Why do i have black diarrhea?

Diarrhea is an uncomfortable and unpleasant experience for anyone, but black diarrhea can be downright concerning. Here’s what you need to know.

The Basics of Diarrhea

Before we dive into the specifics about black diarrhea, let’s go over some general information about diarrhea.

  • Definition: Diarrhea is defined as more than three loose bowel movements in a day.
  • Causes: There are many possible causes of diarrhea including viral or bacterial infections or food poisoning.
  • Symptoms: Symptoms may include abdominal pain, cramping, and dehydration due to loss of fluids and electrolytes.
  • Duration: Acute diarrhea typically lasts less than two weeks while chronic diarrhoea can last longer.

So with that out of the way, let’s take a look at why your poop might be turning black!

Causes Of Black Diarrhea

Black color stool most often corresponds to gastrointestinal bleeding from gastric ulcers or non-neoplastic polyps. If it’s not due to blood in your stool (which requires immediate medical attention), there are a few other potential causes:

  1. Medications – Yes! Some drugs like iron supplements , pepto-bismol etc could turn our feces dark because they contain bismuth subsalicylate – this changes colour on contact with sulfur containing compounds found in our guts
  2. Food Consumption- Consuming licorice or foods made with blue coloring dies is sometimes associated with black stools † (especially if you eat lots). Don’t panic —sugar-free gums also work wonders here!
  3. Gastrointestinal Tract Infections/Stomach Ulcers- Just like mentioned earlier ulceration sacs produce tarry-black colored blood which mixes up with intestinal contents producing back feces
  4. Digestive Cancers– As part of cancer resulting from digestives organs pushing to the rectum, you could expel darker stools

While these aren’t the only potential causes of black diarrhea, they are some of the most common. But what should you do if you’re experiencing other symptoms?

When to See a Doctor

Though acute cases typically resolve on their own without medical intervention, chronic or severe cases may require more aggressive treatment‡.
You should see a doctor promptly if:

  • You observe changes to your stool color after taking medications
  • Your poop is tarry-black and especially malodorous with abnormally foul odours that become almost unbearable
  • There’s blood in your feces
  • You have abdominal pain or vomiting along with diarrhea

In such instances †the best bet would be visiting your healthcare provider as soon as possible.

What Does it Mean for My Health?

It’s worth repeating here that black stool can indicate gastrointestinal bleeding caused by stomach ulcers,tumour growths among others which requires immediate attention!!! Anything else could suggest medication consumption or food habits but certainly one needs to ensure that their system is okay ,perchance longer term issues onset .

Finally, remember: staying hydrated and consuming adequate nutrients will support healing-and keep normal bowel movement patterns!

Stay healthy 🙂

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