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Poop red flags you need to know about

Here’s when to worry if something’s not coming out right. 

Updated on July 8, 2024

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Everyone hopes for predictable poops. But if you happen to find a surprise in the toilet, how do you know whether to worry or flush and forget it?

Here are seven types of bowel movements that you should know about, and when to call your healthcare provider (HCP).

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Bright red poop

“First and foremost, a large amount of blood in the toilet should be taken seriously,” says Anthony DeBenedet, MD, a gastroenterologist in Ypsilanti, Michigan. “It will likely require a trip to the emergency room, especially if you’re feeling other symptoms like chest pain or shortness of breath.”&Show More

tar
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Black, tarry stools

“This type of bowel movement almost always requires emergency attention,” says Dr. DeBenedet. “Black, tarry stools can signal bleeding higher up in the gastrointestinal tract, which can be very serious.” For example, it could be from a bleeding ulcer in your stomach or inflammation in yourShow More

clay paste in bowls
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Clay-colored poop

“Clay-colored stools can sometimes be a sign of liver problems,” says DeBenedet. Normally, your liver releases bile into the small intestine to help digest food. “Bile gives your stool the brown color that we’re all familiar with,” he explains.

But if your liver isn’t releasing bile into the smallShow More

various ribbons
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Thin, ribbon-like stools

“While this can be a sign of colon cancer, the vast majority of people who have ribbon-like stools don’t have cancer,” says DeBenedet. Rather, they may have a condition called irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which is very common and can also cause thin stools.

“Take note of your bowel habits overShow More

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Painful stools

If you have an occasional, rare bowel movement that is painful, you probably don’t need to be concerned. But if it begins to happen frequently, it may be a sign of a problem. 

Painful stools can be caused by issues like:

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Severe constipation

People may have bowel movements as seldom as every three to four days, or as often as three times a day.

“This is a big range, and everyone’s a little different,” says DeBenedet. “Also, how often you have a bowel movement can change throughout your life. The important thing to remember is that youShow More

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Extreme diarrhea with dehydration

“On the other end of the spectrum, if you're having massive diarrhea—to the point where you’ve become dehydrated—that can require emergency care, too,” says DeBenedet.

Seek emergency care for diarrhea with symptoms of dehydration, such as:

  • Severe weakness
  • Dizziness or fainting
  • Little or no
  • Show More
Slideshow sources open slideshow sources

MedlinePlus. Black or tarry stools. Page accessed on November 2, 2022.
American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. Understanding Minor Rectal Bleeding. Page accessed on November 2, 2022.
MedlinePlus. Stools-pale or clay-colored. Page last updated on June 16, 2020.
Cleveland Clinic. Adult Jaundice. Page last updated on July 23, 2018. 
Mayo Clinic. Narrow stools: Should I be concerned? Page last updated on July 2, 2022.
Johns Hopkins Medicine. Constipation. Page accessed on November 2, 2022.
Mayo Clinic. Diarrhea. Page last updated on August 18, 2021.
The Mayo Clinic. Vasovagal syncope. February 19, 2021.
National Cancer Institute. Anal Cancer Treatment (PDQ)–Patient Version. Updated October 27, 2021.
Mayo Clinic. Anal cancer. August 12, 2021.
American Cancer Society. Signs and Symptoms of Anal Cancer. Last revised September 9, 2020.

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