19 September 2023 , 12:08
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Whether or not we talk about it, we all go to the toilet. It's a normal and healthy part of everyday life, and it's probably something you do without even given it a second thought.
But it's actually important to take note of our bowel habits, as any changes could signal something is seriously wrong. Temporary constipation - for example if you've not had a poo at least three times in a week - can be normal, and can usually be treated with simple changes to your diet and lifestyle. However, persistent and unexplained changed in bowel habits cab signal a more serious, underlying problem.
One subtle change is if you're starting to notice you have very dark poo, which could mean it's mixed with blood. In fact, any blood in your faeces is a sign you need to speak to a health expert. According to the NHS, a small amount of one-off bleeding from the bottom isn't usually a serious problem - but if it's persistent you need to contact your GP.
You might be bleeding from your bottom if you find blood on the toilet paper, red streaks on the outside of your poo, pink water in the toilet bowl or have very dark poo. There could be many reasons for this, and the British Medical Journal has summarised some likely causes - including haemorrhoids, polyps, ulcers, Crohn's and colitis or even cancer.
However, the NHS has urged people not to self-diagnose, which means you should speak to a GP if you're worried about any blood being present in your poo. Bleeding from the bottom can be a sign of bowel cancer, which is easier to treat if it's found early, so it's important to keep checking your poo regularly so you can pick up on any subtle changes.
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Dame Deborah James, previous patron of Bowel Cancer UK who died from the disease in 2022, gave some amazing advice before passing away. In her final message, she said: "Find a life worth enjoying, take risks, love deeply, have no regrets and always, always have rebellious hope. And finally, check. your poo - it could just safe your life."