The Big Question of "Poop": Unlock the "Health Code" Hidden in Poop

Feces are the "waste" of the human digestive system, but they hide many health codes. By observing the color, shape, texture and smell of feces, we can capture the early warning signals of diseases sent by the body. The following is a popular health knowledge about feces by experts from the Second People's Hospital of Hunan Province (Provincial Brain Hospital).

1. Stool color and disease signals

Black stool: After excluding the effects of special foods or drugs such as animal blood, iron and bismuth agents, if black tarry stool appears, it may be a manifestation of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. For example, if gastric ulcer or duodenal ulcer bleeds, the blood is digested and decomposed in the intestines, and the iron in hemoglobin combines with the sulfide in the intestines to form iron sulfide, which makes the stool black and sticky and shiny, similar to tar.

Red stool: usually indicates lower gastrointestinal bleeding, the most common of which is hemorrhoids and anal fissures. Hemorrhoids usually bleed after defecation, and the blood is bright red and does not mix with the stool. When anal fissures bleed, in addition to blood in the stool, there will also be severe anal pain during defecation. In addition, intestinal polyps, colon cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, etc. may also cause blood in the stool, and the blood and stool may be mixed together.

White clay-like stool: often related to bile duct obstruction. When the bile duct is blocked by stones, tumors, etc., bile cannot be discharged into the intestine normally, and the stool will appear white clay-like due to the lack of bile pigment in the bile. This situation is common in diseases such as bile duct stones, bile duct cancer, and pancreatic head cancer. Patients may also have symptoms such as yellowing of the skin and sclera, and darker urine.

2. Health issues revealed by stool shape and texture

Thin strips of stool: Normal stool should be cylindrical. If the stool becomes thin and pencil-shaped, it may be that the intestine is narrowed. The most common cause is intestinal tumors. The tumor occupies the intestinal space, narrowing the intestinal cavity and causing the stool shape to change. In addition, intestinal polyps, intestinal tuberculosis, etc. may also cause similar conditions.

Dry, hard, and granular stools: This is a typical manifestation of constipation. The stools are overabsorbed and become dry, hard, and granular, like sheep dung. Long-term constipation not only causes abdominal distension and pain, but also increases the absorption of intestinal toxins, which is harmful to health. Bad eating habits (such as insufficient dietary fiber intake), lack of exercise, insufficient drinking water, and some intestinal diseases can all lead to constipation.

Watery stool: It is mostly caused by intestinal infection, food poisoning or intestinal dysfunction. When bacteria, viruses, parasites, etc. infect the intestines, they will cause inflammation, stimulate the intestinal mucosa to secrete too much fluid, and cause watery stools. Common examples include autumn diarrhea caused by rotavirus infection and acute enteritis caused by bacterial infection. When food poisoning occurs, the ingested toxic substances will also stimulate the intestines and cause diarrhea.

Mucus in stool: The stool is mixed with mucus. Increased mucus indicates that the intestines are irritated or inflamed. It may be an intestinal inflammation such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, or bacterial dysentery.

3. Disease risks behind stool odor

Sour and smelly stool: If the stool smells sour and smelly, it may be related to indigestion. When you eat too much high-protein and high-fat food, it exceeds the digestive capacity of the gastrointestinal tract, and the food cannot be fully digested and absorbed, and ferments in the intestine, it will produce a sour and smelly smell. In addition, intestinal flora imbalance may also cause sour and smelly stools, such as long-term use of antibiotics that destroy the normal balance of intestinal flora.

Foul-smelling stool: If the stool emits a strong foul odor, be alert to intestinal malignant tumors, intestinal infections and other diseases. The necrosis and decomposition of intestinal tumor tissue will produce a special foul odor; some serious intestinal infections, such as bacterial dysentery and amoebic dysentery, can also make the stool smell abnormally foul.

4. Pay attention to abnormal stool and seek medical attention in time

An occasional abnormal stool may be related to a short-term change in diet or lifestyle. However, if the stool color, shape, texture or smell is abnormal, you should pay close attention and seek medical attention immediately. Doctors usually identify the cause and provide targeted treatment by taking a detailed medical history, conducting a physical examination, performing routine stool tests and occult blood tests, and performing colonoscopy.

Hunan Medical Chat Special Author: Zeng Ying, Department of Gastroenterology, Hunan Second People's Hospital (Provincial Brain Hospital)

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(Edited by Wx)