WE all poo – yet we all hate to talk about it.
By paying close attention to the size, smell, colour and texture of your number twos can reveal a lot about how healthy you are.
Getty‘Loose stool’ – in other words, diarrhoea – is one of the main signs of bowel cancer[/caption]
The shape and size of your poop is dictated by your gut, which is another name for your digestive system.
Scientists have found that maintaining good gut heath can reduce your risk of illnesses such as type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s and sometimes, cancer.
According to the NHS ‘loose stool’ – in other words, diarrhoea – is one of the main signs of bowel cancer.
But, this is only the case when you’ve had ongoing diarrhoea issues.
Looser stools can also be a sign of a common virus or stomach bug – it it only lasts for a few days.
And if it lasts for just a day, the doctor said it can also be a sign of a food intolerance or anxiety.
Too much magnesium, either from diet or medications, could also lead to diarrhoea, as well as stomach cramps and vomiting, she said.
You may notice slight changes on a day to day basis, but more drastic and ongoing changes in your bowel movements are a red flag sign for bowel cancer so make sure you see a doctor.
However, it’s worth bearing in mind that bowel cancer doesn’t always affect stool shape.
The five red-flag symptoms of bowel cancer include:
Bleeding from the back passage, or blood in your pooPain or a lump in your tummyExtreme tirednessUnexplained weight lossPersistent and unexplained change in bowel habit
If you notice any changes to your usual habits, don’t be embarrassed, speak to your GP.
And if you are eligible for a bowel cancer testing kit, make sure to do on.
The Sun launched the No Time 2 Lose campaign in April 2018 – to call on the Government to lower the bowel cancer screening age to 50 and raise symptom awareness.
As a result, people in their 50s started to be invited for screening last year