What could your poo say about your health?

There’s a taboo surrounding toilet habits, but your poo is an indication of your health. Checking your poo includes being aware of three things;

• The colour
• The consistency
• How frequently you empty your bowels

This post is going to be focusing on how frequently you poo, but it’s just as important to know what the colour and consistency of your poo means too. You can use our Poo-Torial to find out more.

Frequency

Less than once a week

This can be associated with constipation. You should discuss this symptom with your doctor if you regularly don’t open your bowels for a week or more.

Once or twice a week

This can be associated with constipation. If you have had a bout of diarrhoea, it can take your bowel a few days to get back into a normal routine. This can mean a short period of time of not emptying the bowel.

Three times a week to three times a day

This is considered normal. Bowel function can vary a lot between people, so the best option is to be aware of what your normal habit is.

Four to six times a day

This is often associated with diarrhoea symptoms when the poo is loose. It can also happen with severe constipation too, where the poo is hard and comes out in small, hard pieces.

More than seven times a day

This is usually associated with severe diarrhoea and should be investigated by your doctor.

Don’t forget to visit our Poo-Torial for more information on these symptoms. Don’t hesitate to call, email or write to us so we can provide you with our Poo-Torial in a different format.

Guts UK also is proud to provide expert information on constipation and diarrhoea. You can contact us today to request your free copy.

Guts UK is the charity for the digestive system from top to tail; all 25ft of it! With your kindness and support, we can reach more people, suffering in silence, yet to discover our empowering information and community. You can help us reach more people who need us, but don’t know we exist yet by donating £3 a month to Guts UK. Thank you.