Stool analysis is a fairly common diagnostic tool used by many doctors. The information gleaned from these tests helps to recognize a variety of digestive diseases, from parasitic infections to colorectal cancer. Changes affecting stool evacuation can also be the first alarm bells you can check at home: if you notice something strange, you can go to a specialist. To understand if there are any abnormalities, you first need to know what stools should look like to be called healthy.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Analyze Shape and Size
Step 1. Calculate the approximate length of the stool
The optimal length should be approximately 30 cm. Significantly shorter, ball-like stools indicate constipation. Increase your daily fiber intake and stay hydrated.
Step 2. Consider the thickness of the stool
If they start to shrink more and more, see your doctor. The thinning of the stool denotes an obstruction of the large intestine, which could be blocked by a foreign object or a tumor.
Step 3. Observe the consistency of the stool
They should be smooth, firm and slightly soft.
- Stool that breaks easily or is mostly liquid is a symptom of diarrhea. It can be caused by a variety of health problems, including infectious diseases, inflammation, malabsorption, or even psychological stress.
- Stools that are lumpy, hard and which complicate the evacuation are a symptom of constipation.
Method 2 of 4: Examine the Color
Step 1. First, you need to know what the reference color is
Theoretically, stools should be medium brown, but variations can be seen even among healthy individuals.
- Green or yellow stools are usually due to bowel movements that are too fast, such as in the case of mild diarrhea. Bile, the main pigment in stool, is green at first but turns brown over time.
- Pale gray or yellow stools can be a sign of liver disease.
Step 2. Look for any blood
In this case the stool takes on a red or black color.
- Bright red stools indicate hemorrhage in the final part of the digestive system, such as the large intestine or anus. This type of bleeding usually suggests minor health problems, such as a small inflammation or hemorrhoid. It can rarely be a symptom of cancer. If this happens to you often or bowel movements have become painful, see your doctor.
- Bleeding that occurs higher in the digestive system, such as the stomach or small intestine, results in dark red or black stools. They also have a sticky, tar-like texture. If you observe this type of droppings, talk to your doctor. They can be a symptom of a variety of serious conditions, from peptic ulcers to bowel cancer.
- Eating red beets can also change the color of your stool. However, this type of red is easily distinguished from that of blood. If it has magenta or fuchsia undertones, it is almost certainly due to beets or other foods, not blood.
Step 3. Try not to be alarmed by other strange colors, unless they persist
Generally, the transient changes that affect the color of the stool are attributable to certain foods. While not remembering having eaten particular foods, dyes can hide or disguise themselves among other colors that break down more easily. Food dyes can also interact with other pigments in the digestive system, thus leading to unexpected results.
Method 3 of 4: Consider Other Features
Step 1. Check how often you flush
A healthy digestive system will result in regular bowel movements. However, the word "regular" is relative. Try to examine how often you go to the toilet, so you will be able to quickly see changes that could be warning signs of a condition.
Generally, the frequency of bowel movements that are considered healthy fluctuates from once every three days to three times a day. If you go to the bathroom more than three times a day, it is diarrhea. On the other hand, in case of constipation, more than three days can pass between bowel movements
Step 2. Examine stool for buoyancy
If they are healthy, they should slowly sink into the toilet water. If they float easily, your diet is likely to be very high in fiber.
Pancreatitis causes lipid malabsorption, causing fatty, floating stools. They are extremely oily and release immiscible droplets into the toilet
Step 3. See if the stool smells particularly unpleasant
Obviously in no case are they pleasant. In fact, a pungent odor can denote a healthy intestinal flora. However, certain health problems can affect the smell and make it more revolting than usual. This happens in cases of hematochezia, infectious diarrhea and nutrient malabsorption syndromes.
Method 4 of 4: Examine the Stool of the Infants
Step 1. Don't be alarmed by meconium
The newborn's first bowel movement, called meconium, usually occurs within 24 hours of birth. This stool is very dark green or black, thick and sticky. They consist of desquamated intestinal epithelial cells and materials ingested by the fetus in the uterus. The transition to a normal bowel movement should take two to four days.
Step 2. Examine the consistency
As the digestive system forms, a newborn's bowel movement is very different from what is considered healthy for older children and adults. Due to the liquid diet, infant feces are not solid and should have the consistency of peanut butter or pudding. It is common for formula-fed babies to produce denser and bulky stools than those who are traditionally breastfed.
- Infantile diarrhea is extremely watery, so stool can leak out of the diaper and dirty the baby's back. If your baby is under three months old, has had diarrhea for more than a day, and has other symptoms, such as fever, see your pediatrician.
- Solid stools are a symptom of constipation. If the nappy has small, hard stools sporadically, there is no reason to be alarmed, but when it happens frequently, you should consult your pediatrician. Among older children, diarrhea can also be a symptom of severe constipation - new stools may seep through and pass a block of hard droppings.
Step 3. Observe the color
Newborn stools are generally lighter and more subject to variation: they can be yellow, green, or light brown. Don't be alarmed by these changes. As the digestive system develops, changes affecting enzyme production and evacuation time will result in some variety.
- Dark brown stools are a symptom of constipation.
- Once the meconium is gone, black stools can indicate bleeding. If you see black poppy seed-like specks, the baby has probably ingested blood from a sore nipple. If your child is taking an iron supplement, don't be alarmed, as it causes black stools.
- Very pale yellow or chalky gray stools can indicate liver problems or an infection.
Step 4. Pay attention to frequency
A healthy baby will have one to eight bowel movements a day, with an average of four. As with adults, each child will have their own rhythm. However, if your baby is on formula milk and has a bowel movement less than once a day, see your pediatrician. See your doctor even if you are breastfeeding and have less than once every 10 days.
Step 5. Observe the smell
The baby's stool should have a less pungent, almost sweet smell. It is common for formula-fed babies to produce stronger smelling stools than those who consume breast milk. Once she starts eating solid foods, the smell should start to resemble that of adults more.
Advice
- If you are constipated, eat more fiber and try to stay hydrated. Dietary fiber swells the stool, causing more frequent bowel movements. Optimal hydration lubricates the digestive system and improves its mobility, favoring the evacuation of stool.
- Many doctors agree that there are no absolute criteria for determining whether stool is healthy. It is more important to observe the changes affecting their appearance and the frequency of evacuation.
- With the exception of traces of blood in the stool, none of the changes noted in this article are indicative of a health problem, unless they are constant. If you only ever notice a strange color or a particularly unpleasant smell, there is nothing to worry about. However, if it starts to happen often, see a doctor.
