Want to Know Body Health Conditions, Try to Check Your Stool

All substances that are not needed by the body will be excreted when urinating or defecating, in the form of urine and feces or stool. Through observation of faeces, you can get a picture of the health condition of the body, especially the digestive tract. To find out if the body has a problem, one way is to check the color and texture of the stool. Stool examination can be done in a hospital or laboratory to determine whether there is interference with your digestive tract.

The color of the stool and its meaning

Before being released in the form of feces, the food you consume will go through a digestion process first. The duration of this process varies from person to person, but normally is two to three days. Similarly, the frequency of disposal of the remaining substances. Some people defecate once a day up to three times a day. Generally, healthy stool is brown and shaped like a sausage, with a soft or dense texture. In addition, faeces should also be easy to remove and not so runny. If your stool has a different color, it might indicate a disturbance in your body. The following is an explanation of the color in the stool and its meaning:

• Green color

Green stool can actually be said to be normal. This condition occurs because you consume too much vegetables, foods and drinks with green coloring, or iron supplements. In addition, green stool can also be a sign that you have diarrhea. This is caused by food that is too quickly distributed to the large intestine. Thus, bile does not have time to digest it perfectly.

• Yellow

Aside from being tanned, stool yellow is normal. The brown or yellow color in the stool is said to be normal because of the presence of bilirubin substances produced by the liver, and excreted through the stool. Bacteria and digestive enzymes in the intestine also play a role in the appearance of yellow. Yellow stool that looks greasy and foul-smelling can be caused by digestive disorders, such as celiac disease. This condition makes the stools experience excess fat. The trigger is food that has a high gluten content, such as bread and cereal.

• White color

If the stool is white and looks pale like clay, this could be a sign that you have a problem with the liver or a blockage in the bile duct. In addition, the use of bismuth subsalicylate diarrhea drugs in high doses, can also make white stool.

• Bright red color

Stool red can be caused by many factors, such as bleeding in the lower digestive tract, consuming too much tomatoes or foods containing red color, and hemorrhoids. Colon cancer can also cause bright red or black stool. If the red stool does not go away in a few days, it is advisable to immediately see a doctor.

• Black

This condition is caused because the upper digestive tract, such as the stomach or esophagus, is bleeding. Another thing that can cause black stool is ulcer or cancer. Even so, black stool can also be a side effect that is common when you take iron supplements.

Stool Textures and Their Meanings

In addition to observing the color of stool, you can also find out the health condition of the body from the stool texture. Here are some types of faecal textures and their meanings:

• Type 1

Type 1 faeces are usually in the form of small, dense, separate chunks like peanuts. This type of stool is a sign that you are experiencing constipation.

• Type 2

The shape of the stool looks like a sausage that is longer and denser. This indicates that you are experiencing mild constipation.

• Type 3

The shape of the stool looks like sausage and there are cracks on the surface. This form of feces is considered normal and indicates a healthy body condition.

• Type 4

The stool looks like sausage but is softer and snaking. This type of stool also indicates the body is in good health.

• Type 5

Stool forms like soft lumps with clear edges. This indicates that your body lacks fiber intake.

• Type 6

This type of stool has a soft and irregular shape. This shows that you have mild diarrhea.

• Type 7

The appearance of stool tends to be liquid without solid pieces. This means you have severe diarrhea.

Changes in stool texture from initially normal to liquid or too hard and do not improve after a few days are conditions that need to be aware of. Likewise with the stool color change from being originally brown or yellow to white, blackish, or fresh red (bloody chapter) is a medical condition that needs to be immediately examined and treated by a doctor. In addition to observing the color and texture of the stool, you can also find out the health condition of the body through faecal analysis in the laboratory if recommended by a doctor. This test can identify whether you have diseases of the digestive tract and see if there are parasites, bacteria, or fungi in the digestive tract. To keep your stool out with normal conditions, multiply the consumption of fibrous foods and fluids. In addition, regular exercise can increase the movement of the digestive tract, so you avoid constipation.