Any change in your bowel habits that is of concern to you is one you should report to your doctor. Changes may include having more frequent or less frequent bowel movements than usual for you, changes in the appearance or consistency of your stool, pain that you have when you are having a bowel movement, constipation or diarrhea. A change may be caused by something as simple as a new diet or a mild infection, but there is always the chance that it may be the first symptom of an important disease. Here are some of the most common bowel habit complaints and a list of some possible causes:
Constipation can come from slowing of the intestine, inadequate fiber and water to soften the stool, or a blockage in the colon or rectum. Some conditions that can cause constipation include:
Low-fiber diet
Side effect of medications
Thyroid disease
Colon cancer
Irritable bowel syndrome
Fecal impaction
Diabetic neuropathy (autonomic neuropathy)
Neurologic disease such as spinal cord injury
Diarrhea is among the most common ways the body responds to irritation of the gastrointestinal tract. Disorders that can cause diarrhea include:
Viral gastroenteritis
Food poisoning
Parasite infection
Traveler's diarrhea (usually Escherichia coli infection)
Antibiotic-related diarrhea (Clostridium difficile colitis)
Bacterial overgrowth
Hyperthyroidism
Diabetic neuropathy (autonomic neuropathy)
Side effect of medications
Lactose intolerance
Gluten sensitivity (celiac sprue)
Crohn's disease
Diverticulitis (infection of a diverticulum)
Food intolerance
Irritable bowel syndrome
Ulcerative colitis
Whipple's disease
Flatulence, or excess gas in the intestinal tract, is almost always caused by foods in your diet. People with excess gas may experience abdominal bloating, passing more gas than usual, belching or gas pains in the intestines. Some medical disorders that can cause flatulence include:
Gallstones
Gluten sensitivity (celiac sprue)
Food intolerance (especially lactose intolerance)
Irritable bowel syndrome
Giardiasis
Traveler's diarrhea
Bacterial overgrowth
Achalasia
Whipple's disease
Amyloidosis
Blood In Or On Stool
Blood in the stool may be visible, or it may be "occult," which means that it can only be detected by laboratory analysis. Visible blood may be bright red, maroon or (if it has passed through a large portion of your digestive tract) black. It is important to see your doctor if you see definite or suspected blood in your stool. Some conditions that can cause blood in or on the stool include:
Hemorrhoids
Anal fissures
Colon cancer
Diverticulosis
Peptic ulcer disease
Erosive gastritis
Esophagitis
Crohn's disease
Ulcerative colitis
Stomach cancer
Meckel's diverticulum
Bleeding varices
Nosebleed
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Black, Tar-Like Stool
Stools that appear dark and thick like tar are caused when blood has been in the digestive tract for several hours. Because this type of stool indicates internal bleeding, you should see your doctor as soon as possible. Disorders that can cause black, tarry stools are generally from upper gastrointestinal sources and include:
Peptic ulcer disease
Esophagitis
Gastritis
Stomach cancer
Bleeding varices
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Unusually Light Stool
Pale, greasy, usually foul-smelling stool is often indicative of digestive and absorption problems. The appearance is due to undigested fats that remain in the stool, or in some cases due to a lack of bilirubin in the intestines. Disorders that may cause pale or yellowed stool include:
Acute viral hepatitis
Alcohol and drug-induced hepatitis
Bile-duct disease
Cancer of gallbladder and bile ducts
Gluten sensitivity (celiac sprue)
Giardiasis
Bacterial overgrowth
Chronic pancreatitis
Chronic hepatitis
Cirrhosis
Crohn's disease
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Mucus Or Pus In Stool
Pus in the stool is evidence of inflammation with or without infection of the lower GI tract. Pus may be present in the stool of people with ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, infectious colitis or diverticulitis.
Mucus can be caused by inflammation or by any other irritation in the colon. It is common in people with irritable bowel syndrome. It is also a possible symptom of colon cancer.
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Dry, Hard Or Rough Stool
These are common symptoms of constipation. The changes may simply be related to lack of fiber or water in the diet. See above for the medical conditions that can cause constipation.
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