03 May 2023 , 09:36
1273
0
Paying attention to your toilet bowl is something that most of us forget to do, but the appearance of your stool could be an indication of an underlying health condition.
The main symptoms of bowel cancer include blood in the stools, abdominal pain, and changes in bowel habit, such as more frequent, looser stools. But one gut expert has warned that “porridge poo” could also signal the devastating disease, as well as five other conditions.
Gemma Stuart from Gut Wealth explained how a stool that looks like “mushy lumps of porridge with soft, ragged edges” could be the first sign of diarrhoea - or a red flag of something more serious.
She said: “[These could be] food intolerances, allergy to medications, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), possibly a persistent infection, or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). You should take notice of any longer-term changes and speak to your doctor to rule out other diagnoses.”
According to the NHS, IBS is a common condition that affects the digestive system. It causes uncomfortable symptoms including stomach cramps, bloating, diarrhoea and constipation which tend to come and go over time.
Teachers, civil servants and train drivers walk out in biggest strike in decade
Want to get the latest health news direct to your inbox? Sign up for the Mirror Health newsletter
Any new symptoms or unusual changes should be checked out by your doctor (Getty Images/iStockphoto)Meanwhile, IBD is a term for two conditions - Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis - that are characterised by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
The expert added that “porridge poo” could also signal bowel or GI cancers, so any new symptoms or unusual changes should be checked out by your doctor.
It is important to note that while your poo appearance could be an indicator of the disease, it doesn’t necessarily mean you have it. Gemma explained that most people with the symptom are likely to be suffering from a benign problem.
However, it’s still important to look for any changes in your poo and to get these checked out by your GP. Around 16,500 people die from bowel cancer every year in the UK, making it the second biggest cancer killer.
Bowel cancer is treatable and curable if it is diagnosed at an early stage, but this drops significantly as the disease develops, warns Bowel Cancer UK.
Tummy pain is another symptom of bowel cancer (Getty Images/iStockphoto)Porridge poo isn’t the only symptom of bowel cancer to watch out for, according to the NHS other warning signs include:
Changes in your poo (such as having softer poo, diarrhoea or constipation that is not usual for you)
Needing to poo more or less often than usual for you
Blood in your poo, which may look red or black
Greggs, Costa & Pret coffees have 'huge differences in caffeine', says report
Bleeding from your bottom
Often feeling like you need to poo, even if you've just been to the toilet
Tummy pain
Bloating
Losing weight without trying
Feeling very tired for no reason.
The health body advises anyone who has symptoms of bowel cancer for three weeks or more to contact their GP immediately.
Ways to reduce risk of bowel cancer
The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities suggests that half of all bowel cancers could be prevented by lifestyle changes. Reducing the intake of processed and red meat and increasing your consumption of fibre are important dietary interventions.
Keeping active and maintaining a healthy weight are also advised by the health body. Limiting your alcohol intake and quitting smoking are key in preventing the development of cancer.