Poop that’s blue, or any shade that’s not brown, together with purple — which might generally point out blood in your stool — could also be jarring at first. However as a result of it is almost at all times associated to what you’ve got consumed, it is not prone to immediate a health care provider go to, says Ashkan Farhadi, MD, a gastroenterologist at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Middle in Fountain Valley, California.
But when the blue tinge (or another irregular shade) persists after you’ve modified what you eat, and also you’re not taking medicines recognized to trigger it, he suggests a go to to your physician.
Adjustments in your bowel actions that require fast consideration embody:
- Blood in your stool
- Poop that appears deep purple, maroon, black, or tarry
- Pale, white, or clay-colored stools
- Persistent diarrhea or constipation that lasts longer than two weeks
- Nausea and vomiting that happen together with constipation and stomach ache
“Principally, it is useful to know what your stool appears like once you’re wholesome and there aren’t any points, so you understand your baseline,” says Dr. Farhadi. “That means, you may detect any points, corresponding to ongoing diarrhea or very unfastened stools, or shade adjustments that do not resolve with eating regimen adjustments.”
Significantly in the event you see blood or blackened stools — which might be a sign of higher digestive tract bleeding — that must be a cue to contact a well being skilled, he says.
That does not imply it’s mechanically an emergency, because it may very well be associated to meals, medicines, or dietary supplements corresponding to iron, which might darken stools.
But it surely’s finest to get checked to verify there is not a extra critical difficulty, he says.
