By sheep feces it is customary to understand feces in the form of balls. Isolation of solid, fragmented sheep feces is a sign of constipation.
Constipation or constipation is a chronic intestinal dysfunction that is characterized by long intervals between emptying, their difficulty, and stool tightening. This problem is very relevant, because according to statistics, about 30-50% of the world's population suffers from constipation.
What else bothers a person
Sheep feces during bowel movements in an adult are often accompanied by the following symptoms:
- Strain for more than 1/4 of the time of bowel movements, often the need to remove intestinal contents with the help of hands.
- After the toilet there is no feeling of complete bowel movement.
- Reducing the frequency of bowel movements less than three per week.
- Separation when emptying a small amount of feces (less than 35 grams per day).
The combination of sheep feces with one or more of the above items, observed over the past three months, allows you to make a diagnosis of chronic constipation.
Causes of sheep feces
Lumps can cause constipation:
- Low fiber content in the diet. Thanks to products with dietary fiber, fiber swelling occurs in the intestine and this intestinal content increases.
- Low physical activity in people with other health problems who are forced to observe bed rest. Constipation also occurs with a sedentary lifestyle.
- Some drugs can cause constipation. Among them are antacids, calcium channel blockers, diuretics, iron preparations, drugs for the treatment of Parkinson's disease and depression.
- The continued use of laxatives is also one of the causes of constipation. Prolonged use of irritating laxatives leads to rapid addiction. Intestinal motility is impaired, its mucosa becomes dark in color, which predisposes to the development of cancer. Bloating and abdominal pain are observed. The stool is initially watery, accompanied by burning of the anus, and then replaced by constipation. Such constipation is difficult to treat. Due to the constant intake of laxatives, the body loses a lot of fluid, the absorption of vitamins is disrupted. As a result, body weight decreases, arrhythmias occur, and blood pressure decreases. The liver and kidneys suffer. This condition is called laxative disease.
- Intestinal motility changes in travelers, pregnant and elderly.
- With a constant delay in bowel movements for various reasons, the rectum stretches. In addition, increases the time of passage of feces through the intestines, which leads to increased absorption of fluid, a decrease in the volume of feces and an increase in its density.
- Other health problems. For example, CNS diseases - multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's, spinal cord and brain injuries. Constipation occurs with diabetes mellitus, myxedema, exacerbation of peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum, acute cholecystitis. It is necessary to exclude diverticulosis, a tumor of the rectum.
- Depression, regular stress.
Sheep feces can occur with IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) with a predominance of constipation. IBS is a functional gastrointestinal disease that develops as a result of impaired intestinal motor function. People suffering from the disease have a high level of anxiety, often suffer from depression, insomnia, they have chronic painful behavior. These symptoms are reduced during treatment. With IBS, abdominal pain or discomfort is observed, constipation can alternate with diarrhea, and mucus is released during bowel movements.
Treatment approaches
The beginning of treatment for sheep feces is a change in nutrition. It is recommended to increase the consumption of products from wholemeal flour, food bran, seaweed, flaxseed, porridge. The latter applies to oatmeal, buckwheat and pearl barley porridge, but it is worth to refrain from semolina. Fruits and vegetables (more than 200 g per day) also help normalize stool, especially prunes and other dried fruits, apples, bananas.
Exclude bread from premium flour, rolls and other rich products, fatty meats, spicy, smoked, canned food, strong coffee and tea. Not recommended products that cause increased gas formation: legumes, sorrel, cabbage.
If the cause of constipation is a sedentary lifestyle, therapeutic gymnastics, swimming, massage are recommended. Especially important is the posture during emptying (squatting) and the development of a reflex for defecation - you need to go to the toilet at a strictly defined time, for example, in the morning. You should abandon cleansing enemas. Treating constipation involves having to drink plenty of water.
Drug therapy
First of all, laxatives are used, increasing the amount of feces. These include Psillium, Mukofalk - preparations of the plantain seed coat. The onset of action is 12-72 hours after application. If there is no result in the treatment with these drugs, use osmotic laxatives: Forlax, Dufalac. They help slow down the absorption of water and thereby increase the volume of intestinal contents. Forlax is more effective than Dufalac. The action of both drugs when consumed begins after 24-48 hours. The above groups have a delayed and unpredictable effect. Unpleasant phenomena are possible: bloating, flatulence, abdominal pain, diarrhea.
Stimulant laxatives are widely known: preparations of senna, rhubarb, buckthorn, Bisacodyl, Guttalax. This group of drugs reduces the absorption of water in the intestine and increases its secretion into the lumen, stimulates the receptors of the colon. The action begins in 6-12 hours. Addiction often develops. With continued use, a laxative disease may occur. Guttalax has the mildest effect. Also, this drug has the least toxicity to the liver and intestinal flora.
Many drugs of this group are added to herbal teas, which determines their choice for self-medication. They are also often part of folk remedies for the treatment of constipation. However, these drugs should be used as a last resort, when all other methods have already been used.
Emollient laxatives are usually used for several days. Longer use leads to impaired absorption in the intestines, inflammation.
Drugs belonging to various groups of laxatives:
Prucaloprid is a new drug in the treatment of constipation. He showed himself well in clinical trials, with a minimum of side effects. Unfortunately, its cost is high, which stops many in choosing this medicine.
The principles of treatment for IBS include a diet, relief of pain with antispasmodics (Drotaverin, Mebeverin, Meteospasmil). Depression and autonomic disorders are eliminated by antidepressants and antipsychotics. Constipation is treated with drugs with a laxative effect (Macrogol, lactulose). Antimicrobials are used to eliminate excess pathogenic flora in the intestine in combination with probiotics (Bificol, Bifiform, Linex) to colonize the intestines with beneficial microorganisms after antibiotics.
Alphabet Search
Unstable chair
Almost every patient who encounters a malfunction of the gastrointestinal tract reports the occurrence of various kinds of stool disorders ( unstable chair) Such a violation is caused by frequent changes in constipation and diarrhea, changes in color and amount of feces, which significantly depletes the patient’s body and complicates the treatment of the underlying ailment.
It is worth noting that unstable stools are most often associated with intestinal diseases, but problems with the stomach, liver and pancreas can also cause stool upset.
Stool instability against the background of abnormal work of the stomach is associated with the intensity of the allocation of digestive juices. If the stomach produces them in excess (found in gastritis, stomach ulcer), then, most likely, the patient will be bothered by constipation. In gastritis, unstable stool will be pronounced - stool may not be 3-4 days (less often - a week), when emptying, the patient feels pain, but at the moment of remission of the underlying disease, problems with stool are not observed.
Diagnosed with gastric ulcer constipation can accompany significant pain along the large intestine (more often in the lower abdomen, left and / or right). The reason is that acidic gastric contents from the stomach entering the intestines irritate the walls of the organ, resulting in tangible cramps. Along with cramping and constipation, the quality of leaving stool also changes - the number of outgoing masses decreases significantly, acquiring the appearance of “sheep feces”.
In diseases of the stomach with reduced production of gastric juice ( chronic gastritis, tumors of the stomach), the stool, on the contrary, becomes more frequent and the patient is regularly worried about diarrhea. This is due to the fact that food is not sufficiently processed by juices and enters the intestine almost in its original form. Diarrhea is an increase in emptying up to 2-3 times a day, which is naturally not the norm. With diarrhea associated with a decrease in secretion of gastric juice, feces do not change qualitatively - there are no impurities in the masses, and its amount does not increase.
With unstable secretion of gastric juices (periods of exacerbation and remission of stomach diseases, periods of treatment of such diseases), unstable stools are most pronounced, constipation and diarrhea are often replaced.
But still, the main reason for the development of unstable stool is intestinal diseases, this is due to the fact that it is this organ that is responsible for the digestion, absorption and final formation of feces.
Among bowel diseasethat can provoke the development of fecal disorders, the following are distinguished:
Small bowel inflammation - chronic enteritis - (causes frequent stools, 2-3 times a day with unformed feces in the form of a golden yellow porridge);
Chronic inflammatory processes in the colon - colitis, enterocolitis - (the stool is unstable: constipation alternates with diarrhea; during constipation, feces look like sheep: it is very dry and excreted in small portions, sometimes with an admixture of blood or mucus, with diarrhea: stool can be up to 10-15 times a day, emptying transmit rumbling, flatulence and severe cramping pain in the lower abdomen).
Functional disorders in the colon - irritable bowel syndrome - (the chair is broken towards constipation, and from minor to persistent and prolonged, with severe pain and significant discomfort - the emptying seems incomplete, unsatisfactory).
Disorders of the intestinal vessels - hemorrhoids, anal fissures - (the stool is broken towards constipation: severe pain during defecation makes patients forced to restrain the act of emptying, which eventually leads to chronic constipation: feces are hard sometimes with blood impurities).
Nerve Shocks - stress - (severe stressful shocks can provoke one-time cases of diarrhea).
What diseases does an unstable stool cause?
Which doctor should I contact if Unstable stool occurs:
Gastroenterologist
- Therapist
- Proctologist
Are you worried about erratic stools? Do you want to know more detailed information or do you need an inspection? You can make an appointment with the doctor - clinic Eurolab always at your service! The best doctors will examine you, examine the external signs and help determine the disease by symptoms, advise you and provide the necessary assistance. you also can call a doctor at home. Clinic Eurolab open to you around the clock.
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Do you have an unstable chair? You need to be very careful about your overall health. People don't pay enough attention disease symptoms and they don’t realize that these diseases can be life-threatening. There are many diseases that at first do not manifest themselves in our body, but in the end it turns out that, unfortunately, it is too late to treat them. Each disease has its own specific signs, characteristic external manifestations - the so-called disease symptoms. Identifying symptoms is the first step in diagnosing diseases in general. For this, it is simply necessary several times a year be examined by a doctor, not only to prevent a terrible disease, but also to maintain a healthy mind in the body and the body as a whole.
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If you are interested in any other symptoms of diseases and signs of human diseases, or you have any other questions and suggestions - write to us, we will certainly try to help you.
Intestinal infections
There is a wide variety of various intestinal infections that are potentially dangerous for humans, and can provoke the occurrence of diarrhea when ingested. Most often, they enter the gastrointestinal tract through the mouth, along with poor-quality food, contaminated water, etc.In medicine, such infections are usually divided into:
1. Parasitic.
2. Viral
3. Bacterial
Bacterial infections
Shigellosis dysentery
Bacterial dysentery is most often a sign of infection of the intestinal tract with Shigella bacteria. The incubation period in this case lasts from one day to a week. A typical form of dysentery begins acutely, and is manifested by fever, impaired appetite, headaches, decreased blood pressure, and signs of gastrointestinal damage. Abdominal pains are dull at first, spilled throughout the abdomen, constant. Then they become sharper, cramping, and are localized in the lower abdomen, often above the pubis or to the left.
Tenesmus appears - a painful false urge to empty the intestines, which is not accompanied by bowel movements. In addition, a pulling pain that gives into the sacrum in the rectal region, which occurs during bowel movements, and lasts for 10-15 minutes after it, is characteristic. The chair is increased up to 10 times a day or more. Impurities appear impurities of blood and mucus. In more severe cases, the amount of bloody mucus increases.
Salmonellosis
A separate danger is a bacterial infection of the intestine caused by salmonella. The clinical manifestations of salmonellosis are diverse - from severe forms that turn into blood poisoning, to asymptomatic carriage of pathogens.
The following types of salmonellosis are distinguished:
1.
Gastrointestinal form
Salmonellosis in the gastrointestinal form begins most often acutely, accompanied by diarrhea (fetid, watery stool of a greenish tint) and profuse vomiting.
The following symptoms are also characteristic:
- pain, rumbling and bloating;
- weakness;
- headache;
- temperature increase up to 38-40 ° С;
- joint and muscle pain;
- muscle cramps in the limbs.
2.
Typhoid-like form
This form of salmonellosis begins in the same way as gastrointestinal, but it is characterized by fever for 10-14 days, an increase in the spleen and liver. In addition, symptoms of general poisoning of the body are more intensely expressed: lethargy, headache, etc. Also sometimes a rash appears on the skin.
3.
Septic form
The septic form of salmonellosis is considered one of the most dangerous, because with it, after a short and acute initial period, a picture of general blood poisoning quickly develops.
Viral infection
Intestinal viral infections are the main cause of loose stool in children under two years of age. Among the adult population, this cause of diarrhea is recorded less often, due to the higher activity of the body's immune system.
Rotavirus infection
The general course of the disease with rotavirus infection is cyclical in nature:
1.
The incubation period is from 1 to 5 days.
2.
The acute period is from 3 to 7 days (in severe cases, more than a week).
3.
The recovery period lasts approximately 4-5 days.
In the acute form, this pathology is manifested by sudden pains (most often in the middle of the abdomen), vomiting, diarrhea, and fever. In severe cases, severe symptoms of general poisoning of the body, cardiovascular disorders and even signs of dehydration can be observed.
In chronic enteritis, patients complain of nausea, weakness, mild pain in the umbilical region, rumbling in the intestines and periodic diarrhea.
It must be borne in mind that in many cases these two diseases occur together, combining all of the above symptoms. In a similar situation, they talk about the development of gastroenteritis.
Stomach ulcer
The main symptom of a stomach ulcer is pain in the upper abdomen in the center. As a rule, such pain occurs during meals, or immediately after eating. This symptom makes it possible to distinguish this pathology from a duodenal ulcer, which is characterized by the so-called "hungry pains" that occur on an empty stomach and pass after eating.
Other symptoms of peptic ulcer may include the following symptoms:
- heartburn and / or sour belching;
- weight loss;
- nausea and vomiting after eating;
- loose stool due to digestive disorders.
Duodenal ulcer
Duodenal ulcer is characterized by pain in the upper abdomen and in the epigastric region. The intensity of pain can be different: from slight severity to sharp, painful sensations. Usually, pain appears or intensifies with physical exertion, prolonged breaks in eating, eating spicy foods, as well as alcohol. In addition, digestive disorders, manifested by diarrhea, are observed. Exacerbations of this disease are often associated with the season, occurring mainly in the autumn-spring period.
Pancreatitis
The inflammatory process that affects the pancreas is called pancreatitis.
In the acute form of this pathology, a constant and leading symptom is abdominal pain. Most often, it is permanent (defined as cutting or dull), and increases as the disease progresses, sometimes even leading to shock. The pain is localized more often in the left or right hypochondrium - high under the stomach. With the defeat of the entire gland, the pain is herpes zoster.
Symptoms such as:
- dry mouth
- burping;
- nausea;
- frequent vomiting with an admixture of bile, which does not bring relief.
In chronic forms of pancreatitis, patients (even during remission) sometimes feel dull pains, nausea, complain of constipation or, conversely, liquid, copious stools of a mushy "fat" nature. Such feces are difficult to wash off with water, which is directly related to poor digestibility of fats. The occurrence of such diarrhea usually indicates a very serious violation of the digestive function of the pancreas.
Such patients lose weight quickly, they appear signs of hypovitaminosis and metabolic disorders of varying severity.
Extraintestinal signs of Crohn's disease:
- fever;
- anemia;
- inflammation of the oral cavity;
- eye damage (uveitis, iridocyclitis, episcleritis).
Colitis is a limited inflammatory lesion of the large intestine. Symptoms of colitis:
- frequent urge to defecate;
- bloating and rumbling of the abdomen;
- loose stools, sometimes containing mucus and blood;
- stomach ache.
Nonspecific ulcerative colitis
Nonspecific ulcerative colitis is called chronic inflammation with the appearance of ulcerations on the inner shell of the colon and rectum.
The leading manifestation of ulcerative colitis is frequent loose stools with impurities of blood, pus or mucus, as well as spontaneous bleeding from the anus. In severe cases, the frequency of bowel movements can reach 20 or more times a day, including during a night's rest.
In addition, with ulcerative colitis, patients complain of the following symptoms:
- severe cramping abdominal pain, which intensifies after eating;
- false urge to defecate;
- feeling of incomplete bowel movement;
- fever with a temperature of 37 ° C to 39 ° C, depending on the severity of the disease;
- loss of appetite or its complete absence;
- weight loss in severe and prolonged course;
- symptoms of partial dehydration;
- general weakness;
- joint pain.
Signs of this pathology are pain or a feeling of discomfort in the abdomen, as well as sudden changes in stool. Defecation can occur very rarely (less than three times a week) or, conversely, often (more than three times a day). The consistency of bowel movements also becomes unstable: "sheep", hard or unformed watery feces with mucus. In addition, there are imperative urges and straining during bowel movements, a feeling of incomplete bowel movement and bloating.
Patients with irritable bowel syndrome most often have abnormalities in the esophagus and stomach, chronic fatigue, skeletal muscle pain, headaches and back pain. Psychiatric symptoms such as anxiety or depression are also often noted.
Malabsorption syndrome
Malabsorption syndrome is a violation of the absorption of nutrients in the intestine. This pathology is characterized by the presence of loose stools, which at the onset of the disease can be irregular, and then becomes almost constant. Also, mild forms of the disease are often found, in which frequent loose stools with severe flatulence and the release of fetid gases occurs only temporarily.Concomitant signs of malabsorption syndrome include symptoms such as:
- drowsiness;
- apathy;
- thirst;
- fast fatiguability;
- weight loss;
- muscle weakness;
- dry skin;
- phenomena of stomatitis in the area of \u200b\u200bthe organs of the oral cavity;
- the development of glossitis (inflammation of the tongue) with a bright red color of the tongue and the smoothness of its papillae.
Rectal cancer
One of the most frequent and persistent symptoms of colorectal cancer is bleeding. This symptom is found in both early and later stages of the disease, and is observed in the vast majority of patients. The intensity of intestinal bleeding in colorectal cancer is usually insignificant - most often the blood is found as an impurity in the feces, or as separate dark clots. In addition, her appearance is erratic. Unlike bleeding from hemorrhoidal nodes, blood secretion in cancer either precedes stools, or occurs simultaneously with bowel movements, mixing with feces. The second most common symptom of colorectal cancer is various disorders of bowel function:
- changes in the rhythms of bowel movements;
- changes in the shape of feces;
- diarrhea;
- constipation
- fecal and gas incontinence.
Normal stool in an adult reflects the good functioning of the digestive system. This may sound like a joke, but in order to monitor the state of your health, you still need to be able to understand what kind of poop should be normal and what changes in the stool indicate. But how many of us are aware of what feces an adult should have? First of all, we should be interested in:
- Bowel frequency
- Feces form
- Stool color
How many times do they go to the toilet?
The rate of bowel movement is one full trip to the toilet per day, when a person feels not partial, but complete bowel movement. Sometimes there is a more frequent stool. Often, bowel movements occur 2-3 times a day. This suggests that the person has metabolic processes faster, or he consumed food that has a natural laxative effect. A more frequent bowel movement (more than 3 times a day) indicates that you have met diarrhea, which we will discuss below.
There is an opinion that bowel movements every couple of days is normal, but this is a moot point. Empty the intestines - this is the best way for the body to get rid of toxins, acids and other unnecessary substances that can accumulate inside, so ideally this process should occur daily.
What happens feces. Fecal form (Bristol scale)
type 1 type 2 type 3 type 4 type 5 type 6 type 7
A properly formed normal feces is a guarantee that the process of digesting food and assimilating nutrients, as well as eliminating toxins and other waste, occurs without any disturbance. The Bristol scale of feces gives an idea of \u200b\u200bwhat the stool of a healthy person should be.
Type 1: Particulate, watery stools
Type 2: Fuzzy "fluffy" chair with torn edges
Type 3: Soft drops with clear torn edges (come out with ease)
Type 4: Smooth and soft sausage
Type 5: Like a sausage, but with cracks on the surface
Type 6: Sausage shape, but lumpy and lumpy
Type 7: Separate small lumps, small balls that come out with difficulties
The best option is Type 4. Perfect feces in the form of sausages easily come out and smell more like overripe fruits than like something terrible. Feces should stand out and gently fall into the water.
- If the stool is poorly washed off the walls of the toilet bowl - it does not have digested fats.
- If the stool does not sink - or a lot of gases, or fiber, or not absorbed fats.
- If it falls sharply and with a surge - a lack of dietary fiber.
Type 5 is better than Type 2 and 3. Diarrhea is difficult to control and its causes are sometimes not so simple to eliminate. With diarrhea, the necessary nutrients are not absorbed into the body.
- Mash-like feces may indicate inflammatory processes in the intestine, malabsorption.
- Foamy feces - fermentation processes in the intestine.
- Lumpy feces may indicate insufficient water intake.
What color should feces be? Stool color
Keep in mind that some foods and food colors can change stool color.
- Normal feces have a medium to dark brown color.
- If your stool is black, this may be the result of consumption of currants, blueberries. Or blood gets into it in the upper parts of the gastrointestinal tract - in this case, you need to see a doctor.
- Beetroot makes feces reddish.
- A huge amount of green - green.
- Carrots and a large number of beta-keratins make it orange.
- The gray-white color of feces indicates such a violation as the passage of bile into the intestines.
- The green color of feces can occur as a result of taking antibiotics, iron preparations. If the green color of feces is not associated with the intake of foods and drugs, then the reason is poor digestion. If the digestion process is too fast, bile does not have time to be processed along with food and turns the stool green.
Loose stool. What to do?
If you have soft, too frequent, loose stools for a long time, this indicates a malfunction in the gastrointestinal tract. To get rid of diarrhea, you need to understand the cause of its occurrence. Try to fortify your stool with foods that hold on. These are unripe bananas, applesauce, rice, fatty meat, broth, muffin, mashed potatoes.
An excellent home remedy for diarrhea is black pepper peas. Take, depending on body weight, 10-15 pieces and swallow with water.
When diarrhea lasts more than three days or there is blood in it, you need to see a doctor and do a detailed analysis of feces.
Intestinal constipation
If your stool is too rare and hard on an ongoing basis, a doctor’s consultation is a must. In the case of infrequent manifestations, you need to drink more water, eat more vegetables, add foods that give a natural laxative effect to the diet. Plums, apricots, raw zucchini, beets, vegetable oils, prunes help well. If there is no stool for a couple of days, it is better to make an enema.
How to fix a chair in an adult
1. Pose in the toilet!
Toilets are a relatively recent invention of mankind. Just sitting on the toilet, like on a chair is not the best option to do your big business. In the picture you can see that in this position the rectum is constricted, which forces us to make efforts during bowel movements, which puts pressure on the rectal veins. The consequences in the form of hemorrhoids and other diseases can flow from here.
From the anatomical correct point of view, a person should empty the intestines on the cards. But we live in modern civilization and are not going to get rid of the toilets, so you can get a little hooked to make the pose more correct. You can put your feet on a small hill. The point is to raise the legs so that the position is close to the squatting position, when the legs relative to the body are not at a right angle, but at a sharper angle.
2. Schedule
Enter the daily morning ritual of sitting on the toilet for about 15 minutes every morning. Try to completely relax at this time, you can read something. So you teach your body to get rid of waste every day and you can establish regular stools.
3. Drink more fluids
The body needs water for all systems in general, in particular the large intestine, it is needed for the formation of stool, which consists of 75% of it. People who get enough fluids are less prone to constipation and have normal stools.
4. More traffic!Everyone knows that a sedentary lifestyle has little health benefits, and a person needs more movement and physical activity, including in order to walk to the toilet well and have a normal chair.
5. Of course, proper nutrition!
We try to eat natural food. Every day you need to consume enough vegetables, because they contain the right fiber, which improves digestion and supports normal stool, vegetable oils, organic meat, eggs and sour-milk products.
How to quietly poop in other people's toilets, at work and away
How to poop (Video). Malysheva
Feces are waste products of the body that are excreted from the lower parts of the colon during the act of defecation. Feces act as a kind of indicator of human health. Change in the shape, color, consistency of bowel movements may be a variant of the norm or indicate the development of diseases, especially the digestive tract.
What stool should a healthy person have
The place where the feces come from is the intestinal tract, its lower sections. Feces - the final product of food processing, the formation of which occurs under the influence of biochemical processes.
Feces appear in the colon from the chyme, the so-called liquid or semi-liquid contents of the digestive tract, which includes food debris, gastric and intestinal juices, secretion of glands, desquamated epithelial cells and microflora. In the lump that enters the distal sections, the structure changes as a result of water absorption, and it turns into feces. From 400 grams of chyme, 150-200 grams of feces are formed.
The photo shows what human stool consists of.
The correct structure of feces of a healthy body includes 70-75% of water, mucus, fat.
The feces contain about 1/3 of the remnants of food, the same parts of the digestion organs and microbes. Microorganisms in 95% of cases are dead.
Why feces do not drown in water, due to their structure. They are characterized by a porous structure and gas enrichment. This creates their buoyancy in the toilet. However, when pores are filled with water, the excrement will drown after some time. Excessive buoyancy indicates an excessive concentration of fats and gases in the feces. If, on the contrary, the feces immediately drown - this indicates their saturation with "bad" cholesterol and toxins.
Normal stool is a sausage 10-20 centimeters long of uniform color, composition and soft consistency. It does not contain impurities of blood, foam, pus. Small amounts of mucus are acceptable. Brown stool color is more common.
However, the nature of the stool in different people may differ from the standard, which is not necessarily a sign of pathology. Its shape, color, smell, length, diameter, thickness depend on a person’s food preferences, the amount of food and water consumed, the intestinal structure, diseases, and so on.
How much feces
The mass of bowel movements in a particular person depends on the volume and quality of food and water. The latter directly affects the indicator: with constipation, the concentration of fluid in the stool is small, with diarrhea it is large, from which the weight changes. It ranges from 200 to 900 grams. The calculation of the norm is carried out according to the formula: 28.35 grams of feces per 5.443 kilograms of body weight. That is, the standard volume of feces for men and women weighing 72.6 kg is 454 grams.
An increase in the mass of bowel movements (scientifically known as "polyfecal") occurs in pathologies associated with impaired digestibility of food. Often, abundant feces (weighing 1 kilogram) is excreted in pancreatic lesions.
A decrease in the mass of intestinal discharge is associated with constipation or the use of rapidly processed food.
How many times a day should be a chair
Intestinal emptying is normally carried out 1, 2 or 3 times a day, depending on the characteristics of digestion. However, there are individual standards. A variant of a person’s norm can be an act of defecation every 3 days. The frequency of consumption of food of animal origin tends to increase, and that of vegetable origin increases.
The process of excreting feces in a healthy person occurs without pain (short-term spastic sensations are possible) and strong attempts, lasts 2 minutes.
The standard common frequency of stool discharge is 1 time per day in the morning. If a person for a long time walks largely irregularly, unstable stools are constantly noted (then constipation, then diarrhea) - this is an occasion to consult a doctor.
Along with the formation of feces in the intestine, gas formation occurs. During the day, 0.2-0.5 liters of gases are normally excreted from the body. With the use of certain foods (fiber, yeast, carbohydrates, etc.), overeating, and swallowing air, their amount increases, which is accompanied by increased flatulence (normal - up to 12 times a day).
Color
The stool color, which happens to a healthy person, varies, depending on the food consumed. Normally, various shades of brown are found.
Vegetable products stain: stools after beet, watermelon are characterized by burgundy and bright red colors, respectively, black currants, blueberries, coffee, cocoa - dark, Santal oil - reddish-violet.
Medications can change the color of feces. For example, medicines containing bismuth cause black stools. After taking iron preparations, feces have a dark greenish tint.
Multi-colored feces are normal when eating coloring food. If the stool is often bicolor, as if divided by shades in half, this means a violation of the "mixing" of the masses that occurs in the lower third of the intestine, which requires analysis from each half.
In medicine, the characteristic color of feces acts as a way to determine the disease.
White
Acholic feces (light color) is formed as a result of taking certain drugs (antibiotics, antifungal and contraceptives, barium before instrumental examination of the digestive tract).
Discolored (white, sandy) ficals are formed as a result of obstruction, stagnation of bile. They signal the development of hepatitis, gallstone disease, dysbiosis, pancreatitis, cirrhosis, oncology.
Red
If the color of feces and urine changed to red, this mainly indicates the use of characteristic products: beets, watermelon, food colors. This shade lasts 2-5 days.
If they were absent in the diet, the scarlet color may indicate bleeding in the lower intestine caused by hemorrhoids, diverticulitis, anal fissures, and a tumor. It is also provoked by the use of spicy food against the background of its irritating effect on the mucous membrane. Brick color indicates bleeding in the upper intestine, located under the small intestine.
Unprocessed pink or red pieces of plant products (tomatoes, blueberries, currants, cranberries) resemble bloody blotches.
Feces, like "raspberry jelly" (transparent, mucous-scarlet), are a symptom of amoebiasis - a protozoal pathology that is characterized by ulcerative lesions of the large intestine.
Yellow
This discoloration of feces occurs with an excess of fat, which indicates a dysfunction of the liver and biliary system. In this case, a bitter taste in the mouth is possible. Yellow stools may be the result of an infection in the digestive tract. Oily bowel movements are a sign of chronic pancreatitis or celiac disease.
When characterizing stool with urolithiasis, yellow is also noted. However, it persists for a long time.
Orange
If the feces became orange, suggest the inclusion in the diet of food containing carotene or unsaturated carbohydrates (persimmons, carrots, pumpkins, sea buckthorn oil, spinach and so on). Food colors also cause a similar tint.
Some drugs stain feces in orange (multivitamins, rifampicin and others).
This stool color is characteristic of pathologies of the liver and biliary tract, pancreas, and kidneys. It also occurs with cystitis, inflammatory diseases of the digestive system, Escherichiosis, hormonal disorders.
Gray
This color of feces indicates a violation of the flow of bile into the intestinal tract. Clay-gray, colorless or earthy feces in an adult are formed during digestive dysfunctions, and a sharp unpleasant odor may be present.
The symptom is characteristic of cholecystitis, gallstone disease, pancreatitis, Crohn's disease, tumors of the gallbladder, liver, pancreas. In this case, the feces are light gray. A dark earthy hue is present with ulcerative colitis, putrefactive dyspepsia.
Gray feces occur when taking barium preparations, antibiotics, antifungal agents, contraceptives and others, fatty foods or with allergies.
Brown
Represents the normal color of the stool, which is found in most cases. At the same time, shades and color saturation change, depending on the food consumed.
Dairy products cause a light brown color or bright yellow. After eating meat products, dark brown is characteristic.
The black
This color is often the result of taking groups of drugs: iron, bismuth, antacids, activated carbon, and so on. The use of a large number of meat products, dark vegetables becomes the cause of black stool. In such cases, nothing needs to be done, since this is not considered a pathology.
If the described factors were absent, black feces may be a symptom of bleeding from the upper digestive tract or a high concentration of iron.
A tarry stool (melena) deserves special attention - fetid liquid or gruel-like discharge indicates massive bleeding from the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum. In this case, the black color of feces alternates with normal. This condition requires urgent medical attention.
Green
This shade in feces is present when eating food, which includes iron and dyes: greens, juices, sea fish, red beans, cereals, caramel, and so on.
Medications also cause changes in shades of stool. Iron preparations, antibiotics give it a dark green, swamp color.
The pathological causes of this color include Crohn's disease, irritable bowel syndrome and inflammation, giardia, salmonellosis, poisoning, thyrotoxicosis, diabetes, celiac disease. The green color is due to the presence of bile, while the stool, moving through the intestines, does not have time to acquire a brown color. Bacterial infections, overeating carbohydrate-containing products enhance the fermentation processes, causing a characteristic shade of the stool.
The form
The consistency and density of feces depends on the time of their presence in the intestinal tract, its work and structure: with increased peristalsis, water is not sufficiently absorbed, and with slow movement it is intensified. In the first case, the chair will be soft or liquid, in the second - tight and strong.
Based on its physical properties, the intestines secrete mucus, which improves the passage of feces. With inflammation, profuse exudate also makes the stool a liquid consistency. With a high content of fats in it, the form will become oily (pasty).
Mushy
Unformed feces are considered a pathological sign, it contains an excessive amount of water (90-92%). At the same time, a porridge-like stool is often heterogeneous, in the form of flakes. If small parts are mixed with excessively secreted mucus, this means the presence of an inflammatory process.
Semi-fluid loose stools are the result of increased contraction of the walls of the colon, excessive production of juice. This consistency is possible with high fluid intake.
Thin (ribbon-like, ribbon)
The narrow form of feces indicates obstacles to the passage of masses in the lower parts of the digestive tract or external pressure, pressure on the intestines. The ribbon-like (flat) feces is the result of a spastic narrowing of the sphincters.
Such a "pencil" (filiform) stool requires diagnosis (colonoscopy), since it is considered a symptom of neoplasms.
Solid
The reasons for the formation of hard, dense feces are many:
- improper diet with a lack of fiber in the diet;
- little physical mobility;
- weakened motility or convulsive contractions of the digestive tract;
- enhanced water absorption;
- mechanical obstruction (polyps, tumors);
- inflammatory phenomena.
Solid feces is often evidence of constipation, and the stool can be daily, but in small portions, there is a feeling that the emptying was not completed completely.
Taking certain medications also strengthens feces, makes them thick and hard, poorly passing through the intestinal tract.
Balls (peas)
This is a type of hard stool consisting of individual round lumps. Outwardly resembles a "sheep" feces.
It takes shape due to prolonged presence in the intestine as a result of constipation, dehydration, taking certain medications and fortifying products (meat, alcohol), a sedentary lifestyle. With spastic colitis, feces, like goats, contain 60% water, which explains its stiffness.
Smell
The stool smells like decay products of food debris, mainly protein. The intensity is different. With an abundance of proteins in the diet, a strong smell of feces is characteristic.
Normally, feces smell unpleasant, but not harsh and not annoying. Excessively smelly feces indicate violations of the processes of decay and fermentation in the intestine.
Sour
This smell is characteristic of fermentative dyspepsia, the cause of which is the frequent and excessive consumption of carbohydrates (sugar, pastries, carbonated drinks and others).
Food of dairy origin also affects the fermentation processes in the body, causing a peculiar aroma of bowel movements.
Acetone
Sometimes feces get a pronounced smell of acetone. The reasons for this phenomenon are called increased physical activity, excessive consumption of protein foods, fatty foods, alcoholic beverages.
Perhaps the appearance of such a smell with the development of diabetes.
Putrefactive
This excrement smells in case of violations of digestion, putrefactive dyspepsia associated with excessive protein intake and its delayed absorption. The predominance of decay processes is seen in the general analysis of feces by alkaline reaction.
The causes are also granulomatous or ulcerative colitis.
If the stool smells like “rotten eggs”, this indicates a dysfunction of the small and large intestines during infections, inflammations, and poisoning. Bacteria are able to secrete hydrogen sulfide, which has a characteristic "darling". Often the smell is accompanied by diarrhea.
Fetid
A very unpleasant odor is characteristic of pathologies of the pancreas, cholecystitis. It occurs with the decay of tumors, putrefactive dyspepsia, bacterial infection, violation of the digestibility of food (celiac disease, Crohn's disease, cystic fibrosis).
Odor may appear during treatment with certain drugs (e.g. antibiotics).
Cutting
Usually a pronounced odor is associated with the use of foods rich in volatile products: onions, garlic. Excessive amounts of them destroy the pathogenic microflora in the intestine, causing a sharp aroma.
Also the reason is the inclusion in the diet of a large amount of meat, cabbage, legumes, fatty dishes.
Views on the Bristol scale
Classification of the main types of feces is presented on a specially developed Bristol scale.
The table shows patterns of feces and their description.
It allows the patient to easily and without embarrassment formulate and characterize their own bowel movements, giving the doctor the appropriate type:
- 1 and 2 are considered signs of constipation, feces do not leave the intestines for several days, as hard as a stone. May cause injury to the anus, hemorrhoids, intoxication.
- With type 3, bowel movements are also difficult, but the feces have a softer consistency. To empty the intestines, you have to make several intense attempts, which can cause cracks. It is characteristic of irritable bowel syndrome.
- Type 4 and 5 are considered normal. With the latter, bowel movements are possible several times a day.
- 6 type indicates a chair that is not formed. It is regarded as a condition close to diarrhea.
- Type 7 include loose stools. A stool of consistency, like water, is considered a pathological phenomenon that needs treatment.
Causes of the pathological stool
Factors affecting the formation of pathological forms, consistencies, smell, color of bowel movements, are various diseases, conditions of the digestive system or the characteristics of the food used.
Greasy
Shiny, elastic feces, like plasticine, indicate an excessive concentration of fats in it (steatorrhea). In this case, stool sticks to the toilet and does not flush.
If this is a one-time occurrence, it is usually caused by malnutrition. With regular release of sticky feces, which glistens, you must consult a doctor. It acts as a symptom of pancreatitis, enzyme deficiency, dysfunction of the flow of bile during its stagnation.
Of frequent
The norm is bowel movement up to 3 times a day, but in some cases it is possible to increase the frequency up to 5 times. This is usually associated with the use of products that enhance motility.
If the feces of a normal thick consistency and other symptoms do not bother, then nothing needs to be done. In the case when the feces do not form, it has a liquid consistency, in the presence of impurities (blood, mucus, pus), poor health, fever, pain, you should consult a doctor. This condition can be caused by infection, poisoning, digestive system dysfunctions.
Rare (constipation)
The irregular and protracted nature of defecation is a consequence of a violation of food processing, its absorption.
Constipation is considered a rare bowel movement (less than 3 times a week). At the same time, stool is hard, often dry, does not work well, the first portion is “cork-like”. Further, stools of an already normal consistency can stand out.
The condition is treated by following a diet with a high fiber content, heavy drinking, and physical activity. How to cause feces and whether laxatives can be taken, the doctor decides. It is advisable to prescribe drugs on a natural basis.
With mucus
The presence of a small amount of exudate in the feces is considered normal. An increase in its volume is caused by the use of cereals, dairy products, fruits, berries.
However, with abundant secretion of viscous mucus, the appearance of other impurities in the feces and symptoms (pain, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, and so on), you should consult a doctor. This may indicate infection, inflammation, ulcerative lesions of the digestive tract, disturbance of microflora.
Fluid (diarrhea)
Diarrhea is not always a sign of pathological phenomena. It is considered natural when eating foods that cause thinning of feces: kefir, milk, vegetables and fruits in large quantities, fatty foods. If the diarrhea is not severe and other symptoms are not observed (nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain), the diet will help stabilize the feces.
Chronic diarrhea can be caused by disturbances in microflora, nutrient absorption, stress, and anxiety.
Severe diarrhea is caused by infections, poisoning, diseases of the digestive system (colitis, enterocolitis, and so on).
In the acute condition, expressed in loose stools, medical assistance and measures for rehydrating the body are required to avoid the development of dehydration.
Foamy
The occurrence of this type of stool in males and females indicates fermentative dyspepsia. The presence of a sour smell is characteristic.
Feces with bile have a yellowish-green color, diarrhea and soreness in the right side of the abdomen are characteristic.
The causes are diseases of the biliary system, dysbiosis, poisoning, cholastic diarrhea. In this case, a darkening of the urine to brown is noted.
With blood
The presence of blood in the feces gives it a different shade, depending on where the source is located. Black color indicates bleeding in the upper digestive tract and requires urgent medical attention.
Scarlet discharge from the top of the bowel movements indicates the presence of anal fissures, hemorrhoids. With a mixture of red blood with feces, inflammation, ulcerative lesions of the intestinal tract, and neoplasms are possible.
What do bowel movements look like?
The type of feces varies, depending on the presence of diseases, their severity and stage. The characteristic signs of the stool allow the doctor to diagnose the pathology and prescribe treatment.
With bowel disease
First of all, bowel movements make it possible to judge the state of the intestinal tract. Alternating diarrhea and constipation, flatulence, pain often accompany irritable bowel syndrome. But it is important to differentiate it with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.
Impurities of mucus, blood, pus indicate inflammatory diseases, infections.
With an excess of protein in the diet and the prevalence of rotting in the intestine, fecal abdomen may form.
Feces fill the loop of the tract, their activity is small, feces due to atony do not pass or move hard. As a result, a saggy flaccid or inflamed abdomen is formed, requiring clarification.
With pancreatitis
With the development of the disease, liquefaction of feces is noted: they become gruel or liquid. Feces are plentiful, frequent, fetid, characterized by a greasy sheen and a sticky consistency (it is difficult to wash off).
The color is light, sometimes discolored, dirty gray (with exacerbation), with a chronic course, a greenish tint is possible.
With bowel cancer
The occurrence of diarrhea after prolonged constipation is characteristic. The frequency of bowel movements is up to 10 times a day. A mushy stool is possible, sometimes with impurities of blood.
A narrow and thin form of feces (ribbon-like) indicates a change in the structure of the intestine, an obstacle to the passage of bowel movements, which is also a symptom of tumor processes.
The stool may take on a reddish hue or black when bleeding occurs.
With diseases of the liver and gall bladder
A characteristic symptom of pathologies of the liver and biliary tract is acholic (light) stool. It becomes yellow, white or gray. During the analysis, the presence of fatty acids and soap is determined.
Diarrhea occurs in cases where the production of fatty acids is disrupted and they do not enter the intestines (with cholestasis).
With dysbiosis
Characteristic is a change in shades, consistency of the chair. The color of the stool becomes green, light, gray. Foamy feces, the presence in them of pieces of undigested food are possible.
Often there is an alternation of diarrhea and constipation.
Baby chair
Children's digestion has an increased sensitivity, which is different from an adult. In the feces of the baby there is its own microflora, which depends on the type of feeding. Gram-positive prevails on the thoracic, gram-negative on the artificial.
At the early stage of development of the child, gastrointestinal pathologies are difficult, therefore, the analysis of feces of the baby, taking into account the norms and possible deviations, becomes an important indicator of his health.
In the first days after birth, dark meconium comes out. To it gradually (over 3 days) is mixed light and for 4-5 days it becomes main.
When breastfeeding, yellow poop indicates the presence of bilirubin, which at 4 months is replaced by stercobilin.
With the development of pathologies, feces change, so you should know its main options in children:
- « Hungry "chair - black, dark green, dark brown color, an unpleasant odor is characteristic. It is observed during fasting a child, improper feeding.
- Acholic - the child poops discolored stools of white, gray color, similar to clay. It occurs with epidemic hepatitis, atresia of the biliary tract.
- Watery yellow - It is characteristic for breastfeeding, when there is a lack of nutrients in the mother’s milk.
- Putrefactive- there is a mushy consistency, a dirty gray color with a pungent odor. It is characteristic for protein feeding.
- Soapy - soft texture and silver color, glossy, mixed with mucus.
- Gruel yellow - unformed, formed with the excessive use of cereals, mainly manna.
- Grainy - in the feces there are black blotches, grains, grains resembling sand. These are undigested leftovers of food and medicine. In young children, they are characteristic when fruits (bananas, apples) are introduced into the diet. With the growth of the baby, the inclusions will disappear.
- Fatty - has a whitish tint and sour smell. Mucus is observed in moderation. It occurs with excessive consumption of fat.
- Constipation - in this case, feces are solid, gray in color with a putrefactive odor.
- Curled yellow green - characteristic of dyspepsia.
What you can find out from stool analysis
The composition of the stool helps to determine if there are violations in the functioning of internal organs. Fecal analysis is a common laboratory study.
It is important to test for occult blood, especially for elderly patients. The analysis reveals possible bleeding in the digestive tract, which is considered a symptom of severe pathologies, including cancer.
A study of dysbiosis determines the state of intestinal microflora, the level of ratio of microorganisms.
Analysis of feces for the intestinal group and VD reveals pathogens of infections, determines antibiotic sensitivity, which increases the effectiveness of treatment.
Tests for enterobiosis, worm eggs can identify pinworms, helminths.
Breasts (up to 1 year) are prescribed a study of feces for carbohydrates to determine lactase deficiency.
For the diagnosis of diseases, not only the type and composition of feces, but also the act of defecation is important: its frequency, nature, and the presence of pain.
By indirect signs, a preliminary diagnosis is made, which is confirmed or refuted by an additional examination. For example, calo-anointing, when cowards are regularly dirty in adults, may indicate incontinence, which is a sign of organic pathologies (tumors, injuries, and so on).
Official medicine uses feces, or fecal transplantation. With it, the stool of a healthy person is injected into the intestinal tract of the patient. In this case, the infected and damaged microflora returns to normal. In some cases, this method of therapy is more effective than taking antibiotics.
Psychiatric medicine knows a deviation in which people eat feces (coprophagy), their own or someone else's. This indicates schizophrenia, a deep degree of mental retardation or sexual deviation, when the taste of bowel movements or the eating process itself is a fetish. If you consider from the physiological side what will happen if you eat stool, then monitoring patients with mental disorders showed the absence of significant negative consequences. Perhaps the development of mild digestive disorders and vomiting
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