What Are the Causes of Black Stool?

Why we should take care of such stupidity? or Geniuses?

Black or Darker Stool? Does it happened to you ever?

Black stool isn't always due to a big problem. There are many reasons stool could appear black, and iron supplements or even Oreos could be to blame. This is especially true for people who have had ostomy surgery or a colectomy because food is not being digested as fully as it is in people who have not had any abdominal surgery. However, if you have had gastrointestinal bleeding in the past, there is a foul smell, or the problem goes on for longer than a few days, that are reason to see your doctor.

Fast Facts: What You Need to Know About Black Stools

• Most cases of black stools are from eating black foods or iron supplements.
• The most common condition causing black stools is a bleeding ulcer.
• Black stools caused by blood indicate a problem in the upper digestive tract.
• Blood in the stool can be detected through a stool test.
• Black stool along with pain, vomiting, or diarrhea is cause to see a doctor right away.
• If blood in the stool is suspected, a doctor should contacted as soon as possible.

Black Stools Caused by Food or Supplements

1. Black licorice
"A black colored sweet candy... Who can deny it?"

2. Blueberries
"A healthy and delicious fruit.... Sluurrrp...."

3. Iron Supplements
"Usually taken to cure anemia...

4. Lead
A notorious metal which may lead to heavy metal poisoning...”

A black stool could be caused by food, supplements, medication, or minerals. Iron supplements, taken alone or as part of a multivitamin for iron-deficiency anemia, may cause black stools or even green stools. Foods that are dark blue, black or green may also cause black stools. Substances that are often found to cause black stools include:

If you're seeing black stools and can trace it back to a food you ate, that's OK. However, a doctor should be consulted immediately if black stools cannot be traced back to a food, an iron supplement, or Pepto-bismol.

If there's no obvious reason for a black stool (such as food, a supplement, or a medication like Pepto-bismol), it could be time to look for blood in the stool.

A variety of medical reasons can cause black stools that are also tarry with a foul smell.

Black Stools Caused By Blood:

Melena

Blood that comes from higher up in the digestive tract (such as the esophagus or stomach) may result stool in black composition, which is called melena. As the blood passes through the intestines and interacts with enzymes in the digestive process, the blood changes from red to black. This makes it a bit more difficult to see in or on the stool than if there is red blood. Red blood in or on the stool (called hematochezia) is typically from lower in the digestive tract (such as the rectum or the colon). Blood from lower in the gastrointestinal system will be exposed to less of the digestive process and may maintain its red color.

If the black stool is accompanied by other symptoms such as feeling faint or actually fainting, dizziness, pain, or vomiting (especially if there's blood in it or it looks like coffee grounds), seeing your doctor immediately is important, because it could be a medical emergency. For some people, there may already be a known risk factor for bleeding in the digestive tract. Consult a doctor about the potential for bleeding and blood in the stool if any of these potential risk factors are present:

1. Cancer

2. Liver disease

3. Dieulafoy lesion (a rare and difficult condition of the stomach)

4. Erosive gastritis (inflammation in the stomach)

5. Erosive esophagitis (inflammation in the esophagus)

6. Intestinal ischemia (blood supply to the intestines is cut off)

7. Peptic ulcers

8. Varices in the esophagus or stomach

9. Tear in the esophagus (Mallory-Weiss tear)

Diagnosing Blood in the Stool

The black color alone is not enough to determine that it is in fact blood that is being passed in the stool. Therefore, a doctor will need to confirm whether there actually is blood in the stool. This can be done in a doctor's office through a rectal exam.

Or, it can be done at home with a kit that is used to collect a small stool sample which is then sent to a lab for evaluation.

Blood in the stool that is dark could be caused by several different conditions, including a bleeding ulcer, gastritis, esophageal varices, or a tear in the esophagus from violent vomiting (Mallory-Weiss tear). The tarry appearance of the stool is from the blood having contact with the body’s digestive juices.

After melena is diagnosed, a physician may order other diagnostic tests to determine the cause and the exact location of the bleeding. The test that will likely be most imperative in determining the cause of the bleeding will be an esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). Other tests that might be done could include x-rays, blood tests, colonoscopy, stool culture, and barium studies.

Usually Common Causes of Melena are as under

Ulcer

An ulcer is a type of sore on the lining of the stomach which can cause bleeding and result in melena. Contrary to popular belief, stomach ulcers are not usually caused by stress or spicy food (although these can aggravate an already existing ulcer). In fact, they are typically caused by an infection with a bacterium called Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). Antibiotics are normally prescribed to eliminate the infection, and sometimes an acid reducer.

Another cause of stomach ulcers is the long-term use of pain medications known as NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). NSAIDs can irritate the stomach by weakening the lining's ability to resist acid made in the stomach. For this same reason, NSAIDs have an adverse effect on Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. NSAIDs include common over-the-counter drugs such as ibuprofen, naproxen sodium, and aspirin. Some NSAIDs are prescribed by physicians. Stomach ulcers caused by NSAIDs usually heal after the offending drug is discontinued.

Gastritis

Gastritis is the inflammation of the stomach lining. This inflammation can be caused by too much alcohol or food, eating spicy foods, smoking, infection with bacteria, or by the prolonged use of NSAIDs. Gastritis can also develop after surgery or trauma, or it may be associated with already existing medical conditions.

Esophageal Varices

Esophageal varices are dilated veins in the wall of the lower esophagus or upper stomach. When these veins rupture,= they may cause bleeding, which can cause blood to appear in the stool or in vomit. Esophageal varices are a serious complication resulting from portal hypertension (high blood pressure) brought on by cirrhosis of the liver.

Mallory-Weiss Tear

This is a tear in the mucous membrane that joins the esophagus and the stomach. If this tear bleeds, it can result in melena. This condition is fairly rare (only occurring in 4 of 100,000 people), and may be caused by violent vomiting, coughing, or epileptic convulsions.

A Word From Swasthya Premi Pariwar

In most cases, a black or tarry stool is due to foods or supplement or medication and isn't something to be concerned about. If you have black stools that you can not attribute to a food or to iron supplements, see your doctor immediately. A black stool once in a while that may have occurred after eating foods that are dark in color is typically nothing to worry about. If the black color is accompanied by other symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, or acute pain, seek medical attention immediately.

If you are diagnosed with any of the long term disease, talk to your nearby Ayurveda Consultant or consult at Abhikshana Ayurvedic Hospital & Research Centre, Surat, Gujarat.

Ask for appointment : 08734925788