We should all be checking our poo when we go to the toilet as it can reveal important health insights, according to a doctor – and it could even ‘save lives’
The frequency of bowel movements can vary greatly from person to person, ranging from three times a day to three times a week. This essential bodily function helps to eliminate undigested food and other waste products.
While it may not seem crucial, the colour and texture of our faeces can provide significant insights into our health. Changes in the appearance of our stools can sometimes be attributed to harmless factors such as diet.
However, in some instances, it could indicate something more serious. For this reason, a GP has advised inspecting your stool every time you use the toilet. This simple habit could potentially alert you to any health issues and could even “save lives”.
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Doctor Chun Tang from Pall Mall Medical said: “Checking your poo stool can reveal important health insights. It’s a simple habit that can help save lives. One of the most lethal conditions this practice could help detect is bowel cancer.
“Each year, almost 17,000 people in the UK die from bowel cancer, which is the nation’s second biggest cancer killer,” Dr Tang revealed. A key indicator of this disease is blood in your stool, which could cause the faeces to appear red or even black.
He added: “The three main symptoms of bowel cancer are blood in stools, changes in bowel habits – such as more frequent, looser stools, and constant or intermittent pain in your tummy.”
However, these signs don’t necessarily mean you have bowel cancer as they are associated with several other conditions, reports the Express. Dr Tang has highlighted a common dilemma in medicine, stating: “The problem is that these symptoms are common symptoms of many other less serious health problems, such as IBS, piles and food intolerances.
“Not everyone who has them will have bowel cancer, so don’t panic thinking the worst,” he advised. Yet, Dr Tang emphasizes that vigilance is key: “However, it is important to be proactive with diseases like this, and if symptoms persist contact a healthcare professional.
“With early detection, there’s a fighting chance against bowel cancer, he pointed out: “If caught early, sufferers of bowel cancer stand a good chance of recovery – providing they know what signs and symptoms to look out for and are aware of the straightforward tests that are available. “
According to the NHS, other signs of bowel cancer can include:
- Bleeding from your bottom
- Often feeling like you need to poo, even if you’ve just been to the toilet
- A lump in your tummy
- Bloating
- Losing weight without trying
- Feeling very tired for no reason
Dr Tang added: “If you’ve noticed a change in toilet habits, or you feel something isn’t quite right, don’t hold it in. If any of these symptoms are persistent, and don’t pass after a couple of weeks, it would be wise not to dismiss them and have them checked out.”
The NHS says you should book an urgent GP appointment or call 111 if your poo is black or dark red or you have bloody diarrhoea.
You should call 999 if you’re bleeding non-stop from your bottom or there’s a lot of blood, for example, the toilet water turns red or you see large blood clots. It’s not always known what causes bowel cancer but you can be at greater risk of the disease if:
You may be more likely to get bowel cancer if:
- You’re over 50
- You smoke
- You’re overweight
- A close relative has had bowel cancer
- You have inflammatory bowel disease, which includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis
- You have small growths in your bowel called bowel polyps
- You have Lynch Syndrome or familial adenomatous polyposis
