Chervoniy cal. A sign of what disease can be light feces. What color is a normal poop

If you suddenly find that you have an orange-colored stool, then most likely you will be worried. But not in every situation, this incident is actually a sign of any disease. Quite often this can be interpreted for other reasons.

Attention! When you see orange-colored stools, you should not immediately try to make yourself a medical diagnosis, unless you have a medical education as a gastroenterologist, infectious disease specialist, or other doctor who specializes in such problems.

If suddenly orange feces in your case are actually a symptom of a disease, then only a specialist can accurately and correctly determine this.

Attention! If the stool is different from the usual color, and this lasts more than two days, then it is imperative to contact a medical professional.

The appearance of orange-colored stools should not be considered a disease if you have had a change in diet, for example, orange-colored vegetables or fruits or other foods containing unsaturated carbohydrates have appeared in your diet. For example, such a problem is often found in those who often eat carrots or persimmons. They include special dyes, which, entering the body, change the color of the stool to orange or shades close to it. This is a completely normal process, not a pathology.

In addition to the foods described above, beta-carotenes (coloring pigments) are also found in the following foods: pumpkin, sea buckthorn oil, sweet potato, some salads, spinach, and various spices. The dye is not completely digested by the body, by about 30%, since it has a fibrous structure. After the pigment has passed through the intestines, it is gradually converted into vitamin A. The amount of dye that the stomach digests directly depends on the amount of gastric juice (bile) in the body. Thus, in children, beta-carotenes are absorbed in a smaller amount than in adults. The remaining 70% of the pigment is excreted through urine and feces, while coloring them in an orange tint.

Attention! Excessive intake of Vitamin A Chemical Essence can also turn orange stools. A similar effect is manifested during the use of multivitamins (preparations containing many vitamins at the same time) not by prescription. If you are using a drug " Rifampicin”(a drug prescribed for patients with tuberculosis, leprosy, gonorrhea or rabies), then in addition to changing the color of feces, limbs and eye whites may also turn yellow. The drug has a strong effect on the liver, which is why such a reaction occurs. This is especially noticeable if you have just started taking " Rifampicin».

How to understand whether a change in stool color is a consequence of a change in diet and the use of new drugs, or is the reason for something else? You just need to stop eating foods with unsaturated carbohydrates and suspend the course of treatment with multivitamins or Rifampicin for three days. If the color of the feces remains the same, then we can conclude that the problem lies elsewhere.

Attention! Often, the orange color of feces indicates the presence of escherichiosis. Escherichiosis is an intestinal disease caused by the presence of Escherichia coli. You can get the disease from people who are already sick with it, or from those who have just begun to have pathogens in their bodies.

Signs of the onset of the disease:

• high body temperature for a long time;
• orange-colored liquid stools, diarrhea on an ongoing basis (dozens of times a day);
• pain and regular feeling of emptiness in the stomach, bloating;
• gagging, vomiting and frequent belching;
• feeling like you are dehydrated.

Irritants enter the intestines when eating stale meat and dairy products, and even when personal hygiene is violated. The most vulnerable organism is when the climate changes, for example, while traveling. In order not to spoil your vacation, you need to find the cause of the problems as soon as possible and eliminate it.

There are several forms of escherichiosis.

Orange-colored feces in case of disorders of the stomach or intestines

As mentioned above, the stool is stained by gastric juice (bile). If the stomach and intestines function without deviations, then the bile will color the feces in the "standard" brown shade. If a lack of gastric juice has formed in the intestine, this means that a special bile pigment is not formed in the body, the production of enzymes is disrupted. Diseases that have similar symptoms: hepatitis, cirrhosis of the liver. An insufficient amount of bilirubin in the body may be the result of the appearance of stones in the liver, cholecystitis, a malignant or benign tumor.

If the reason for the appearance of orange stool is precisely in the above reasons, then other signs will also appear:

• pain under the ribs;
• digestive problems;
• unusual, pungent odor from the mouth.

Only a specialist can deal with the cause of such symptoms. He should also appoint you several examinations that will accurately confirm the result. It is not necessary to assume that the appearance of an orange stool is a completely harmless phenomenon. Better to play it safe and go to the doctor.

Video - 3 chair colors

What else can cause orange-colored stools?

The following are diseases that rarely cause orange-colored feces, but this can also be:

Treatment for orange stools

Treatment for orange-colored stools should begin with an appeal to a gastroenterologist. He will appoint you several necessary examinations, with the help of which the cause of this phenomenon, the specific disease (if it exists), and the stage of its development will be identified. In addition, after the examination, you can find out what complications may appear due to the disease. Also, the examination process includes the analysis of feces for the number of red blood cells or white blood cells. If the final results differ from the normative range, then the medical professional will prescribe you a comprehensive treatment with which you can avoid problems with the stomach or intestines in the future.

If after the examination you were diagnosed with an infectious disease, then urgent treatment in the clinic is necessary. If the disease has already developed strongly in the body, then it is first necessary to carry out rehabilitation treatment, and then begin the course of taking pills, antibiotics, and so on. If it suddenly turned out that the cause of the appearance of orange-colored feces are stones in the gallbladder, then in this case it is impossible to do without the intervention of a surgeon.

By changing the color of feces, one can judge the functioning of the body. Brown is considered normal. Faecal discoloration can be caused by dangerous changes in how the body functions. The main reasons for the appearance of a light-colored feces in an adult are considered to be monotonous nutrition or the development of pathology.

Why can an adult have light-colored feces?

The composition of excrement includes water, processed food, epithelial cells, as well as dead bacteria. In a healthy body, the color of feces is light or dark brown. Feces should be of a dense consistency.

The color of feces can change under the influence of various factors:

• black-brown, appears after a meat diet;
• light brown stool occurs in an adult as a result of adhering to a plant-based diet;
• black, may indicate internal bleeding in the digestive system;
• greenish-black, observed as a result of treatment with iron preparations;
• green, occurs after adhering to a vegetable diet;
• greenish yellow, thought to be the result of carbohydrate fermentation;
• orange-light yellow appears with a milk diet;
• white or grayish-white (acholic stool) occurs as a result of the cessation of the release of bile into the intestines.

Do not panic when clarifying excrement, as there are a large number of factors that cause this phenomenon:

1. Physiological processes.
2. Prolonged drug treatment with certain means.
3. pathological disorders.

Very often, lightening of the stool is the result of eating high-fat foods. This condition does not cause discomfort in a person’s life, and after a review of nutrition, the color of the stool returns to normal.

Pathological conditions that provoke the appearance of light stools

Very often, a change in the color of feces is caused by a violation of the digestive process.

Malfunctions of the gallbladder

When stones or neoplasms of the bile ducts are formed, their blockage occurs. This condition is considered one of the most common causes of white bowel movements.

The pigment stercobilin is responsible for the color of feces. As a result of its difficult transportation, feces acquire a gray or clay color. In addition, manifestations of blockage of the ducts are considered yellowing of the skin and eyes.

Stones in the gallbladder are usually formed due to irregular nutrition or regular fasting. For the body to function properly, it needs constant contractions that occur only during meals. During this period, bile is released into the intestine, which takes part in the breakdown of fats. During fasting, such contractions do not occur and calculi are formed as a result. This condition can be fatal for the patient. For this reason, when light stool appears, it is necessary to consult a doctor in order to avoid dangerous consequences.

In addition, lightening of stools can occur as a result of inflammatory processes in the gallbladder. Cholecystitis occurs with intense pain, nausea and fever.

Pathological disorders in the functioning of the liver

The liver is an important organ in which bile acids are formed. The latter accumulate in the gallbladder. In addition, a large number of metabolic processes take place in this digestive organ. Various changes in the functioning of the liver can provoke a change in the color of feces.

One of the pathologies of the liver is hepatitis. This disease proceeds with the following manifestations:

• nausea;
• indigestion;
• painful sensations, pulling character in the right side;
• yellowing of the skin.

If you ignore this disease, then there is a risk of developing cirrhosis. Acute hepatitis causes white stools.

Associated features

Pathological disorders that caused stool lightening usually occur with the following symptoms:

• rise in temperature;
• nausea with vomiting;
• yellowing of the skin and sclera;
• pain in the peritoneum;
• dark urine;
• weight loss;
• flatulence;
• lack of appetite.

If any of the above signs and light-colored feces occur, it is recommended to consult a doctor to find out the root cause of this condition.

Other pathological disorders that provoke the appearance of white stools

Lightening of feces can occur not only as a result of the above conditions.

In inflammatory processes in the pancreas, a light color of feces is also observed. In addition, pancreatitis occurs with painful sensations in the stomach.

Malignant tumor processes at an early stage develop practically without obvious signs, however, with the growth of the neoplasm, manifestations in the form of light feces are possible.

Another pathological condition is Crohn's disease. The factors for the development of this disease are infection and allergic reactions. There is a pathology with vomiting and light excrement with blood impurities.

Minor factors affecting stool color

Feces can turn white not only as a result of pathological conditions. The intestinal microflora can also influence the color of feces.

Factors affecting the intestinal microflora:

1. Taking certain medications that can provoke the development of intestinal dysbacteriosis. Most of these drugs are antibiotics.
2. Stressful situations can also cause pathologies in the intestines and provoke clarification of feces.
3. A change in diet or malnutrition causes malfunctions in the functioning of the intestines and the appearance of light-colored excrement.

The above factors that affect the intestinal microflora most often provoke the appearance of white feces in adults.

Medical therapy

Clearing stools may cause the following medications to be taken:

• antibiotics;
• contraceptives;
• antimycotic drugs.

Clarified stool during pregnancy

The natural color of excrement during pregnancy is yellow-brown.

With any failures occurring in the body, the color of feces begins to change:

1. Gray-colored stools most often occur after eating fresh fruits or other suspicious foods.
2. Light-colored feces usually appear due to physiological disorders, such as diarrhea, typhoid, dysentery.
3. White feces in pregnant women rarely occur. Usually indicates a food allergy.

A change in the color of feces in pregnant women indicates some kind of disorder or dietary disturbance and requires mandatory attention.

Treatment Methods

Lightening of feces cannot be ignored. After passing the diagnosis, the doctor will individually develop a treatment regimen:

1. If the disorder is caused by impaired absorption, then nutritional adjustments and vitamin complexes are prescribed.
2. If the excrement turns white due to calculi or neoplasms, then the doctor prescribes a surgical operation. Modern medicine uses endoscopic methods to remove stones, which allow you to get rid of the pathology using ultrasound.
3. For the treatment of hepatitis, anti-inflammatory and antiviral drugs are prescribed.
4. Light stools caused by pathologies in the pancreas require complex medical treatment, including antibiotics, antispasmodics and analgesics, anti-inflammatory drugs and vitamins.

Smecta will help cleanse the body of toxins, prevent the penetration of infection into the organs of the digestive system, and restore the intestinal mucosa.

Traditional medicine methods

It is possible to recover from the diseases that caused the clarification of feces, not only with the help of drug therapy. To solve the problem, folk recipes are also used to help eliminate the cause that caused this condition:

1. Infusion from grains of oats. Wash and dry the sprouted grains. After, the raw materials are crushed into powder, which is diluted in cold water. The resulting mixture must be boiled for 3 minutes, and then left to infuse for half an hour. The medicine should be taken in small sips throughout the day.
2. A decoction of corn stigmas. This remedy will help cure hepatitis. For cooking, pour 200 ml of boiling water 1 tbsp. a spoonful of stigmas. Leave to infuse for 20 minutes. Drink instead of tea all day.
3. To cure light stools caused by calculi in the gallbladder, black rare juice is used. The latter drink 100 ml every day on an empty stomach. The duration of treatment is 3-6 weeks.

A change in the color of feces very often indicates the development of dangerous pathologies. Therefore, an important point is to find out the causes of clarification of feces. Timely treatment will reduce the risk of complications.

If your stool color suddenly changes, do not immediately panic - the reason may not be serious at all. Anxiety will be appropriate with a constant unusual shade of stool. Let's talk today about the causes of green feces in adults.

What can color feces

The green tint of feces can be the result of frequent and large amounts of cereal consumption. Even if you change the diet to other foods for several days, the feces will be green. This is explained by the presence in cultures of a reinforced protective shell, which causes the digestive tract to secrete more bile for processing. And as a result - the feces are stained in this color.

There are also foods that cause a green tint to bowel movements, for example, which have a lot of iron in their composition, as well as:

• leaf crops;
• caramel, marmalade and jelly with a high content of dyes;
• red meats, sea fish and legumes (red).

All of the above, as a rule, passes without diarrhea and pain in the abdomen. 3-5 days after the last meal with the presence of the above products, the color of the feces will become normal.

Another cause of green stool in an adult, which does not indicate a serious illness, is diarrhea. This is due to the low speed of microorganisms in the intestines to act on feces with such a problem.

With impaired movement of digested food in the form of a coma through the large intestine, feces also acquire a green tint.

For information - before going out, the contents are in this section of the intestine for some time.

Now let's move on to more serious reasons for the appearance of green feces in an adult.

Causes of green stool in adults

The appearance of pathology in the body, including a change in the color of feces, will be accompanied by additional symptoms.

And depending on this, it will be possible to talk about the development of certain ailments:

1. Infections in the intestines lead to fever, nausea and vomiting, including pain in the abdomen.
2. With dysbacteriosis, the number of pathogenic bacteria increases, provoking decay and fermentation of food. As a result, there is bloating, cramps and a change in the color of feces.
3. An exacerbation of a stomach ulcer or oncology of the gastrointestinal tract leads, among other things, to a change in the color of feces to green. This is due to the incomplete process of iron oxidation.
4. Mass decomposition of red blood cells contributes to the development of liver pathologies - hepatitis. The diseased organ lacks hemoglobin, a derivative of bilirubin. As a result, the stool becomes green instead of brown.
5. Due to the intolerance of the body to any products, an allergic reaction appears, leading to inflammatory processes and digestive disorders. As a result, the feces become green.

Feces, feces or feces is a by-product of digestion. Food mixtures with bile from the liver and digestive enzymes from the pancreas provide the possibility of enzymatic breakdown (digestion) of proteins, carbohydrates and fats of food in the composition of the suspension. The suspension passes through the small intestine, where the absorption of nutrients and a significant part of the water into the blood takes place. Liquid waste is fed into the large intestine. In the large intestine, some more water is absorbed and feces are formed. Normal stool contains bacteria, undigested food, cellulose from undigested plant foods, and bile.

More than 900 ml of liquid - saliva, gastric juice, gallbladder, pancreas and intestinal secretions - enter the gastrointestinal tract daily. About 500-1500 ml of this fluid reaches the large intestine, and only about 150 ml is excreted in the stool (faeces). Water and electrolytes are absorbed in both the small and large intestines. The large intestine can only absorb about 300 ml, if the amount of water exceeds this volume, then the feces become liquid, diarrhea. Figure 1 shows the volumes of fluid secreted and absorbed by individual organs of the gastrointestinal tract during the day. There is no single definition of normal feces. There is a whole range of what can be considered normal, the regularity of emptying each person is very individual. There are, however, a few signs that feces are no longer in your personal normal range and should be discussed with your doctor.

Many people think that a normal bowel movement is one bowel movement each day, but this is not true for everyone. There is no rule for the frequency of bowel movements, the general range is from 3 times a day to 3 times a week. Less than 3 bowel movements per week indicates constipation, while more than 3 times a day and watery stools indicate diarrhea.

Size and shape of feces

For self-orientation about the state of the gastrointestinal tract, English gastroenterologists proposed a scale table of feces (stool) forms - the Bristol scale of feces forms - is a self-diagnostic chart that helps patients characterize their bowel movements without embarrassment or embarrassment. The Bristol Stool Scale is currently used worldwide as a tool for assessing the bowel and digestive system.

Based on the Bristol Stool Shape Scale, normal stools should be soft and easy to pass, although some people may have harder or softer stools than others. The stool should be brown or golden brown in color, well formed, have a texture similar to peanut butter, and be the size and shape of a sausage. In many cases, if the feces change slightly from what is described, there is no reason to worry, especially if this is an isolated case. But if your feces suddenly change and differ significantly from the usual, this is a reason to visit a gastroenterologist.

Macroscopic analysis of feces can be of great help in the diagnosis of certain diseases, but not sufficient to make definite conclusions about the presence or absence of some disease of the digestive system.

Some changes in the characteristics of stool are common to various diseases: colitis, tumors, benign polyps, hemorrhoids, malnutrition, functional diseases. This means that the detection of an abnormal fecal value should be considered in the context of the patient's clinical condition and the final assessment should be made by a physician who, if necessary, will refer to the appropriate subspecialists.

Indicators that should be considered in the macroscopic analysis of feces.

Composition of feces

Feces are 75% water and 25% solids. The dry residue of the solid fraction is highly variable and consists of residues (fiber) of undigested cellulose. Fiber is very hygroscopic and is what retains water in the stool, which is why low-protein diets produce soft, bulky stools, while high-protein diets that are deficient in fiber (fiber) cause constipation. 30% of the dry mass of feces are bacteria of the intestinal microflora, 15% - inorganic substances (calcium and phosphates), 5% - fats and their derivatives. There are also small amounts of desquamated (desquamated) intestinal mucosal cells, mucus, and digestive enzymes.

Thus, a significant part masses of feces of non-food origin and feces are formed even during fasting.

The mass of feces depends significantly on the nature of the diet, and, in particular, on the content of fibers in it. With a normal diet, the normal value of the mass of excreted feces in adults is 150-300 g per 24 hours. Higher values ​​may be with a vegetarian diet.

stool color

The normal color of stool varies from light brown to dark brown. This is due to the chemical conversion of bile bilirubin and its metabolite stercobilin into urobilinogen by intestinal bacteria and enzymes. Bile is formed in the liver and released in the intestines, where it is involved in the digestion and absorption of food fats.

Consider what color feces can be colored and why

Green feces

Gives green color to stool biliverdin , a precursor of bilirubin, which enters with bile and, with rapid transit through the intestines, does not have time to complete its metabolism by the intestinal microflora. For this reason, with diarrhea and the use of laxatives, the stool has a greenish color.

We find the green color of feces with the predominance of leafy vegetables rich in chlorophyll (green plant pigment) in the diet - spinach, arugula, parsley, green beans, etc.

The green color of feces comes from supplements containing chlorophyll and antibiotics.

orange feces

The color of feces is determined by food and some drugs. In the presence of foods rich in beta-carotene that have yellow-orange hues (carrots, pumpkins, apricots, mangoes, sweet potatoes, etc.), feces become orange. Supplements containing this antioxidant pigment and the consumption of drugs based on rifampicin have the same effect on stool color.

Gray-white feces

The predominance of rice and other light-colored cereals in food, potatoes, taking antacids (based on aluminum hydroxide), can give feces a white tint. In accordance with the generally accepted concept, the color of feces is determined by the presence of bilirubin and its metabolites. Fecal hypochromia may reflect a violation of the flow of bile into the intestine (biliary duct stones or cancer of the head of the pancreas), diseases of the liver or biliary tract and pancreas, in which there is a decrease in the content of bilirubin (cirrhosis, hepatitis and liver cancer).

Pale, shiny, and greasy stools are typical of steatorrhea. Steatorrhea is excess fat in the stool caused by intestinal malabsorption. Such feces are a symptom of celiac disease.

Yellow feces

Yellow stool is a sign of the presence of fat in the stool. Fat in the feces can be associated with a disease of the pancreas (chronic pancreatitis) and a deficiency of the enzyme lipase, which breaks down fats. Fatty stools are yellowish with a strong unpleasant odor.

Red feces

The red color of the feces is a warning to the patient that he is bleeding.

However, such red foods (tomato juice and tomatoes, red fruits and beets) can give the stool its characteristic color. However, red stools are an alarming symptom of some sort of intestinal bleeding. In this case, the following options are possible.

The streaks of bright red blood that surrounds the stool, does not mix with the stool, indicates bleeding from the rectum in the anus (such blood is visible on toilet paper). The reasons may be: hemorrhoids or anal fissures, but a malignant tumor in the last section of the intestine is not excluded.

If the color of the blood is dark red, the blood is mixed with feces, then this is an indicator of bleeding at the level of the large intestine. This kind of bleeding is observed in polyps, cancer, diverticulitis, inflammatory and vascular diseases.

Gray and black feces

Dark gray stools may indicate the presence of metals such as iron (such as with excessive consumption of chocolate and/or meat) or bismuth. Tarry black stool indicates the presence of partially digested blood (melena), which appears in the stool when bleeding from the upper digestive tract (esophagus, stomach, duodenum). Even small bleeding from the small intestine and caecum of the large intestine can turn stools blackish.

With black feces, it must be remembered that activated charcoal, licorice, blueberries and black olives, red beets, red and black grapes, red wine, etc. can color feces blackish and black. Unlike melena, such feces do not have a fetid, nauseating odor.

Constipation is usually associated with dark stools due to the longer stay in the colon, while diarrhea is associated with light stools.

Smell of feces

The smell of excrement is associated with putrefaction of proteins and the metabolism of amino acids that are not absorbed in the small intestine by bacteria in the large intestine. As a result of the action of intestinal bacteria, indole, skatole, putrescine, cadaverine, etc. are formed, which give an unpleasant odor to the feces.

Malabsorption manifests itself in celiac disease, pancreatic insufficiency, intestinal infections, inflammatory bowel diseases, diseases of the liver and biliary tract, etc. In some diseases, the digestion of especially sugars and starches is disturbed, which reach the large intestine and are fermented by the local flora with the formation of gases.

The smell of feces is determined to be related to food and the health of our intestines. A balanced diet, eating in small portions and with care to avoid introducing carbohydrates and proteins at the same time ("dissociated diet"), helps to regulate digestion. This reduces bloating and flatulence and the feces retain their "distinctive" odor.

Mucus in stool e

Mucus in the stool is not always a pathological phenomenon. Mucus is secreted by the large intestine, and its function is to lubricate the feces, making it easier to slide through the anus. The color of the mucus is whitish or yellowish white, the consistency is similar to gelatin.

An increase in the presence of mucus in the feces is an indicator of such pathological conditions as ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, bacterial colitis. In these cases, the mucus is accompanied by diarrhea and often bleeding. An increase in mucus can be found in irritable bowel syndrome, celiac disease, allergies or food intolerances, and changes in the intestinal bacterial flora as a result of poor eating habits.

Excess mucus is present in polyps (especially the hairy type) and in tumors of the colon. In the latter case, the mucus is bright and/or mixed with traces of blood.

"Floating" feces

This phenomenon occurs when there is a fair amount of gas and fat inside the stool, the fat makes the gas less dense and the stool sticks to the walls of the toilet. This feature of the feces is characteristic of diarrhea and, in general, for all situations with malabsorption, with fermentation and the formation of gas in the intestines.

Stool color palette

Norm indicators

Kal has its generally accepted characteristics, which indicate that everything is in order with health. This may not be the most pleasant topic, but everyone should know the parameters of the chair.

1. Color. In healthy people, on the menu of which a variety of foods, the stool has a color from yellowish to dark brown. Of course, this parameter varies depending on the type of food consumed at one time or another, but in general there should not be any unusual color.

Stool consistency and shape scale

Number of bowel movements

The daily norm of feces is from 120 to 500 g

Attention! Some people have individual characteristics of feces associated with congenital anomalies, pathologies or lifestyle (for example, vegetarians). If in general nothing bothers you, then you should not be afraid for your health.

Deviations from the norms and their causes

Comparative characteristics of the color of feces and the causes that cause it.

Red or burgundy

Diagnosis of the condition with a changed color of feces

If the feces continue to be painted in an unnatural color for several days, which is not associated with the use of drugs or food, it is necessary to consult a specialist to find out the nature of this phenomenon.

If blood impurities are found in the feces, this is an indication for immediate medical attention, because this may be a sign of the onset of internal bleeding.

In a normal situation, the doctor collects an anamnesis, talking with the patient, and then prescribes a series of diagnostic studies according to indications.

What is a colonoscopy

Ultrasound of the intestines, rectum

What diseases cause stool staining

If the cause of the abnormal color of feces does not depend on the diet and medications, then most likely the problem is in the following organs:

The most common diseases that change the color of the stool.

1. Hepatitis and cirrhosis of the liver. The accumulation of toxic substances in the tissues of the liver leads to its inflammation and inability to perform its functions: to produce proteins and enzymes, to regulate cholesterol levels.
2. Diverticulitis is an inflammation of the intestinal tissue, with the formation of small growths in which food remains and bacteria multiply.

Schematic representation of the pathogenesis of gastric ulcer

Symptoms of the pathology of the spleen

Duodenum. The initial part of the duodenum is expanded - this is an ampulla or bulb

The diagram shows the duodenal bulb

For reference! Stool staining can occur continuously or occasionally during an exacerbation of diseases. In some cases, discoloration of feces occurs throughout a person's life if their diagnosis is not treatable.

Treatment

In order to return the stool to its normal consistency and color, it is necessary to identify the cause of the changes and begin treatment.

First of all, the diet is normalized and bad habits are excluded.

Get rid of bad habits

If infections, poisoning, dysentery are the cause of atypical green stools, absorbent drugs, agents that restore water-salt balance, probiotics and prebiotics are prescribed to help normalize the microflora of the stomach and intestines.

Prebiotics and probiotics: classification, preparations

According to the indications for other diseases, the following can be used:

• painkillers;
• anti-inflammatory;
• antibiotics;
• enzyme preparations;
• antispasmodics;
• venotonic agents;
• laxatives or vice versa, antidiarrheals;
• antacids;
• anthelmintic drugs;
• anticoagulants;
• homeopathic remedies.

Candles with sea buckthorn and "Anestezol" can be used for intestinal diseases

In some cases, surgical intervention is required, for example, to remove polyps, various neoplasms, and stop bleeding in internal organs.

With adequate treatment, the result comes fairly quickly, the patient is no longer tormented by diarrhea, constipation, pain and abnormal stool color.

Feces are not just processed products, they are, like other excretions from the body, an indicator of human health. Therefore, careful monitoring of the color of your stool will help prevent many diseases.

Chair in an adult, what should be the feces?

The most natural process in human life is the daily self-emptying of the intestines. In the absence of any pathologies, this process does not cause any discomfort. In order for the chair to be daily and painless, it is enough to eat right. Malfunctions in the intestinal tract occur for a number of reasons. For example, the presence of chronic diseases, surgical interventions, pregnancy, breastfeeding, nutritional errors. In cases where deviations in the quantity and quality of bowel movements are present without the reasons described above, this should be alarming. Further in the article, in detail about what a normal stool should be in an adult, when the color of feces or impurities in it can indicate health problems, be symptoms or signs of the development of various kinds of diseases.

Standard, normal stool in an adult

The body of each person is individual. What is considered pathological for one person is considered normal for another. Normal bowel movement in an adult depends not only on his eating habits, but also on the metabolic processes in the body. Therefore, the color of the stool, the consistency of the feces in an adult can differ significantly from the type and quality of the food consumed, the presence of diseases or other features of the person's state of health.

Most people have a bowel movement every day in the morning. For them, this process is the norm. However, if this process is disturbed, these people start to panic. Such people should remember that self-emptying of the intestine once every 2 days or 2 times a day is also considered normal. The feces should be sufficiently thick in consistency and should not contain any impurities such as mucous, blood, foamy discharge. Even when the daily stool in an adult has changed a little and the intestines are cleared once every two to three days, there is no need to sound the alarm. The problem of irregular or frequent stools may be a violation of the diet. In such cases, first you need to normalize the diet, and only if this measure does not bring relief, you need to consult a doctor.

Frequent stools, frequent urination, causes of diarrhea

Along with infrequent bowel movements (1 every two to three days), a person can be disturbed by stool, which is repeated up to five times a day. If the feces are dense enough in texture and do not cause any problems, then eating foods that help speed up digestion may be a possible cause of frequent stools. You need to worry only in those cases when the feces with frequent stools become liquid and contain foam, mucous or spotting. At the same time, the stomach is quite painful and the body temperature is higher than normal. Urgent measures should be taken to prevent complications of well-being.

Liquid stools, loose stools in an adult

Not always the cleansing of the gastrointestinal tract, accompanied by liquid stools, indicates problems with the digestive tract. If the stools are liquid, as with diarrhea, are not strong and do not cause pain in the abdomen, then they may be of a natural nature. A factor influencing the liquefaction of feces and the onset of diarrhea may be food eaten before. Eating kefirs, yogurts, milk, certain vegetable products and fruits in large quantities contribute to the appearance of liquid stool masses. Also, such loose stools in an adult can be preceded by alcohol consumed in huge portions, namely beer and wine. With the help of a strong bowel movement, the body tries to free itself from alcohol poisoning.

Adult frothy stool

With the appearance of loose stools, diarrhea with foamy contents, do not panic. You should know that fermentation processes are caused by an excess of carbohydrates in the human body, which have accumulated for a long time. In this regard, it is recommended to exclude from your menu sweet fruits, certain types of vegetables, soda, alcohol, which causes gas formation. Liquid cereals should be introduced into the daily menu with foamy and frequent stools in an adult. They help to strengthen the contents of the stomach and improve its work.

Stool with mucus in an adult, causes of stool with mucus impurities

In adults, the feces may contain a small amount of mucus due to the consumption of food that promotes the formation of mucus. Therefore, a stool with an admixture of mucous secretions is not surprising if a person’s daily diet consists of mucous cereals, dairy products, fruits, and berries. In this case, additional discomfort is also possible in the form of bloating, diarrhea, pain in the abdominal region.

Quite often, liquid stools containing mucus appear during long-term antibiotic therapy. Also, fecal masses, liquid in form with foam, are characteristic of violations of the microflora of the gastrointestinal tract, chronic inflammatory processes in the stomach, ulcerative colitis, intestinal fissures, the presence of Escherichia coli and other infections.

Feces with blood, causes of blood-stained stools, causes

Many people in vain do not pay attention to the stool with single blood blotches. A change in the color of feces and the presence of blood impurities is evidence of quite serious pathologies. If the blood in the stool is bright scarlet and is located on top of the stool, then the reason most likely lies in the fact that there are anal fissures.

The black tint of the stool indicates bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract. The black color of the feces is due to the fact that in the process of moving through the intestines, the blood has already coagulated. A sign of the opening of an ulcer is considered to be a small amount of feces with a sufficiently large amount of blood discharge. If you find such dangerous symptoms as feces with blood, you should immediately consult a doctor.

How to understand that the color of the stool indicates disease?

Also, other shades of fecal stool indicate the presence of pathologies. Light gray or white feces indicate the presence of Crohn's disease, rotavirus infection, malignant or benign neoplasms, kidney stones, and dysbacteriosis. The shade of feces depends on changes in the diet and on the stage of chronic diseases.

Adult black stool

The black color of feces in the stool is possible in cases where the day before a person consumed foods that contribute to the color of feces, as well as in the presence of internal bleeding of the upper intestine. After taking or while taking certain medications, bowel movements may also turn black. For example, medicines for anemia, activated charcoal and a number of other medicines that contribute to the appearance of black stool.

Green stool and its causes

The green hue of feces indicates that there are fermentation processes in the body, the causes of which can either be overeating foods containing large amounts of carbohydrates, or the development of bacterial infections. Quite often, green feces are associated with large impurities of mucous secretions. Along with the unusual green color of the stool, mild pain, flatulence, and bloating appear.

Yellow stools, causes of yellow stools

A bright yellow hue of feces means that there are pathologies with the gallbladder in the human body. If, with this color of feces, a bitter taste is also felt on the lips and in the mouth, then there is no doubt that there are problems with the bile ducts. Disorders of the pancreas, due to which a large amount of bile secretion simply does not have time to break down, are the cause of the yellow color of the stool. Also, a yellow stool in an adult may indicate diseases of the digestive tract and the presence of kidney stones. With urolithiasis, yellow stools will be observed for a long time.

Causes of gray stool in an adult

A grayish stool with a very strong, offensive odor indicates a clear sign of malabsorption. When a person abuses fatty foods, his pancreas does not have time to cope with it, which leads to colorless feces.

White stools, causes of white stools

A light shade of fecal discharge in an adult may indicate hepatitis or pancreatitis. A white stool in an adult mainly indicates obvious pathologies of the bile ducts, or the impossibility of outflow of bile secretions. In such situations, certain difficulties may be hidden in the appearance of stones or in the presence of neoplasms in the form of tumors. A white shade of stool in an adult is also possible as a result of dysbacteriosis, which causes constant discomfort.

Throughout the life of an adult, fecal masses can undergo significant changes. In this regard, what is considered normal at fifteen or twenty years old, after the age of forty, may be the first "beacon" to the appearance of pathology. Therefore, experts recommend that you be more careful about your health, monitor the slightest changes in your body, and if you suspect any disease, do not self-medicate, but be sure to consult a doctor.

How many times a day should a person walk on the big one?

There is no definite norm how many times a day and in what quantities an adult needs to defecate. However, a certain standard is the amount from three times a day to once in three days. On average, a person walks about once every 24 hours and produces 28.35 g of feces per 5.443 kg of body weight. Based on this norm, the feces of a man or woman weighing 72.6 kg are equated to 454 g of feces daily.

Frequent stools (more than four times a day) that are rare and watery are called diarrhea. This definition is appropriate when it is not a symptom of any more serious illness (the exception is circumstances in which the fluid from the body comes out only with diarrhea). There are three types of diarrhea: acute, persistent and chronic. The first category occurs after infection and quickly stops. Chronic diarrhea may last for more than two weeks, but chronic diarrhea lasts for months. The causes of diarrhea are usually infections, medications (particularly antibiotics), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and nutritional problems (not digesting any foods, which happens due to physiological characteristics).

Different people have different stool frequency. As noted earlier, the norm is a bowel movement from three times a day to one bowel movement in three days. There are many factors that have a certain effect on intestinal motility (gastrointestinal movements), because of which you should not worry. The motility of the gastrointestinal tract is affected by: changes in diet, medications, moving and traveling, sleep, sports, hormonal surges, tension and stress, diseases, operations, childbirth and much more. It is also necessary to monitor how the processes of emptying the rectum and bladder occur. A clear signal of the existence of problems with the human body are too strong attempts to defecate and urinate.

What should be the daily amount of feces?

With a varied diet, the daily rate of defecation is considered to be the amount of feces within g. If a person's diet is dominated by plant foods, then the abundance of stool increases. In the case of the dominance of food of animal origin, the frequency of bowel movements is much less.

Too much and active excretion of waste products from the body for three days or more (polyfecal matter) may be a harbinger of an ailment of the gastrointestinal tract, liver, gallbladder and its tracts, pancreas, or the loss of one or many nutrients entering the digestive tract due to their insufficiency. absorption in the small intestine (malabsorption). Constipation can sometimes be a consequence of a decrease in the amount of feces and the frequency of emptying. This is due to the prolonged retention of body waste in the colon and excessive absorption of fluid, due to which the volume of bowel movements decreases. It can also be the predominance of food that is digested too quickly.

What should be the density of feces?

The normal composition of feces is 70% water and 30% food that has undergone the process of processing by the body, dead bacteria, as well as exfoliated particles of the gastrointestinal tract. The product of defecation most often has a cylindrical shape, and in structure it resembles a soft round sausage. However, the high content of vegetable components in the diet contributes to the thickening of feces. A favorable indicator is the absence of bloody clots, mucus, pus and parts of incompletely digested food.

The deviation from the standard is mushy feces. This happens with a rapid contraction of the walls of the small intestine, as well as with an increased secretion of intestinal juice. Too thick defecation products occur with difficulty in emptying, inflammatory infections and convulsive contractions of the colon mucosa. Ointment-like waste occurs with complications in the functioning of the pancreas, a rapid decrease in the flow of bile into the intestines. More rare bowel movements occur when food is difficult to process in the small intestine, improper absorption and extremely rapid passage of feces. Foamy stool occurs in case of development of fermentative dyspepsia. With this disease, fermentation processes in the digestive tract occur more often and longer than any other. Tape feces occur when a patient has a persistent narrowing of the lumen or a prolonged spasm of the colon, as well as with cancer of the final part of the digestive tract. More liquid and frequent bowel movements are called diarrhea. Muddy, fluid stools occur when large amounts of fluids are consumed. Foamy stools are a sign that the food or drink you have eaten has been high in yeast. Thin feces can signal ailments of the colon, namely, neoplasms or polyposis.

What should the stool smell like?

The standard is considered not very pleasant, but not too irritating smell. This is influenced by the food that enters the body. The reason for a sharp darling can be meat, sour - food of dairy origin. Also, the smell directly depends on the manifestation of the processes of fermentation and decay in the organs. Acid is felt in fermentative dyspepsia. Causes her frequent consumption of carbohydrates (baked goods, sugar) and carbonated liquids in large volumes. Pronounced stench occurs in case of problems in the functioning of the pancreas (its inflammation), a decrease in the flow of bile into the intestines (cholecystitis), hypersecretion of ions and any liquid into the intestinal lumen. This also occurs due to an excessive amount of bacteria. Some of them produce hydrogen sulfide, which has a characteristic rotten smell. Feces smell of rottenness with problems in the process of digestion of food, putrefactive dyspepsia, which is associated with the frequent use of protein and its slow absorption. Also, the causes of this smell can be granulomatous enteritis or ulcerative colitis. A mild aroma is characteristic of difficult emptying of the gastrointestinal tract or too rapid evacuation of food through it.

What should be the shape of feces in an adult?

A thin stool (pencil) indicates interference in the lower half of the digestive tract or an external onslaught on the large intestine. If these symptoms appear, a colonoscopy should be done in order to rule out the development of cancer. Small and hard stools are clear signs of difficult bowel movements, namely constipation. This may be due to missing fiber in a person's diet. It is necessary to increase the content of dietary fiber in the diet, perform more sports exercises, use psyllium and flaxseeds to improve intestinal motility.

Too soft stool that sticks to the toilet means your body is not absorbing oils the way it should. Sometimes essential drops float directly in the toilet. With these symptoms, there are also disturbances in the functioning of the pancreas, so it is very important to immediately contact a specialist in medicine for diagnosis. The presence of mucous clots in the feces is a common occurrence. However, if excessive mucus is seen in the stool, there may be some kind of inflammation in the body, granulomatous enteritis or ulcerative colitis.

Gases in the intestines, what is the norm in an adult?

Gases are produced due to the functioning of microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract. During defecation and in a calm state, from 0.2 to 0.5 l of gas is excreted from the body of an adult during the day. The standard is to fart about once a day (preferably less). More frequent emission may be the result of the presence of the following foods in the diet: carbonated drinks, foods containing carbohydrates, fiber, yeast, and lactose.

The color of feces is an indicator that can depend on many factors. Among these are the work of the organs of the gastrointestinal tract, the composition of the microflora, nutrition and lifestyle of a person. The appearance of an incomprehensible shade of feces usually occurs for physiological reasons, but may also indicate the development of gastrointestinal pathology.

The concept of norm

Very light, milky, light green, clay, straw

Constipation, loose stools

Fatty foods, liver disease, gallbladder disease, bowel dysfunction, malabsorption, hepatitis, rotavirus

Change of nutrition, cleansing the liver and gastrointestinal tract

Black, sometimes purple with blue veins

Abdominal pain, diarrhea, weakness

The use of dark-colored foods (prunes, blueberries), drugs (activated charcoal), vitamins, large amounts of alcohol.

Refuse alcohol, reduce the intake of iron supplements, consult a specialist

Burgundy, brick, raspberry

Dark green, gray-green or olive color indicates colitis, irritable bowel syndrome. Feces turn yellow or yellow-brown in violation of the absorption of fats in the body, pancreatic cancer. A sandy shade is a common occurrence for vegetarians. If the feces are red, this most often indicates the presence of hemorrhoids, anal fissures. The color of feces in colorectal cancer of the intestine varies from bright red to beetroot. In this case, the patient has constipation and sharp pain during bowel movements. Scarlet heterogeneous stools may indicate the presence of diverticulitis, intestinal infection, inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. With such symptoms, you should immediately consult a doctor and undergo a complete medical examination. Orange color of feces is an indicator of diseases of the biliary tract.

Causes of discoloration of feces

Despite the fact that the color of feces is normal in children and adults is considered brown, temporary changes in shade should not be a concern if there are no symptoms of gastrointestinal disorders. The reasons for changing the color of bowel movements in men, women and children can be varied, from harmless to dangerous to health:

• insufficient secretory activity of the pancreas;
• cholelithiasis, inflammation of the bile ducts;
• oncology, HIV, diabetes;
• dysbacteriosis;
• pancreatitis, chronic cholecystitis, gastritis;
• cholera, rotavirus infection;
• appendicitis;
• allergies, poisoning with toxic substances;
• biliary dyskinesia;
• jaundice.

The color is also affected by the use of alcohol, medications and products containing dyes. Experienced stress is also capable of changing the color of feces in a healthy adult at any age.

Physiological causes: food, drugs

The use of vitamins or tablets can change the color of feces to an unusual and uneven one. The most common drug that affects this indicator is activated charcoal. Iron preparations (Sorbifer, Creon) are also among the drugs that can color stools.

Darkening of faeces is also possible under the action of bismuth derivatives. Blackening of stools also occurs after eating foods such as blueberries, cherries, carrot juice, coffee drinks, and in rare cases, tomatoes or tomato paste.

It should be borne in mind that the coloring of the stool or the presence of multi-colored inclusions in its composition should not be accompanied by pain, the presence of mucus, diarrhea, constipation, fever.

With such symptoms, it is necessary to urgently consult a doctor who will prescribe tests and make a diagnosis.

Symptoms of diseases by the color of feces

The reason for the release of feces, resembling potassium permanganate in color, most often, are streaks of blood in their composition. This indicates hemorrhoids, anal sphincter fissures. Such injuries appear after difficult childbirth, sexual contact, operations to remove hemorrhoids.

Black (hypercholic) stools may indicate bleeding. This is a sign of a stomach or duodenal ulcer. The most dangerous diagnosis in this case is colon cancer. With it, the patient has:

• admixture of blood in the stool;
• change in shape - the stool is thin, like a thread;
• feeling of empty bowel.

Hypocholic, i.e. pale feces, appear after eating a large amount of rice, potatoes. The reason may also be in tumors of the bile ducts. With pancreatitis, the shade of feces also becomes pale. Absolutely white stool (acholic) occurs when the bile ducts are blocked.

When the stools turn ocher in color, then the cause lies in pancreatic insufficiency. If the stool becomes green, earthy, mustard, or clay-colored, it indicates hepatitis.

In the case when a change in the color of feces is accompanied by pain, it is important to seek medical help as soon as possible, according to the results of the diagnosis, the doctor will prescribe the optimal treatment. Eliminate the symptoms will help taking medications such as Almagel, Bifidumbacterin, Omez, Pancreatin, Allochol, Nemozol and Papaverine, Enterofuril.

Change in stool color during pregnancy

Deviations in the properties of feces from the norm in pregnant women, especially in the early stages, are not uncommon. Usually the cause is not a disease, but physiological factors. Women during the period of bearing a child take a lot of iron-containing drugs and multivitamins (for example, Elevit), so the usual color of feces may change to black or green. Sometimes this phenomenon is facilitated by the use of blueberries, currants, cranberries, buckwheat, black pudding. If a woman did not eat such foods, did not take vitamins, she should immediately take a stool test to determine latent blood in it and undergo other diagnostic procedures as prescribed by a doctor.

The reason for the greenish tint of stool lies either in the use of a large number of leafy vegetables, or in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, for example, rotavirus, dysbacteriosis. In the case of pathology, additional symptoms such as an unpleasant odor of the stool and persistent diarrhea appear. For treatment, the doctor prescribes drugs such as Enterosgel, Mezim, Enterol, Smecta, Phosphalugel.

Normal stool in a child

In newborns, in the first two days of life, feces are black, dark green or green in color. With GV (breastfeeding), the stool has a golden, yellow tint, sometimes pearlescent. By 4–5 months, this phenomenon disappears. If the baby is on artificial feeding with mixtures, his feces become thicker, the smell is sharper, and the color brightens.

If a nursing mother notices that the baby's feces have become watery and yellow (red or lemon), then you should not worry, because. this is affected by changes in the fat content of breast milk. When feeding with poorly diluted cow's milk, the feces begin to silver, air bubbles are observed. If the child is malnourished, then the stools become dark, earthy. This is also observed in children under one year of age with the introduction of complementary foods consisting of green fruits and vegetables. In this case, it is necessary to consult a pediatrician and adjust the child's diet. With dysbacteriosis or other gastrointestinal problems, the doctor prescribes the drug Enterofuril or Essential forte.

Diet and prevention of possible pathologies

If the stools began to darken or lighten, a person must figure out what influenced this. To accurately determine the causes, research and the help of qualified specialists will be required.

To prevent the development of pathologies, it is important to follow the principles of proper nutrition.

To do this, you need to give up too fatty and spicy foods. Another contraindication is the abuse of alcohol and fast food. Vegetables and fruits must be washed well, milk must be boiled. In addition, it is important to take general tests every six months, to conduct ultrasound of the abdominal organs and the genitourinary system. The work of the digestive tract is improved by constant physical activity, including the performance of various gymnastic exercises, running, Nordic walking.

Adult stool color

The natural secretions of our body are a litmus test that reflects its condition.

The chair can also tell about the state of health, its frequency, structure, smell and color determine the condition of the intestines and other organs of the digestive tract. But in order to talk about possible pathological conditions, you need to know what is the norm.

What should be the bowel movements of a healthy person

Normal stool in an adult is a complete bowel movement once a day. It is also considered natural to go to the toilet “in a big way” up to three times a day, provided that the feces correspond to generally accepted standards. Such a frequent bowel movement suggests that a person has very fast metabolic processes. Some people can go to the toilet once every yes to three days. This, of course, cannot be considered a normal process, but they cannot be classified as pathological either if there are no other deviations (color, shape, smell).

Now about the feces themselves. And so, feces is nothing more than the removal of toxins from the body, digested food, partly the internal contents of the intestine, as well as microorganisms. In a healthy person, the stool has a clearly defined structure, a homogeneous dense mass. The normal color of stool is light brown. The amount of feces excreted depends on the food that a person consumes. On average, about one hundred and fifty to four hundred grams of calla is excreted from the body per day. It is a "sausage" from ten to twenty centimeters long. At the same time, defecation itself should not cause discomfort.

If the stool is different from the one described, then this may be a symptom of disorders in the functioning of the digestive tract or even indicate serious pathological conditions.

Changes in the amount of excreted feces

Fluctuations within the normal range can quite naturally arise as a reaction of the body to the foods consumed, the more plant foods, the more feces, animal - less mass of excreted feces.

But if the deviations differ significantly from the norm, then this may indicate serious violations.

And so, a large amount of feces (polyfecal matter) is a sign of one of the following disorders:

• problems with the absorption of nutrients in the small intestine;
• violation of peristalsis, in which food moves too quickly through the intestines and does not have time to be fully absorbed;
• dysfunction of the pancreas, as a result of which fats and proteins are not digested properly, thus developing chronic pancreatitis;
• lack of bile in the intestines, occurs with cholecystitis, cholelithiasis.

A small amount of feces, as a rule, is excreted when people have a lot of easily digestible food in the diet, a small amount of it, and also with constipation. The latter should also cause anxiety and be a reason to seek medical help.

Color of feces

The normal color of feces in an adult can be light brown or brown. Staining it in other colors occurs as a result of the use of certain products, as a result of taking certain medications, or with the development of pathological changes in the body.

A person's stool can change color during antibiotic treatment and taking vitamin complexes, activated charcoal.

The color of feces also changes when food dyes (natural or artificially synthesized) enter the body. For example, when eating black currants, it is likely that the next day the feces will be painted black, and beets - red, carrots and citrus fruits - yellow, and greens - green. But, if the change in the color of the feces was not preceded by the intake of the indicated products, then it is necessary to consult a doctor, since these can be very serious symptoms, indicating even a critical condition of a person.

Red feces can occur with bleeding in the lower intestine, while black indicates internal bleeding in the stomach or intestines and requires immediate medical attention.

The rapid movement of feces sometimes does not allow bile to go through all the altered states and turn brown, then the discharge is colored green. It also appears when taking antibiotics. But a particular danger lurks in Crohn's disease, celiac disease, which is characterized by staining fecal stools in green.

Yellow stool most often indicates an infection in the body or problems with the gallbladder, in which there is a lack of bile and a large amount of fat accumulates, which enters the feces.

White feces appear when the body lacks bile, so this color indicates a pathology of the biliary tract. It occurs when stones are formed in them, hepatitis, bacterial infections, pancreatitis, cirrhosis of the liver, and also with cancerous neoplasms.

But it should be understood that it is impossible to make a diagnosis only by the color of the feces, this requires deeper examinations, but changes in their color should alert and become an occasion to check your health.

Shape and smell of feces

In a healthy person, feces are cylindrical or sausage-shaped. It emits an unpleasant smell, but not offensive.

If the stool comes out in the form of dense balls or a thin ribbon, then this indicates problems with the large intestine and a lack of fluid in the body, so first of all you should reconsider your drinking regimen.

Other structures of the stool also testify to violations. Feces in a mushy state indicate inflammatory processes in the intestines and its increased secretion.

An ointment structure is a symptom of disorders in the pancreas, and a putty or clayey structure is a failure to absorb fat.

Liquid stools occur when there is insufficient absorption and assimilation of food in the small intestine, and if they are accompanied by frequent bowel movements, then in this case we are talking about diarrhea, which can be caused by a huge number of reasons.

A large amount of foam in the feces indicates excessive unnatural fermentation processes in the intestines.

The smell of feces can also tell a lot. It depends not only on the food that a person ate the day before, but also on the natural processes of fermentation and putrefaction that occur in the intestines. If they are violated, the smell of the output waste products also changes.

And so, if food is in the intestines for a long time and is not digested, then it rots and is a favorable environment for bacteria, so the feces in this case have a rotten unpleasant odor.

During fermentation processes, it is usually sour, problems with the pancreas - fetid.

A person suffering from constipation, colitis or stomach problems develops putrefactive dyspepsia and therefore a corresponding smell occurs.

Blood or mucous inclusions in the feces, which are not characteristic, should also alert.

Of course, you should not immediately panic, you need to analyze all the symptoms found, and also remember what food was consumed the day before. If there were no products that provoke a change in stool in the diet, then you should consult a doctor who, based on the symptoms and an additional examination, will determine the cause and prescribe an adequate treatment.

Change in the color of feces: differences between the norm and pathology

The color of a healthy person's stool can vary from light brown to dark brown. This color is due to the presence in the feces of a product that is produced as a result of pigment metabolism processes.

Causes of discoloration of feces

The color or shade of feces may change due to:

• taking certain medications, for example, hematogen, bismuth salts, calomel. In such cases, the feces may be black or green;
• certain foodstuffs consumed. For example, after eating asparagus, lettuce, and sorrel, the feces acquire a greenish tint. And after eating blackcurrants, cherries and blueberries, it can turn black;
• predominance in the products of certain nutrients. For example, when drinking a lot of milk, the color of the feces can become golden yellow, when eating meat and sausage products - black-brown, and when eating plant foods - light brown.

However, a change in the color and shade of feces may also indicate the development of certain pathological processes in the body and be one of the symptoms of the following diseases:

• cirrhosis of the liver;
• stomach ulcer;
• development of malignant and benign neoplasms;
• hepatitis;
• erosion of the stomach;
• bleeding from hemorrhoids:
• bleeding from the rectum.

If the color of the feces has changed for no reason, that is, this was not preceded by the intake of certain medicines and foods, you should immediately seek medical help. After all, a timely diagnosis will help eliminate the problem in the early stages of its development, which will lead to a successful and most rapid cure for the disease. In such situations, it is recommended to contact specialists in the field:

Light color stool

Fecal masses that have a pale hue (white, gray) in most cases indicate that a person ate a large amount the day before:

• potatoes
• tapioca;
• rice.

If a person has had a barium sulfate x-ray, they will also have discolored stools for several days.

Some medications for diarrhea can also cause gray stools. The fact is that the composition of these drugs includes additives such as calcium and antacids.

If we consider the issue of the occurrence of pale feces on the other hand, it becomes clear that the bile secreted by the gallbladder does not enter the intestine for some reason. This may signal the development of certain diseases, including those associated with the closure of the bile ducts, namely:

• pancreatitis;
• bile duct tumors;
• hepatitis A;
• stones in the gallbladder and bile ducts;
• cancer or cirrhosis of the liver.

Thus, we can conclude that if a person has white feces, then he has problems with the gallbladder. He may be suffering from cholecystitis.

Red stool

Red or red-brown color of feces should alert. After all, it is a harbinger of the development of certain pathological processes in the body. Although in most cases, red stool indicates that you ate a fairly large amount of the following foods the day before:

• beets;
• red gelatin;
• tomatoes;
• fruit punches.

Also, red stools can also indicate that a person was taking certain antibiotics that contributed to the formation of ulcers in the intestines. And this has already caused bleeding. After taking potassium tablets and some other medicines, feces with the presence of blood may also be observed.

If you notice the appearance of bloody stools, and did not eat red foods the day before, this may indicate the presence of cracks in the anus, as well as hemorrhoids. These problems could be due to the following reasons:

• after childbirth;
• after intercourse;
• the presence of foreign objects in the rectum;
• with frequent constipation.

Also, red stools can be the result of a disease such as intestinal inflammation. For this disease, in addition to blood feces, the presence of diarrhea and severe spasms is characteristic.

In addition to these problems, red feces can be a harbinger of some other diseases of the digestive system of organs. So, if the stool is bright red, the problem is most likely in the lower intestines. It is very likely that there are malfunctions of the large intestine, such as diverticulitis, when small areas of the rectum become inflamed due to the presence of an infection. This condition is characterized by the presence of acute pain in the lower abdomen.

As for stools that are dark red in color, the problem is most likely in the upper part of the gastrointestinal tract, namely:

• in the small intestine;
• in the stomach;
• in the esophagus.

Bloody stools are sometimes the only symptomatic manifestation of colon cancer, as well as the presence of polyps in it. These polyps can be either malignant or benign.

However, in these cases, along with bloody stools, the presence of:

• bouts of nausea and vomiting;
• diarrhea;
• spasms;
• general weakness;
• significant weight loss.

Yellow stool

Light yellow (golden) feces can be observed with the development of a pathology such as fermentative dyspepsia, in other words, a violation of the processes of carbohydrate digestion. This pathology can be the cause of violations of the digestive organs in terms of insufficient digestion of the connective tissue membranes of plant fibers. Thus, the carbohydrates present in plant foods become inaccessible to pancreatic enzymes, as well as the small intestine.

Often, the yellow color of feces in an adult occurs due to poor-quality digestion of food in the large intestine, as well as due to pancreatic insufficiency.

It is worth noting that in children who are breastfed, the color of feces can vary from pale yellow or even green-yellow to rich yellow with a golden hue.

Green stool

The green color of feces may indicate the development of certain diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. For example, about the course of pathological processes in the small intestine, as well as the development of dysbacteriosis, which provokes the processes of fermentation and decay of the food consumed.

The stool may turn green due to the use of certain antibiotics. This color is due to the fact that in the intestine there is a large number of dead leukocytes, which accumulate in it against the background of foci of inflammation that have arisen.

Also, green feces are characteristic of a disease such as dysentery, which is an intestinal infection. Together with such a chair, a person usually has:

• a significant increase in body temperature:
• pain in the abdomen;
• bouts of nausea and profuse vomiting;
• aches and weakness all over the body.

Also, feces can acquire a green tint due to the oxidation of iron, which is present in the composition of red blood cells. This is due to the development of complications of ulcers or malignant tumors of the gastrointestinal tract.

Another cause of green feces are diseases of the hematopoietic organs. The fact is that due to the breakdown of red blood cells, hemoglobin is converted into a large amount of bilirubin. As a result, this substance, when it enters the intestines, gives the feces a greenish tint.

In children at 6-8 months of age, the color of the stool may also be green. This is due to the fact that unchanged bilirubin enters the intestines of the child. And if no other symptoms are observed (fever, abdominal pain, blood in the stool), you should not worry.

Dark colored stool

In most cases, feces that are black in color make a more shocking and even ominous impression on a person than bloody stools.

However, not everything is as sad as it might seem at first glance. After all, a common cause of staining feces in black is:

• receiving activated charcoal;
• taking various nutritional supplements that contain iron;
• taking medications that contain bismuth;
• the use of black licorice;
• eating blueberries.

But if you find yourself with dark feces (almost black), which at the same time will have a viscous consistency (tarry), hurry to contact a competent doctor. After all, this can signal the presence of blood in the feces, which, in the process of getting from the esophagus into the lower sections of the gastrointestinal tract, undergoes changes - it becomes thick, viscous, and also acquires a dark color.

A common cause of black stools is the abuse of alcoholic beverages, as well as the intake of certain medications and drugs that contribute to the development of bleeding in the esophagus. Such medicines include:

• ibuprofen:
• acetaminophen;
• aspirin;
• other non-steroidal drugs, the action of which is aimed at relieving inflammatory processes.

As for diseases, the symptom of which may be black stools, these include:

• gastritis;
• colon cancer;
• duodenal ulcer (in the small intestine);
• stomach ulcer;
• tumor neoplasms in the upper gastrointestinal tract;
• inflammation of the inner walls of the stomach.

In conclusion, it is necessary to remind once again that if changes in the color of feces are detected, it is recommended to immediately seek medical help. A qualified specialist will be able to make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe competent treatment. Be healthy!

What should be the normal stool and what do its changes say?

Stool or feces is the contents of the lower colon, which is the end product of digestion and is excreted from the body during bowel movements.

Individual characteristics of the stool can tell a lot about a person's health and help in making a diagnosis.

Below are interpretations of the quality of the stool in normal and pathological conditions.

Norm: regularly, 1-2 times a day, but at least 1 time per hour, without prolonged strong straining, painless. After defecation, the urge disappears, there is a feeling of comfort and complete emptying of the intestine. External circumstances can increase or slow down the frequency of the urge to defecate. This is a change in the usual environment, a forced position in bed, the need to use a ship, being in the company of other people, etc.

Changes: No stool for several days (constipation) or too frequent stools - up to 5 times or more (diarrhea).

2. Daily amount of feces

Norm: With a mixed diet, the daily amount of feces varies within a fairly wide range and averages r. So, when using predominantly plant foods, the amount of feces increases, while the amount of feces, which is poor in "ballast" substances, decreases.

Changes: Significant increase (more than 600 g) or decrease in the amount of feces.

Causes of an increase in the amount of feces (polyfecal matter):

• The use of large amounts of vegetable fiber.
• Increased intestinal peristalsis, in which food is poorly absorbed due to its too rapid movement through the intestinal tract.
• Violation of the processes of digestion (digestion or absorption of food and water) in the small intestine (malabsorption, enteritis).
• Decreased exocrine function of the pancreas in chronic pancreatitis (insufficient digestion of fats and proteins).
• Insufficient amount of bile entering the intestines (cholecystitis, cholelithiasis).

Reasons for a decrease in the amount of feces:

• Constipation, in which, due to prolonged retention of feces in the large intestine and maximum absorption of water, the volume of feces decreases.
• Reducing the amount of food eaten or the predominance of easily digestible foods in the diet.

3. Excretion of feces and swimming in water.

Norm: feces should stand out easily, and in water it should gently sink to the bottom.

• With an insufficient amount of dietary fiber in food (less than 30 grams per day), feces are excreted quickly and splash into the water of the toilet.
• If the stool floats, it indicates that it has an increased amount of gases or contains too much undigested fat (malabsorption). Also, feces can float when eating a lot of fiber.
• If the stool is poorly washed off with cold water from the walls of the toilet, then it contains a large amount of undigested fat, which happens with pancreatitis.

Normal: With a mixed diet, feces are brown. Breastfed babies have golden yellow or yellow stools.

Change in stool color:

• Dark brown - with a meat diet, constipation, indigestion in the stomach, colitis, putrefactive dyspepsia.
• Light brown - with a milk-vegetarian diet, increased intestinal motility.
• Light yellow - indicates too rapid passage of feces through the intestines, which do not have time to change color (with diarrhea) or a violation of bile secretion (cholecystitis).
• Reddish - when eating beets, with bleeding from the lower intestines, for example. with hemorrhoids, anal fissures, ulcerative colitis.
• Orange - when using the vitamin beta-carotene, as well as foods high in beta-carotenes (carrots, pumpkin, etc.).
• Green - with a large amount of spinach, lettuce, sorrel in food, with dysbacteriosis, increased intestinal motility.
• Tar-like or black - when eating currants, blueberries, as well as bismuth preparations (Vikalin, Vikair, De-Nol); with bleeding from the upper gastrointestinal tract (peptic ulcer, cirrhosis, colon cancer), when swallowing blood during nasal or pulmonary bleeding.
• Greenish-black - when taking iron supplements.
• Grayish-white stool means that bile does not enter the intestine (blockage of the bile duct, acute pancreatitis, hepatitis, cirrhosis of the liver).

5. Consistency (density) of feces.

Norm: decorated softish. Normally, feces are 70% water, 30% - from the remnants of processed food, dead bacteria and desquamated intestinal cells.

Pathology: mushy, dense, liquid, semi-liquid, putty.

Change in stool consistency.

• Very dense feces (sheep) - with constipation, spasms and stenosis of the colon.
• Mushy feces - with increased intestinal motility, increased secretion in the intestine during its inflammation.
• Ointment - with diseases of the pancreas (chronic pancreatitis), a sharp decrease in the flow of bile into the intestine (cholelithiasis, cholecystitis).
• Clayey or putty gray feces - with a significant amount of undigested fat, which is observed when there is difficulty in the outflow of bile from the liver and gallbladder (hepatitis, blockage of the bile duct).
• Liquid - in violation of the digestion of food in the small intestine, malabsorption and accelerated passage of feces.
• Foamy - with fermentative dyspepsia, when fermentation processes in the intestine prevail over all others.
• Loose stools like pea puree - with typhoid fever.
• Liquid colorless stools like rice water - with cholera.
• With a liquid consistency of the stool and frequent bowel movements, they speak of diarrhea.
• Liquid-mushy or watery stools can be with a large intake of water.
• Yeasty stools - indicates the presence of yeast and may have the following characteristics: cheesy, frothy stools like rising sourdough, may be stranded like melted cheese or have a yeasty smell.

Norm: cylindrical, sausage-shaped. The feces should flow continuously like toothpaste, and should be about the length of a banana.

Changes: ribbon-like or in the form of dense balls (sheep feces) is observed with insufficient daily water intake, as well as spasms or narrowing of the large intestine.

Norm: fecal, unpleasant, but not sharp. It is due to the presence in it of substances that are formed as a result of the bacterial breakdown of proteins and volatile fatty acids. Depends on the composition of the food and the severity of the processes of fermentation and decay. Meat food gives a sharp smell, milk - sour.

With poor digestion, undigested food simply rots in the intestines or becomes food for pathogenic bacteria. Some bacteria produce hydrogen sulfide, which has a characteristic rotten odor.

Changes in stool odor.

• Sour - with fermentation dyspepsia, which occurs with excessive consumption of carbohydrates (sugar, flour products, fruits, peas, etc.) and fermentation drinks, such as kvass.
• Fetid - in violation of the function of the pancreas (pancreatitis), a decrease in the flow of bile into the intestines (cholecystitis), hypersecretion of the large intestine. Very smelly stools may be due to bacterial overgrowth
• Putrid - in violation of digestion in the stomach, putrefactive dyspepsia associated with excessive consumption of protein foods that are slowly digested in the intestines, colitis, constipation.
• The smell of rancid oil - with bacterial decomposition of fats in the intestines.
• Weak smell - with constipation or accelerated evacuation from the small intestine.

Normal: Gas is a natural by-product of the digestion and fermentation of food as it moves through the digestive tract. During defecation and outside of it in an adult, 0.2-0.5 liters of gas is excreted from the intestines per day.

The formation of gas in the intestine occurs as a result of the vital activity of microorganisms that inhabit the intestine. They decompose various nutrients, releasing methane, hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen, carbon dioxide. The more undigested food enters the colon, the more active the bacteria work and the more gases are formed.

An increase in the amount of gases is normal.

• when eating a large amount of carbohydrates (sugar, muffin);
• when eating foods that contain a lot of fiber (cabbage, apples, legumes, etc.);
• when using products that stimulate fermentation processes (black bread, kvass, beer);
• when using dairy products with lactose intolerance;
• when swallowing a large amount of air while eating and drinking;
• when drinking large amounts of carbonated drinks

An increase in the amount of gases in pathology.

• Enzyme deficiency of the pancreas, in which the digestion of food is disturbed (chronic pancreatitis).
• Intestinal dysbacteriosis.
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
• Gastritis, peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum.
• Chronic liver diseases: cholecystitis, hepatitis, cirrhosis.
• Chronic bowel disease - enteritis, colitis
• Malabsorption.
• celiac disease

Difficulty passing gases.

• intestinal obstruction;
• intestinal atony with peritonitis;
• some acute inflammatory processes in the intestines.

Norm: with a mixed diet, acidity is 6.8–7.6 pH and is due to the vital activity of the microflora of the colon.

Changes in stool acidity:

• sharply acidic (pH less than 5.5) - with fermentative dyspepsia.
• acidic (pH 5.5 - 6.7) - in violation of the absorption of fatty acids in the small intestine.
• alkaline (pH 8.0 - 8.5) - with the decay of undigested food proteins and the activation of putrefactive microflora with the formation of ammonia and other alkaline substances in the colon, with impaired pancreatic secretion, colitis.
• sharply alkaline (pH more than 8.5) - with putrefactive dyspepsia.

Normally, feces should not contain blood, mucus, pus, or undigested food residues.