Colour of your poo could signal 'silent killer' - when to visit a doctor - The Mirror
Checking your poo after going to the toilet can give you an insight into your overall health, and signal if something is wrong - including cancer.
Your stool can appear in a range of colours, with shades of brown and green being considered the most normal. One health expert has revealed that healthy stools are usually considered "medium brown, soft and formed".
Gut specialist Michelle Geraghty-Corns, from eternalbeing, explained: "Your poop colour can vary in colour and consistency, indicating several factors like if you are drinking enough water, eating enough fibre, how your digestive system is processing food, or if you have an underlying illness."
According to Michelle, the type of food we eat can influence the colour of our poo, she highlighted: "Beetroot, as an example, gives poop a red-pink tinge for those who cannot break down the pigment, which can sometimes last up to 48 hours."
While most one-off changes are nothing to worry about, Michelle highlighted that there are some colours that you should be concerned about - where it is important to see a doctor as soon as possible. Here are the four colours to watch out for and what they might mean.
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Green poo
If you notice green in your stool, this could be a sign that you have been eating a lot of green vegetables in your diet. This is most common with broccoli, kale and spinach.
"Blue foods such as blueberries and blue food colouring can turn your poop a greenish colour too", the expert said.
She added: "Green poo can also be a sign that you have a bacterial infection, where you may feel unwell and have diarrhoea. With bugs like salmonella, giardia, or norovirus, there is not enough transit time for the stool to change colour to brown which causes the green tint."
If you have had a recent removal of your gall bladder, or suffer from irritable bowel syndrome, you may also have green poo, explains the Cleveland Clinic.
Michelle also adds that there are several medications which can turn your poop green, including antibiotics, contraceptives, and iron supplements.
Yellow poo
"Eating lots of yellow foods is a common reason for your poo to appear yellow, with yellow food colouring and turmeric often causing changes in the colour of stools", Michelle informs.
However, it could also be a tell-tale sign of coeliac disease or Crohn's disease. Michelle added: "If you have coeliac disease, your body cannot handle gluten so if you eat foods which do contain the protein such as wheat, barley and rye, your intestines will not work properly. If you eat these foods and notice your poop is yellow, it is worth seeing a doctor."
A person with Crohn's disease may notice a yellow coating on their stools - this is mucus which helps the poo pass through the intestines.
Medical News Today writes: "Foul smelling yellow stools may be a sign that the digestive system is not absorbing nutrients as it should. Malabsorption can happen due to Crohn's disease."
The health site adds that certain conditions can also cause yellow stools, including liver, gallbladder, and pancreatic diseases. If yellow stools last for several days or happen alongside unusual symptoms, such as cramping, pain, or diarrhoea, it is important to seek medical attention.
Black poo
Individuals can experience black stools as a result of their iron or activated charcoal supplements which is nothing to be concerned about, according to Michelle.
Dark poo can also be a warning sign of something more serious, she explained: "Black poo can be a sign of bowel cancer since it can indicate dried or old blood from an upper part of the gut.
"If you experience dark poo, there could be bleeding somewhere in your digestive tract so it is important to see a doctor."
Cancer Research UK writes that blood from higher up in the bowel doesn't look bright red. The charity explained: "It goes dark red or black and can make your bowel motions look like tar. This type of bleeding can be a sign of cancer higher up the bowel."
It is important to note that if you are suffering from constipation your stools can also be "very dark and hard to pass", Michelle says.
Red poo
Red in your poo often suggests that there is blood in your stools, but this is not necessarily a serious problem.
"If you have one-off bleeding from the bottom this can be due to excessive force during stool movements or haemorrhoids", the gut expert explains.
She added: "Blood in your stools could also indicate bowel cancer, particularly if coupled with a fever, excessive weakness, or vomiting."
NHS Inform explains the three main symptoms of bowel cancer include blood in the stools, changes in bowel habit - such as more frequent, looser stools - and abdominal pain. If you are experiencing these symptoms, you should see a doctor immediately.
When to visit a GP
It is important to visit your doctor as soon as you notice any unusual changes in your bowel habits.
Michelle explains: "It can be difficult to know what to look out for with your poo, so we advise individuals to speak to their GP if they have any changes to their regular habits.
"If you experience bleeding from your bottom, a change in the frequency of your bowel movements, pain or a lump in your tummy, extreme tiredness, or lose weight unexpectedly, these are all signs to report to your doctor."
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