Many people ask the question; what does it mean when your poop is black? Stool color usually tells a lot about your health. Although stool color may vary from one individual to another depending on the lifestyle, there are particularly peculiar characteristics exhibited by some stool that may be cause of concern. For a normal healthy individual, their poop is usually light to dark brown. Any other color and there may be a mishap somewhere. Black poop could mean a variety of things as explained below.
Why are there changes in poop color?
Although your stool discharge can vary in color, experiencing a significant shift in color and texture should raise some alarms, as there could be an underlying condition that you need to be corrected as soon as possible. The fact that there is a change in your poop color and texture cold only mean that the body is doing something differently, whilst it should perform its operations with some degree of normalcy. Dark stool in most cases is summed up using the term ‘black stool.’
What is black stool?
This is a situation where stool is black in color. There are several causes for this trend and as such, it is advisable to assess your lifestyle before making any diagnosis. In some cases, it may be normal, whereas in others, it may be a case of the ingestion of certain medication such as those containing iron that can darken your discharge.
At times, the stool has a very foul smell and a tarry texture. In such cases, this may be the work of gastrointestinal bleeding ranging from the gullet, stomach to the small intestines. This condition is commonly known as melena.
False melena or black stool that is a consequence of substances that you have eaten are due to consuming products like blueberries, black licorice, iron supplements, bismuth (Pepto Bismol) and even lead. In the long run, black stool is mainly caused by two major conditions, which if not checked early, can lead to serious complications. These are esophageal varices and peptic ulcers.
Esophageal varices
As the name suggests, this is a condition in the esophagus. Patients with esophageal varices are very prone to bleeding and it is usually a side condition to cirrhosis. Due to their bleeding tendencies, their stool appears to be darker than usual. The symptoms of this condition depend on whether it is in its early or latter stages. Some of the most common signs include:
- Vomiting- there may be a significant amount of blood spills along with the vomit
- Dark or black stool that is of tarry texture
- Dizzy spells, which can in turn lead to loss of consciousness.
Esophageal varices, being one of the illnesses associated with liver disease, can also have patients experiencing other symptoms such as building up of fluid in the abdomen area. A patient may also have yellow eyes with appear teary. The patient may be easily prone to bleeding. The main cause of esophageal varices is the blockage of blood flow from the liver. The blocking may be caused by old tissue and while the blood flow begins to back up, pressure begins to mount on the vein that supplies blood to the liver, therefore forcing the blood to look for alternative pathways through smaller, more vulnerable veins, mostly in the lower part of the esophagus. The pressure on these smaller veins causes rupture and ultimately internal bleeding. This bleeding may decolorize the stool, leading to its dark color.
The prevention of varices starts with oneself as an individual, since there is no treatment that can prevent its development. There are a number of lifestyle practices that can be improved to maintain a healthy body such as minimizing alcohol intake, reducing the amount of fried foods, keeping a healthy weight, and checking on household chemical usage.
Peptic ulcer
Peptic ulcers are painful sores in the abdomen area, specifically in the lower part of the stomach and the duodenum. Ulcers have no definitive cause, but an imbalance of digestive juices is one major cause. Excessive use of painkillers and abuse of alcohol are the front-runners among the list of causes. Other than that, there is also the prospect of developing ulcers from radiation treatment and excessive production of gastrointestinal gases in the stomach.
The major symptoms of peptic ulcers include a burning sensation in the pelvic area, black or dark-looking stool, weight loss, and sharp pain in the upper abdomen area.
There are certain demographics that are prone to ulcers; it is crucial to know whether you fall under that category so as to seek treatment early enough. People in families that have a history of ulcers are more likely to develop ulcers. The older generation (50 and over) are also more likely to have a change in intestinal juice balance, leading to peptic ulcers. Untreated ulcers can lead to serious health complications in future. There are several ways to prevent and treat ulcers including a lifestyle change, surgery, and specialized medication.
The only sure way to know what the meaning of dark stool is to seek medical help. Otherwise, maintaining a healthy lifestyle is vital for the proper functioning of the body.
