Talking about the color, shape and consistency of bowel movements may not be a subject that many people talk about on a regular basis, but it is sometimes necessary, especially when health is involved. Although the color of a normal bowel movement varies depending on what a person eats, a majority of people are used to having bowel movements that are brownish in color, and even sometimes greenish. Sometimes, however, stool color can change, which can sometimes be alarming, and black can be an especially disturbing color for stool to be. There are several different reasons why stool might be black, and there isn’t always a reason to panic if you discover that your stool is black.
Food – Consuming colorful foods like black licorice or large amounts of blueberries have been proven to cause black stool in some individuals.
Supplements/Minerals – Consuming extra iron, especially pregnant women taking prenatal vitamins, can cause black stool, as well as consuming lead.
Medications – Bismuth Subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol or Kaopectate) can cause your bowel movements to be black in color.
Conditions – Unfortunately, the presence of black stool can also be an indication that there is something seriously wrong. If you haven’t taken medications or eaten foods that could possibly cause your stool to become black, you will definitely want to get checked out by a medical professional. Black stool can be indicative of internal bleeding from ulcers and other conditions. It can also be caused by gastritis, trauma or having a foreign object inside the body. Others serious reasons why a person’s stool might be black are improper blood flow to the intestines, stomach or intestinal cancer, or even chrohn’s disease or colitis.
There are some ways to decrease your chances of having black stool, although it can’t always be avoided, especially if a serious medical conditon exists. One major way to minimize your chances of having black stool is to keep your bowels moving regularly by consuming adequate amounts of fiber. A diet high in fiber also reduces your risk of conditions like colon cancer and diverticulosis. You can also decrease your chances of experiencing black stool by avoiding excessive use of anti-inflammatory medications like NSAIDs and aspirin. If you’re a smoker, you may also want to quit since smoking can lead to ulcers and possible cancer in the digestive tract.
Having black stool can sometimes be a scary situation, but as long as you fully understand what can cause it, you don’t have to worry needlessly. If you haven’t consumed something that could cause your bowel movements to appear black in color, then you will want to seek the advice of a trained physician, especially if you’re experiencing other symptoms like weight loss, pain or any other symptoms that don’t seem normal for you.
References
Cleveland Clinic – Stool Changes – clevelandclinic.org/disorders/Diarrhea/hic_Stool_Changes_QandA.aspx
Mayo Clinic- Stool Color – www.mayoclinic.com/health/stool-color/AN00772
Mama’s Health – Black Stool – www.mamashealth.com/stomach/black.aspmy
