7 types of stool at risk

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Extract from the article: Changes in the appearance or frequency of stools can indicate a health problem. It is therefore essential to observe the stools from time to time to make sure that nothing abnormal is happening. Dr Dieudide Dovonou, general practitioner at the "Le Sa

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Changes in the appearance or frequency of stools can indicate a health problem. It is therefore essential to observe the stools from time to time to make sure that nothing abnormal is happening. Dr Dieudide Dovonou, general practitioner at the "Le Safran" clinic in Baguida, outlines the symptoms that should prompt you to seek medical advice.

Stools may be abnormal in texture, smell, colour or volume. Changes in the appearance or frequency of stools can indicate a more or less serious health problem, especially if accompanied by other symptoms. Even if the causes are generally benign, it is important to seek medical advice to determine the cause.

Black stools: the fault of a food or haemorrhageHave you noticed that your stools are black?

Don't panic, if you've eaten a lot of « Gboma » spinach, your stools may be black.This is, of course, temporary. Iron supplementation can also cause black stools. « On the other hand, if you are not taking iron and your stools   are black and have a foul odour, speak to your doctor as soon as possible. On the other hand, if you are not taking iron and your stools are black and have a foul odour, speak to your doctor as soon as possible. Black stools with an odour different from the usual stools are made up of old blood, known as melena, and are a sign of digestive haemorrhage, most often of high origin, in the stomach or small intestine, or from the onset of colon cancer », explains Dr Dieudide Dovonou, general practitioner at the « Le Safran » clinic in Baguida.

Hard and rare stools: a thyroid problem?

Dr Dieudide Dovonou, a general practitioner, points out that constipation, i.e. the scarcity of stools and their altered appearance, especially hard stools, is a sign not to be overlooked. This can be linked to changes in lifestyle, dietary changes, medication, thyroid problems or even colon cancer. Recent constipation should be reported to your doctor.

Shrinking stool diameter: the fault of a tumour?

« Shrinking stool diameter may be a way of presenting certain colon cancers. The stools then have a ribbon-like appearance.This shows that there is a narrowing of the inner diameter of the colon, which may be linked to the presence of a tumour.It's quite difficult to detect, so it's a good idea to look out for additional warning signs, such as abdominal pain or pain in the rectum », explains Dr Dieudide Dovonou, a general practitioner.

Bloody stools: haemorrhoids or cancer?

Blood in the stools is always abnormal, warns Dr Dieudide Dovonou. People often think it's haemorrhoids, but stools with blood in them should never be trivialised.It could be haemorrhoids, but that's not always the case. « In general, if blood is present when there is no stool, this suggests a problem of anal origin, most often haemorrhoids. When the blood is mixed with the stools, it's more worrying because it means that the blood is coming from higher up than the anus. Tell your doctor if you notice blood in your stools, even if it only happens once.Bloody stools may be the only sign of colon or rectal cancer.The presence of blood in the stools can also indicate an inflammatory bowel disease, such as haemorrhagic rectocolitis, an inflammation of the rectum », explains Dr Dieudide Dovonou, a general practitioner.

Very light-coloured stools: a biliary problem

Stools are coloured by bile, among other things.So stools that become very light, putty-coloured, should be a cause for alarm. « It may be a sign that something is wrong with the biliary system, that the bile is no longer flowing because there is a blockage in the bile duct, the small canal that runs from the liver to the intestine via the gall bladder.Pancreatic cancer can also be indicated by discoloured stools, but in this case the discolouration of the stools is not an isolated sign », says Dr Dieudide Dovonou.

Very frequent liquid stools: possibly colon cancer

The appearance of diarrhoea or alternating diarrhoea and constipation is a sign that should not be overlooked.It may indicate colon cancer, especially if it occurs in a person over 50. « As a general rule, any recent change in the frequency or consistency of bowel movements, whether constipation or diarrhoea, should raise a red flag.  If your bowel movements change, talk to your doctor. Screening for occult blood in the stools enables colon cancer to be diagnosed at an early stage », he adds.

Mucus in the stools recently

General practitioner Dr Dieudide Dovonou explains that mucus is a whitish, slimy secretion, whether normal or pathological.The presence of mucus in the stools is not a worrying sign if it is linked to constipation and has been present for a long time.On the other hand, he recommends, « if the appearance of mucus in the stools is recent, it's best to talk to your doctor about it, especially if you've noticed other signs at the same time, such as blood in the stools and sudden weight loss. The presence of mucus in the stools is rarely an isolated sign of colon cancer ».

William O.