$Unique_ID{BRK00892}
$Pretitle{Digestive System}
$Title{Does Stool Color Reveal Anything About the State of One's Health?}
$Subject{stool color cause}
$Volume{I}
$Log{}

Copyright (c) 1991   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


Does Stool Color Reveal Anything About the State of One's Health?


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QUESTION:  Does the color of your stool reveal anything about the state of
your health?  I have a friend who gives me a daily report on this aspect of
her life, and she has almost got me believing it is something everyone should
do.  Is this true, or is her behavior just bizarre?

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ANSWER:  I have never seen a study about such habits, but would suspect that
most people take a passing notice of the state of their bowel movements,
without paying it a great deal of focused attention.  Although the color may
vary normally from light to dark brown, resulting from the bile content of the
stool, there are other factors that can influence this color, and some do have
a medical significance.  Food may play a large role, specially beets and
carrots when eaten in large quantities, impart their own hue to the stool.
But a colorless, pale grey to white stool signifies a blockage in the flow of
bile, and a very dark brown to black color indicates an excess, both requiring
medical attention.  A black tarry stool is sometimes the result of bleeding in
the intestinal system and denotes digested blood.  However iron pills, and
stomach preparations containing bismuth also produce a black color.  It is
therefore, not the color alone which may be important, but the history of food
or medicines which may have been taken in the past 24 hours, as well as the
general state of the individual that may give meaning to the stool color.
Frankly speaking, I doubt that it deserves a daily report or excessive
attention.
ÿ
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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace 
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your 
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical 
problem.
