List of Partners vendors. Black stool refers to a condition in which your stool is an unusually dark color. Stool, also known as bowel movements, feces, or poop, is the bodily waste left over after digestion. The color of your bowel movements are affected by the food you eat, medications and supplements you take, or, possibly, serious underlying medical problems.
If you have a history of gastrointestinal GI bleeding , your stool has an especially foul smell, or the problem lasts longer than a few days, you should contact your doctor right away to be sure there isn't a life-threatening health issue.
This article explores the reasons you may have black stool. It explains some of the more serious health problems associated with it, and outlines common treatments for black stool caused by medical conditions.
Black stools 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. Consuming any of the following could darken your bowel movements:. If you can't trace your black stool to a something you ate, you should talk to your doctor to find other possible causes.
If there's no obvious reason for a black stool, 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.
Blood that comes from the upper GI tract—such as the esophagus or the stomach—may turn the stool black. This is a condition called melena. If you have melena, you may also notice that your stool has a tarry texture or is similar to coffee grounds. Blood changes from red to black as it passes through the body and interacts with enzymes , substances that help digest food in the GI tract.
This makes it a bit more difficult to tell if there is red blood in or on the stool. Bright red blood in or on the stool is typically blood from the lower GI tract, such as the rectum or the colon. This is a condition called hematochezia. Blood stemming from this region will be more red in appearance, because it will be exposed to less of the digestive process. If the black stool appears tarry, or you also have other symptoms such as fainting or near-fainting, dizziness, pain, or vomiting, contact a healthcare provider immediately, as it could be a medical emergency.
Some people are more likely to develop bleeding in the GI tract. Talk to your doctor about the i any of these risk factors apply to you:.
Common reasons you may have dark bowel movements include eating dark foods, taking certain types of supplements or medications, especially iron, consuming lead, or having blood in your stool. There are a number of reasons why you might have blood in feces.
You should see a doctor for a full examination to find the exact cause. Seeing the black color is not enough to determine whether or not there's blood in your stool. Remember, it could be caused by food or iron supplements. A healthcare provider needs to confirm if there's blood. That requires several types of tests. Your doctor will have you collect a small stool sample at home using a special kit.
The sample is then sent to a lab for evaluation. If you're diagnosed with melena, doctors may order further diagnostic tests to determine the cause and the exact location of the bleeding.
Specifically, your doctor may conduct an esophagogastroduodenoscopy EGD, or upper endoscopy. This procedure involves inserting a flexible tube with a camera down your throat so that your healthcare provider can inspect the lining of the esophagus, stomach, and upper intestine.
Stool that is visibly black and tarry typically indicates the presence of an acute condition in the upper GI tract. After the bleeding has stopped, stool may continue to appear black and tarry for several days.
Possible causes of melena include a bleeding ulcer, gastritis, esophageal varices enlarged veins , or a tear in the esophagus from violent vomiting Mallory-Weiss tear. An ulcer is a type of sore on the lining of the stomach that can cause bleeding and result in melena. At-home microbiome testing kits can be a first step. We look at these and give our recommendations for your overall gut health questions. Cholangitis is inflammation swelling in the bile duct. Treatment depends on your symptoms and whether you have chronic or acute cholangitis.
Gastroparesis is a condition in which your stomach empties into your small intestine too slowly. Learn about the best diet for gastroparesis and what…. Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas and causes abdominal tenderness and pain. Learn more.
What does a gastroenterologist do, and when should you see one? Here's what you should know before making an appointment. Intussusception is the most common cause of intestinal obstruction in children.
It can also affect adults. Learn about this condition, symptoms, and…. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Liver issues can cause esophageal varices, which are enlarged veins in the esophagus. Treatment will focus on stopping the bleeding and resolving the underlying condition that is causing the esophageal varices. If a person experiences gastroesophageal reflux frequently, they may have gastroesophageal reflux disease GERD.
The key causes are complications from certain medications, smoking, or increased pressure in the abdomen. This pressure can result, for example, from being overweight or pregnant. A person can often manage GERD by avoiding certain foods and not overeating.
A doctor may also prescribe medications. NIDDK note that the long-term use of some drugs, such as ibuprofen and aspirin , can cause stomach ulcers. A bacterial infection can also be a cause.
If a doctor thinks that drugs such as ibuprofen or aspirin are causing stomach ulcers, treatment usually involves no longer using these pain relievers.
However, there is no reason for people to avoid foods that have this effect if they are not experiencing any other symptoms. If bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract is responsible for black, tarry stools, a doctor will need to diagnose the exact cause of this.
Many gastrointestinal issues are treatable. One much more rare possibility related to bleeding is esophageal or gastric cancer. Apart from bleeding, there are a number of other diet-related causes that can also be at play.
One possibility is dark-colored foods like black licorice or beets. Black stool can also be a side effect of taking iron supplements, a key part of treating anemia; the extra iron not absorbed by the bloodstream can travel through the digestive tract and be passed out in the stool. Similarly, over-the-counter medications for an upset stomach like Pepto-Bismol bismuth subsalicylate can also cause black, tarry stool. The treatment for black stool is totally dependent on the source of the color.
That is why the first question to ask when you see black stool is: what did I eat recently? Some simple dietary changes can resolve the problem overnight. If the stool is melena, the dark and tarry result of gastrointestinal bleeding, then the treatment will vary depending on the underlying cause.
To make an appointment with a highly skilled gastroenterologist, contact Carolina Digestive today. They are dedicated to providing the highest quality care for any and all gastrointestinal concerns. Book an appointment today at one of our eight office locations and five endoscopy centers throughout the Charlotte metropolitan area. We are committed to providing you with the most comprehensive quality of gastroenterology care. What happens during digestion?
What does my poop color tell me about my health? Here are some of the possible stool colors that people can experience and their possible related causes: Brown : All shades of brown are generally considered normal and healthy. Green : Green stool can be just as healthy as brown, particularly if it is due to an abundance of leafy green vegetables or green food coloring ; it can also result from taking iron supplements. Pale : Very light or clay-colored stool might point to a lack of bile that in turn could indicate a blocked bile duct.
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