Dr Dawn Harper explains symptoms and treatment of IBS
On average people poo anywhere between three times a day to three times a week.
It is a necessary bodily function to help expel any undigested food and other waste products.
While this waste can appear different in colour and consistency for harmless reasons such as a change in diet, it can also signal something more serious.
For this reason, experts advise it is worth checking your excrement before flushing.
Speaking with Express.co.uk, Cheryl Lythgoe – matron at Benenden Health – explained: “The reality is that our toilet habits can give us a good indication of our overall health and as such, we should pay close attention to them.
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“If you do experience something that doesn’t seem quite right – this could be a change in the colour, shape, consistency or smell of your poo, finding blood in your stool or a change in the frequency of your toilet habits that lasts for two weeks or more – then please do get it checked out by a professional.
“The chances are it won’t be anything serious, but for peace of mind and to get suitable treatment for any issues, it’s really important to leave fear and embarrassment at the door and go get some medical advice.”
There are seven changes to your poo that it is worth speaking to your doctor about:
- Having softer poo or diarrhoea that is not usual for you
- Constipation that is not usual for you
- Needing to poo more or less often than usual for you
- Blood in your poo, which may look red or black
- Bleeding from your bottom
- Often feeling like you need to poo, even if you’ve just been to the toilet
- Stringy poo that looks like ribbons.
Softer poo or diarrhoea
According to the NHS, this is one of the main signs of bowel cancer. It is also a sign of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
However, it could also just be a sign that you have eaten something that has upset your digestive system or you are experiencing an infection such as food poisoning.
Typically, diarrhoea will only last up to three days if it is not caused by something serious.
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The NHS advises seeing your GP if it lasts longer than three weeks. If the diarrhoea is bloody you should call 111.
Constipation
At the other end of the spectrum to diarrhoea, constipation is classed as not going for a poo at least three times in a week and poo that is large, dry, hard and lumpy.
While it is “rarely” caused by a medical condition, it is also a symptom of bowel cancer.
More common causes are not eating enough fibre, not drinking enough fluids and a side effect of medication, among others.
If you are regularly constipated and it’s not getting better with treatment you should speak to your GP.
Needing to poo more or less often
Similar to diarrhoea and constipation, this can be linked to diet, medication or an infection.
However, it is also listed by the NHS as a warning sign of bowel cancer. A change in bowel habits in general could also mean you have IBS.
Blood in your poo or bleeding from the bottom
This can cause your poo to appear red or black.
“A small amount of one-off bleeding from the bottom is not usually a serious problem,” the NHS says.
However, if this lasts for three weeks you should seek medical help.
If your poo is red or black or you have bloody diarrhoea you should call 111. It could be the result of haemorrhoids, anal fissures, IBS and bowel cancer.
Often feeling like you need to poo
Feeling like you need to poo a lot even if you’ve just been to the toilet is a “common” sign of bowel cancer.
If it lasts more than three weeks you should see your GP.
It can be accompanied by other bowel cancer symptoms such as tummy pain, bloating, losing weight without trying and feeling very tired for no reason.
Stringy poo
Stringy poo that looks like ribbons can be a symptom of several issues. It could just be a sign of a poor diet that is low in fibre.
However, similar to the other symptoms it could also signal an infection, IBS or bowel cancer.
Other causes, according to Medical News Today, include:
- A stretched or distended colon
- Tiny growths or polyps in the colon
- A hard mass of stool stuck in the colon,
- Inflammation of the colon, occurring with ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease
- Abdominal hernias.
If this symptom does not ease after changing your diet or after an infection has passed you should see your doctor.
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