps you listen. Stay informed, stay proactive, and keep your digestive health on track.

    Link to Article