Latest news with #bowelhealth
CNET
09-07-2025
- Health
- CNET
What Your Poop Is Signaling to You About Your Digestive Health
Nobody enjoys talking about their bodily functions, and bowel movements are right up there in the uncomfortable stakes. But once you get beyond the embarrassment, there is a lot that you can learn about yourself if you know what to pay attention to. How often you poop, how long it takes and what your stools look like can reveal a lot about your health. Knowing what to pay attention to is important. That's why we spoke with three gastroenterologists about the frequency of regular bowel movements and other indicators to help you understand what's normal and when it might be worth reaching out to your doctor. Read more: Signs Your Gut Could Be Unhealthy and How to Fix It How often should you poop? You probably have someone in your family (if you're honest, maybe it's you) who's convinced they need to poop every morning. However, a healthy pooping schedule isn't the same for every person. You don't need to panic if you're not one of those people who goes to the bathroom like clockwork after your morning coffee. Dr. Lance Uradomo, an interventional gastroenterologist at City of Hope Orange County, explains, "The term 'regular' generally means that a person's bowel movement frequency is continuing without any change." In fact, the number of times you poop every week could vary dramatically from other people in your household with no cause for concern. Dr. Michael Schopis, gastroenterologist and attending physician at Manhattan Gastroenterology, says, "Normal poop frequency can range quite dramatically depending on the person. Pooping anywhere from every other day up to three to four times per day can be considered regular." As a general rule, Uradomo advises, "Three times a day to three times a week is considered a healthy range." However, the doctor warns, "It's important to recognize your own regular routine so that if the frequency suddenly changes, you can alert your doctor." Is it healthier to poop less or more often? Dr. Natasha Chhabra, a gastroenterologist at Gastroenterology Associates of New Jersey, says how often you poop may be less important than whether you're pooping enough. She explains, "Having adequate BMs [bowel movements] with complete evacuation is a great goal, as having a BM is one way our body rids itself of toxins and waste. Some can have a daily BM and still not feel that they have emptied." In other words, having less frequent but complete bowel movements may be healthier than having frequent small bowel movements. How often you should be pooping may also depend on how difficult it is for you to go number two. According to Schopis, "If it requires lots of straining and pushing to have a bowel movement or it requires you to spend 30 minutes on the toilet, then it's probably better for you to try and poop more often." He says you should introduce lifestyle changes to help induce pooping in this situation. The Mayo Clinic recommends eating high-fiber foods, staying hydrated and exercising as natural ways to prevent constipation. On the other hand, it's possible to poop too often. Schopis says, "If someone is going four to five times per day, it's watery and with significant urgency, then this person is probably pooping too much." The Mayo Clinic notes that everything from stomach viruses and bacterial infections to lactose intolerance may cause you to poop frequently. Antibiotics may also lead to temporary does healthy poop look like? Many doctors use the Bristol stool chart to help evaluate the health of bowel movements. The chart is a form scale, meaning that it rates stool based on factors like size and consistency. Bowel movements are rated from 1 to 7, with 1 being the most firm and 7 being entirely liquid. Bristol stool type 1-2: Rabbit or grape-like droppings that are quite hard and may be difficult to pass. Bristol stool type 3-4: Corn on the cob or sausage bowel movements that are soft and easy to pass. Bristol stool type 5-7: Mushy to liquid bowel movements that may or may not include some solid pieces. As Chhabra explains, "The middle of the chart (Bristol 3-4) describes a healthy BM, which is generally described as sausage or snake-like." Poop in these categories is also solid, while it may be either smooth or have some cracks on the surface. A healthy poop in the Bristol 3-4 categories indicates that someone is getting both enough water and enough fiber in their diet, according to Schopis. He notes that this type of stool is often easiest to pass, while "Bristol stool types 1-2 are often hard, pebbly and hard to pass, indicating constipation." If your poop floats, you could have excessive gas, be eating a diet with high-fat content or have a gastrointestinal tract issue. Your poop should sink more often than not. Color You also want to consider the color of your bowel movements. Uradomo reports that "healthy poop can be brown or even greenish but should never be black or contain blood. This could indicate the presence of cancer or other health problems." If your stool is particularly pale, you may want to talk to your doctor about your liver, pancreas and gallbladder health. Smell According to Mount Sinai Hospital, smell also matters. While poop is never meant to smell pleasant, if it suddenly has a new or particularly foul odor, you could be experiencing a condition like chronic pancreatitis or ulcerative colitis. The good news is that changes to your diet can also produce really stinky stool. So if you just have one seriously bad-smelling BM, it could be from eating or drinking something fermented or consuming a lot of garlic. How long should it take you to poop? It shouldn't take you more than a few minutes to poop. Schopis says, "Ideally, someone should spend 5 minutes or less without any pushing or straining to have a bowel movement." Chhabra agrees, explaining, "Spending more than a few minutes having a BM should raise concern for constipation, particularly if you are straining." Uradomo offers a little more leeway, saying, "It should take a person between 5 and 15 minutes on the toilet to have a bowel movement." He warns that sitting on the toilet for longer than that can "lead to problems such as hemorrhoids, reduced circulation or pelvic floor dysfunction." Dusanpetkovic/Getty Images What are the signs of an unhealthy bowel? There are several key signs that you may have an unhealthy bowel. These include: Pain: Frequent pain while pooping may be a cause for concern. This could mean your stool is too hard or there is a larger GI issue. Blood: Blood in the bowl after you poop may also signal an unhealthy bowel. Uradomo warns, "Blood in the stool can be caused by a relatively minor problem like hemorrhoids, but it may also be an indicator of cancer, bowel disease or major internal bleeding." You should monitor bleeding closely and consult your doctor. Loss of bowel control: If you experience bowel (fecal) incontinence, you may be experiencing weakened rectal or anal muscles. Muscle and nerve damage resulting from childbirth may also affect your ability to control bowel movements. Black stool: Uradomo warns that black or tarry-looking stools can indicate bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract. This includes your esophagus, stomach and small intestine. Chronic diarrhea: If you often have diarrhea lasting more than a few days, you may be dealing with irritable bowel syndrome or Crohn's disease. Celiac disease can also cause frequent, pale diarrhea. When to talk to your doctor about your poop Any time you're experiencing painful pooping or the inability to have a bowel movement, it's worth talking to your doctor. The NHS warns that chronic constipation can lead to dangerous fecal impaction, and Healthline recommends seeking medical attention if it's been a full week without a bowel movement. Schopis says, "If you're finding that bowel movements control your life, either due to lack of frequency or going too much," it's a great idea to see a doctor. Black or bloody poop also signals that it's time for a medical evaluation. How to keep your poop healthy Sometimes lifestyle changes are all it takes to create healthier poop habits. For instance, make sure you drink enough water. Dehydration may lead to constipation or make your stool harder to pass. Chhabra also recommends eating fiber daily through whole fruits and vegetables. She says this "helps keep your bowel movements fuller and easier to pass." More specifically, Schopis advises people to aim for 2 to 3 liters of water per day and 25 to 30 grams of fiber per day to achieve healthy, normal bowel movements. Aside from this advice, you may want to consider exercising more to help your bowel run smoothly. The bottom line You don't need to poop every day, but you should track your habits and notice when there is a dramatic change. Symptoms like straining to poop or experiencing chronic diarrhea are signs that it's time to make an appointment with your doctor. In the meantime, eating fiber and drinking a lot of water are easy ways to help yourself to poop regularly.
Daily Mail
04-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Inside Love Island star's agonising health battle with disease that could lead to bowel cancer
Love Island star Toni Laites is known for her brash and honest opinions on fellow cast mates. But beneath the hard exterior, she is battling a devastating condition that puts her at risk of deadly bowel cancer. The 24-year-old from Connecticut in the US, who has seen a rocky romance with co-star Harrison Solomon, was diagnosed with chronic bowel disease ulcerative colitis back in 2017. The disease, which involves severe and painful inflammation in the gut, saw the Las Vegas-based waitress spend the day of her prom in hospital for an emergency blood transfusion in order to save her life. Now, she's appearing on the show in order to 'show viewers that not all illness are visible, but they don't have to hold you back,' she said in a recent interview with ITV. Common symptoms of the condition, which affects around 300,000 people in the UK, include debilitating diarrhoea, abdominal pain, extreme tiredness, loss of appetite and weight loss. Symptoms can also worsen and affect other parts of the body causing fat to swell under the skin, painful joints and even weakened bones. Most concerningly, patients also have an increased risk of bowel cancer, with the risk becoming more severe the longer a patient has lived with the disease. The severity of symptoms can vary depending on how much of the rectum and colon is inflamed. For some people, it can have a significant impact on their daily lives, the NHS says Living with the condition for 30 years can increase the risk of bowel cancer by 18 per cent, according to studies. Around 32,000 cases of bowel cancer are diagnosed every year in the UK, with rates of the deadly disease surging in under 50s. Before entering the Love Island villa, Ms Laites, who goes by Toni, admitted that she made headlines in local newspapers at 17-years-old after opening up about her condition. She told ITV: 'I had to go to hospital the same week as my senior prom for an emergency blood transfusion. 'Nothing that exciting happens in Connecticut, so it was a big deal and a few articles were written about me.' While Ms Laites didn't say why she needed the transfusion, colitis patients are at an increased risk of developing anemia—a severe deficiency of iron in the blood that can cause life-threatening problems. This happens due to inflammation in the large intestine that can prevent the body from absorbing iron properly, as well as internal bleeding caused by the disease. A blood transfusion is the most common treatment for severe anemia. According to the UK Crohn's and Colitis UK charity, the disease is most often diagnosed in people aged between 15 and 25. While the condition cannot be cured, treatment can help relieve symptoms during a flare-up and prevent symptoms from returning. This can be achieved through drug treatments, but in some cases surgery—which involves removing some or all of the bowel. This involves the small intestine being diverted out of an opening in the abdomen known as a stoma. This surgery can also be used to aid recovery following the removal of any cancerous cells from the bowel. Ms Laites' story comes amid a surge in bowel cancer cases in young people—many of who are perfectly fit and healthy. While research is yet to identify a specific smoking gun, groups of scientists have posed a variety of theories, including rising obesity levels, poor diets and microplastic pollution. Common symptoms of the disease include needing to go to the toilet with more urgency, rectal bleeding, blood in the stool—which may appear red or black in colour—and change in consistency. Some patients may also experience abdominal pain, bloating and unexplained weight loss. According to the NHS, many ulcerative colitis sufferers are often unaware they also have bowel cancer, as the initial symptoms are very similar. However, people with the condition will be offered regular check-ups to look for tell-tale signs of bowel cancer, helping doctors diagnose the disease early. Overall, just over half of bowel cancer patients are expected to be alive ten years after their diagnosis, with 90 per cent of people diagnosed at stage 1 surviving for at least five years. It comes as ulcerative colitis patients are set to benefit from a new drug that can eliminate debilitating symptoms in just three months The once-a-month jab deliver a drug that binds to immune cells that cause the damage, significantly reducing symptoms. Earlier this month, the drug safety watchdog, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, gave the green light for guselkumab to be prescribed in the UK to patients who have failed to respond to other treatments.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
6 toilet habit changes you should always see a doctor about
No one enjoys talking about bowel movements. But ignoring the signs your body is trying to send you can mean putting off a diagnosis you really need to hear. Just ask TOWIE star Chloe Meadows. The reality TV regular recently shared on Dr Oscar Duke's Bedside Manners podcast that she'd spent a decade silently struggling with bleeding, stomach pain and extreme fatigue before finally getting a diagnosis: ulcerative colitis, a chronic condition that causes inflammation and ulcers in the colon. She lived with on-and-off symptoms for years, assuming they'd passed. It wasn't until age 26, when she became visibly unwell, that a blood test led her to A&E and finally, a diagnosis. Meadows' experience is an important reminder that when your toilet habits change – and stay changed – it's time to talk to your GP. Below, we break down six toilet-related red flags that experts say you should never ignore. And no, it's not just about your bowel movements; your wee, urgency levels, and even smells all matter, too. Whether you're suddenly constipated, dealing with constant diarrhoea, or noticing your stool looks different (narrower, paler or greasy), changes that last longer than a few weeks are worth investigating. The NHS advises that ongoing shifts in bowel habits could be linked to anything from diet and stress to Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), coeliac disease or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In some cases, persistent symptoms could be a sign of bowel cancer, so don't brush them off. When to see your GP: If your usual routine has changed for more than two to three weeks, especially if it's paired with stomach pain, fatigue, or weight loss. It might be bright red or dark and tarry; either way, it's not something to ignore. Bright red blood can come from piles or small tears, but darker blood might mean there's bleeding higher up in the digestive system. When to see your GP: If you see blood in your poo. You may be offered a stool test, or in some cases, a referral for further checks. If anything feels amiss and suddenly starts to sting, burn or feel uncomfortable, you might assume it's a urinary tract infection (UTI). And often, that's true. But it can also be a sign of kidney stones or bladder issues. Blood in your urine should also be taken seriously, even if it only happens once. When to see your GP: If you have pain while urinating, see blood or feel the urge to go far more often than usual. Needing the loo more often than usual (especially at night), feeling like you can't wait, or leaking a little when you cough, sneeze or laugh could signal an overactive bladder, prostate issues (in men), or pelvic floor dysfunction. These symptoms might feel embarrassing, but they're generally common and manageable with the right support. When to see your GP: If bladder leaks or urgency interfere with your daily life, or if you notice a sudden change in how often you need to go. A little mucus in your stool isn't always a worry, but frequent slimy stools can be a sign of infection or inflammation in your gut. When to see your GP: If mucus appears regularly, especially if it comes with bloating, pain or a change in bowel movements. If going to the toilet has become uncomfortable, painful, or feels like hard work, that's your body waving a red flag. Regular straining can cause or worsen hemorrhoids, but it might also signal bowel issues or even neurological problems affecting your pelvic floor. When to see your GP: If you're straining often, feel like you're not fully emptying your bowels, or notice pain during or after a bowel movement. If you're unsure, remember that everyone has their own baseline of what's 'normal'. However, there are a few simple signs to watch for as a guide. According to the Bladder and Bowel Health Service, healthy bowel movements should be soft, smooth and easy to pass; ideally at least three times a week. You should also be able to urinate without pain or discomfort. If you also notice you're often bloated, tired, straining, or notice blood or mucus, it's time to speak to your GP. Changes might be harmless, but they're always worth checking. Read more on bowel habits: This Poop Chart Will Tell You If Your Bathroom Habits Are Actually Healthy Or If You Need To See A Doctor ASAP (Buzzfeed, 4-min read) How 'blowing bubbles' and 'mooing' can help ease constipation, according to NHS doctor (Yahoo Life UK, 4-min read) Bowel cancer cases in young people rising sharply in England, study finds (PA Media, 4-min read)
