Check the toilet bowl
The shape and consistency of your stool reveal issues with your digestion.
Digestion is often a topic we shy away from, but perhaps it’s time to change that. Many individuals grapple with digestive troubles, ranging from bloating and stomach discomfort to constipation, changes in bowel habits, and even odorous flatulence. In fact, digestive issues rank among the top reasons people consult their doctors.
During a medical consultation, your doctor will likely inquire about the frequency of your bowel movements, as well as the shape and texture of your stools. Therefore, taking a moment to inspect the toilet bowl before your appointment can be a helpful preparatory step in identifying any potential concerns.
Doctors and dieticians employ various tools to evaluate digestive health, and one such tool is the Bristol Stool Scale. This scale categorizes the texture and form of human stools into seven distinct classifications:
What is the appearance of your poop?
Category 1: This category describes small, hard lumps that are difficult to pass. It could indicate severe constipation. Increasing your intake of dietary fiber and fluids is recommended.
Category 2: Stools in this category are lumpy with hard bumps, making them hard to pass. This can often lead to the risk of fissures and hemorrhoids. It suggests severe constipation, so increasing your intake of both dietary fiber and fluids is crucial.
Category 3: Stools in this category have a sausage-like shape with cracks in the surface. You may benefit from increasing your fluid intake.
Category 4: This category characterizes stools that are like a sausage or a snake in shape – soft and with a smooth surface. This is considered normal for individuals who have a daily bowel movement.
Category 5: Stools in this category are soft blobs that are easy to pass. This is normal for individuals who have multiple bowel movements a day.
Category 6: Describing stools like a lumpy and thick soup or porridge, the shape and consistency are borderline between normal and diarrhea.
Category 7: This category describes stools that are entirely liquid with no solid components. It may be an indication of a stomach infection or food poisoning. It’s important to focus on staying hydrated.
The pace of our digestion is a personal affair.
No two individuals share the exact same rhythm of digestion. What might be considered regular for one person could involve evacuating their bowels once or even several times daily, while for another, normality might encompass this occurring three to four times weekly. This individual variation can make it challenging to define what constitutes a healthy and normal digestive pattern.
In her book “The way to a healthy stomach! – enjoy better digestion and a stronger immune system” (Sund mave sådan! – få en god fordøjelse og et stærkt immunforsvar), Søs Wollesen, medical practitioner, has set out the following checklist to define a normal non-constipated pooping pattern:
- Do you poop at least three times a week?
- Are you normally able to poop without strain?
- Is your fecal matter usually relatively soft?
- Would you say you poop more than 30g at every toilet visit which is equivalent to a reasonable portion being deposited in the toilet bowl?
If you can answer “yes” to all these questions, your digestion works as it is supposed to.
Our lifestyle choices can lead to disruptions in our digestive system.
Various factors can contribute to imbalances in our digestive system. Illness and stress are common culprits. Additionally, a sedentary lifestyle and lack of exercise can exacerbate these imbalances, often leading to constipation. A significant factor, especially for younger women, is the tendency to suppress the natural urge to use the toilet due to concerns about privacy. This habit can result in a buildup of stool within the intestinal system over time, ultimately weakening peristalsis – the rhythmic contractions that propel stool forward, potentially resulting in constipation.
Here are some steps to promote healthy digestion:
- Respond promptly to the urge to use the restroom.
- Incorporate regular physical activity into your daily routine.
- Ensure you consume at least 1.5 liters of fluids daily, and slightly more if you engage in exercise.
- Opt for balanced meals at regular intervals throughout the day, prioritizing fiber-rich foods.
By Christa Zenobie Dahl
Rephrased by GP Medical Devices 2023