Feces, feces, or feces is a byproduct of digestion. Food mixtures with bile from the liver and digestive enzymes from the pancreas provide the possibility of enzymatic breakdown (digestion) of proteins, carbohydrates and fats of food in suspension. The suspension passes through the small intestine, where nutrients and much of the water are absorbed into the blood. Liquid waste is passed into the large intestine. In the large intestine, some more water is absorbed and feces are formed. Normal stool contains bacteria, undigested food, cellulose from undigested plant products, and bile.

More than 900 ml of fluid - saliva, gastric juice, gallbladder, pancreas and intestinal secretions - enter the gastrointestinal tract every day. About 500-1500 ml of this fluid reaches the large intestine, and only about 150 ml is excreted in the stool (feces). Water and electrolytes are absorbed in both the small and large intestines. The large intestine can only absorb about 300 ml; if the amount of water exceeds this volume, the stool becomes liquid and causes diarrhea. Figure 1 shows the volumes of fluid secreted and absorbed by individual organs of the gastrointestinal tract during the day. There is no single definition of normal stool. There is a whole spectrum of what can be considered normal, and the regularity of bowel movements varies from person to person. There are, however, several signs that the stool is no longer within your personal normal range and should be discussed with your doctor.

Many people believe that normal bowel movement is one bowel movement every day, but this is not true for everyone. There is no rule for the frequency of bowel movements, the general range is from 3 times a day to 3 times a week. Less than 3 bowel movements per week indicates constipation, and more than 3 bowel movements per day and watery stools reflect diarrhea.

Size and shape of stool

For self-orientation about the state of the gastrointestinal tract, English gastroenterologists proposed a scale table of stool (stool) forms - the Bristol scale of stool forms - This is a self-diagnostic chart that helps patients characterize their bowel movements without embarrassment or embarrassment. The Bristol Stool Shape Scale is now used throughout the world as a tool for assessing the intestines and digestive system.

Based on the Bristol Stool Shape Scale, normal stool should be soft and easy to pass, although some people may have harder or softer stool than others. The stool should be brown or golden brown in color, formed, have a texture similar to peanut butter, and be similar in size and shape to a sausage. In many cases, if the stool changes slightly from what is described, there is no cause for concern, especially if it is an isolated incident. But if your stool suddenly changes and differs significantly from usual, this is a reason to visit a gastroenterologist.

Macroscopic analysis of stool can be a great help in diagnosing some diseases, but not enough to make definite conclusions about the presence or absence of some kind of digestive disease.

Some changes in the characteristics of feces are common to various diseases: colitis, tumors, benign polyps, hemorrhoids, poor nutrition, functional diseases. This means that the detection of an abnormal indicator in the feces should be considered taking into account the clinical condition of the patient and the final assessment should be made by a doctor who, if necessary, will refer to the appropriate specialists.

Indicators that should be taken into account during macroscopic analysis of stool.

Composition of stool

Feces consist of 75% water and 25% solids. The dry residue of the solid fraction varies greatly and consists of residues (fiber) of undigested cellulose. Fiber is very hygroscopic and it is they that retain water in the stool, which is why a diet low in protein produces soft, large stools, and a diet high in protein and lacking fiber (fiber) causes constipation. 30% of the dry weight of feces is due to bacteria of the intestinal microflora, 15% to inorganic substances (calcium and phosphates), 5% to fats and their derivatives. There are also small amounts of desquamated (desquamated) intestinal lining cells, mucus and digestive enzymes.

Thus, a significant part non-food stool masses and feces are formed even during fasting.

The weight of feces depends significantly on the nature of the diet, and, in particular, on the fiber content in it. With a normal diet, the normal value for the mass of feces excreted in adults is 150-300 g per 24 hours. Higher values ​​may occur with a vegetarian diet.

Stool color

Normal stool color ranges from light brown to dark brown. This is due to the chemical conversion of bilirubin and its metabolite stercobilin into urobilinogen by intestinal bacteria and enzymes. Bile is formed in the liver and released in the intestines, where it is involved in the digestion and absorption of food fats.

Let's look at what color stool can be painted and why.

Green feces

Gives green color to feces biliverdin , a precursor of bilirubin, which comes with bile and during rapid transit through the intestine does not have time to complete its complete metabolism by intestinal microflora. For this reason, diarrhea and laxative use cause stool to be greenish in color.

We find green color in stool when there is a predominance in the diet of leafy vegetables rich in chlorophyll (green plant pigment) - spinach, arugula, parsley, green beans, etc.

Additives containing chlorophyll and antibiotics give stool its green color.

Orange feces

The color of stool is determined by food and some medications. If you have beta-carotene-rich foods in your diet that have yellow-orange hues (carrots, pumpkin, apricots, mangoes, sweet potatoes, etc.), your stool will turn orange. Supplements containing this antioxidant pigment and consumption of rifampicin-based medications have the same effect on stool color.

Gray-white feces

The predominance of rice and other light cereals, potatoes in the diet, and taking antacids (based on aluminum hydroxide) can give the stool a white tint. According to the generally accepted concept, the color of stool is determined by the presence of bilirubin and its metabolites. Fecal hypochromia may reflect a violation of the flow of bile into the intestines (bile duct stones or cancer of the head of the pancreas), diseases of the liver or biliary tract and pancreas, in which there is a decrease in bilirubin content (cirrhosis, hepatitis and liver cancer).

Pale, shiny, and greasy stool is typical for steatorrhea. Steatorrhea is excess fat in the stool caused by intestinal malabsorption. This type of stool is a symptom of celiac disease.

Yellow feces

Yellow stool is a sign of the presence of fat in the stool. Fat in the stool may be associated with a disease of the pancreas (chronic pancreatitis) and a deficiency of the enzyme lipase, which breaks down fats. Fatty stool is yellowish with a strong unpleasant odor.

Red feces

Red stool is a warning to the patient that he is bleeding.

However, red foods (tomato juice and tomatoes, red fruits and beets) can give stool its characteristic color. However, red stool is a warning sign of some kind of intestinal bleeding. The following options are possible.

Streaks of bright red blood that surrounds the stool and does not mix with the stool indicate bleeding from the rectum in the anal area (such blood is visible on toilet paper). The causes may be: hemorrhoids or anal fissures, but a malignant tumor in the last section of the intestine cannot be ruled out.

If the color of the blood is dark red and the blood is mixed with the stool, then this is an indicator of bleeding at the level of the large intestine. This kind of bleeding is observed with polyps, cancer, diverticulitis, inflammatory and vascular diseases.

Gray and black feces

Dark gray stool may indicate the presence of metals such as iron (for example, with excessive consumption of chocolate and/or meat) or bismuth. Tarry black stool indicates the presence of partially digested blood (melena), which appears in the stool during bleeding from the upper digestive tract (esophagus, stomach, duodenum). Even minor bleeding from the small intestine and cecum of the large intestine can give the stool a blackish color.

If the stool is black, you must remember that activated carbon, licorice, blueberries and black olives, red beets, red and black grapes, red wine, etc. can turn the stool blackish and black. Unlike melena, such feces do not have a fetid, nauseating odor.

Constipation is usually associated with dark stool due to longer residence time in the colon, and diarrhea is associated with light-colored stool.

Stool smell

The smell of excrement is associated with the rotting of proteins and the metabolism of amino acids that are not absorbed in the small intestine by bacteria in the large intestine. As a result of the action of intestinal bacteria, indole, skatole, putrescine, cadaverine, etc. are formed, which give an unpleasant odor to feces.

Malabsorption occurs in celiac disease, pancreatic insufficiency, intestinal infections, inflammatory bowel diseases, liver and biliary tract diseases, etc. In some diseases, the digestion of especially sugars and starch is impaired, which reach the colon and are fermented by local flora with the formation of gases.

The smell of feces is definitely related to food and the health of our intestines. A balanced diet, eating small portions and taking care to avoid simultaneous intake of carbohydrates and proteins ("dissociated diet"), helps regulate digestion. It reduces bloating and flatulence and the stool retains its "distinctive" smell.

Mucus in stool e

Mucus in the stool is not always a pathological phenomenon. Mucus is secreted by the large intestine, and its function is to lubricate the stool, making it easier to slide through the anus. The color of the mucus is whitish or yellowish-white, and the consistency is similar to gelatin.

An increase in the presence of mucus in the stool is an indicator of pathological conditions such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, and bacterial colitis. In these cases, mucus is accompanied by diarrhea and often bleeding. Increased mucus may be found in irritable bowel syndrome, celiac disease, allergies or food intolerances, and changes in the intestinal bacterial flora as a result of poor eating habits.

Excess mucus is present in polyps (especially the hairy type) and in colon tumors. In the latter case, the mucus is bright and/or mixed with traces of blood.

"Floating" feces

This phenomenon occurs when there is a fair amount of gas and fat inside the stool, the fat makes the gas less dense and the stool sticks to the walls of the toilet. This feature of feces is characteristic of diarrhea and in general for all situations with malabsorption, fermentation and gas formation in the intestines.

The state of the human body can be judged from many data. These are the results of laboratory and instrumental studies, the presence of pain or its absence, appearance and even behavior.

Can the color of stool indicate something? Of course, and to a large extent. After all, bowel movements, depending on any diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and other internal organs, can change not only the color, but also the consistency, as well as the frequency of appearance.

People often wonder: what does yellow feces mean in an adult? Is it a sign of pathology or a completely acceptable manifestation? To understand what a change in stool indicates, it is advisable to find out why it occurs.

What affects the color of feces

The coloring of stool in various shades depends on bilirubin, one of the components of bile. The release of this substance occurs directly from the liver, from where it enters the large intestine through the bile ducts. Digestion of food is facilitated by pancreatic enzymes, and bilirubin gives feces different shades of brown.

The process of staining stool involves the liver, gallbladder, digestive system, and pancreas. Without the influence of pancreatic enzymes, the digestion process is practically impossible.

Disruption of the gastrointestinal tract indicates not only dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract, but also a malfunction in many internal organs.

Normal coloring

The color of healthy stool is brown. However, depending on the food consumed, its shades are also possible:

1. Dark brown color is standard in a normal diet. It is observed when meat dishes predominate in the diet.
2. A light shade of brown is a characteristic color when consuming large amounts of plant-based foods. Introducing protein-rich foods into the diet normalizes color.
3. Yellow stools with an orange tint are a common occurrence when consuming mainly dairy products.

Oddly enough, the shades of stool can tell a lot about the state of the body.

What diseases does pigment deficiency indicate?

The appearance of greenish, clayey, grayish stool is a reason to conduct a series of tests in order to exclude serious diseases.

So, black stool is a sign of internal bleeding or stagnation in the intestines. Other examples:

1. A yellowish tint indicates pathological lesions of the gastrointestinal tract, the likelihood of intestinal infections or severe liver disease - hepatitis.
2. Very light-colored stools indicate pancreatic dysfunction, and pancreatitis is possible. It is necessary to exclude the presence of diabetes mellitus and even oncological processes both in the gland and in other organs of the gastrointestinal tract.
3. Pale yellow stool indicates unstable production of bilirubin by the liver or narrowing of the bile ducts.

There may be a temporary change in color variations in the postoperative period associated with surgical intervention in the digestive organs.

Reasons for changes

Variations in the color of stool depend on many reasons. It should be noted that their yellow coloring in an adult is fundamentally different from the process in children, especially in the infant period.

In babies, the diet mainly consists of dairy products, which is why light-colored feces appear. In adults, yellow stool is not always normal. More often he talks about any disturbances in the functioning of organs and systems.

In some cases, yellow stool in adults is also the result of excessive consumption of dairy products. But with a change in nutrition, their typical coloring should also be restored.. If the color does not return to normal, you should consult a doctor to find out the reason.

The most common provocateurs of changes in shade are:

• food products, especially fatty foods;
• medications used uncontrollably in large quantities;
• alcohol abuse.

This disorder can be easily removed by changing your attitude to nutrition, taking medications and alcoholic beverages.

More serious factors of deviation from the norm

The human body has a unique chain of interconnected processes.

Disruption of the activity of one of its links entails a number of pathological changes. This situation is also observed when the color of waste products of the human body changes.

The most common causes of this are dysfunction of the pancreas, liver, digestive system in general and its individual parts in particular. Here are the main reasons:

1. Violation of intestinal motility and peristalsis, metabolism.
2. Insufficient amount of pancreatic enzymes of the gland. This results in the stomach being unable to digest foods, especially if the food is too fatty, fried or spicy. In this case, the stool shows various shades of yellow, which indicates problems with digestion.
3. Failure in the activity of the liver and gall bladder. When the process of bile outflow is disrupted, the stool becomes golden yellow. Lightening of its mass occurs as a result of the excretion of bilirubin in an unchanged form, which loses the ability to give feces an intense color. You should pay attention to the fact that there is a significant change in the color of urine. It becomes overly saturated. This indicates serious organ diseases.
4. Crohn's disease. The main danger of the disease lies in the simultaneous development of a pathological process affecting all digestive organs. The intestines are attacked more than other organs.
5. Infectious diseases (hepatitis).
6. Dysbacteriosis.

A special place is given to intestinal flu. It is considered a disease of dirty hands and the result of non-compliance with cooking rules. Poorly processed vegetables and fruits are the most common carriers of infection.

Yellow feces with an atypical consistency and odor are an indication for immediate identification of the causes of its appearance. A qualified doctor must conduct laboratory and instrumental studies.

Symptoms

If the problem is short-term, it may be caused by poor diet. In this case, you should simply refuse junk food.

However, persistence of lack of stool coloration for several days should be a signal to immediately visit a doctor, especially if it is accompanied by symptoms such as:

• acute abdominal pain;
• high temperature;
• sudden weight loss;
• nausea, vomiting;
• sour belching;

Such manifestations are signs of serious diseases and, if not treated in a timely manner, can lead to irreversible consequences.

What does yellow stool without pain indicate?

Such changes occur most often when consuming certain foods. Among them:

• apples, carrots, oranges, dried apricots, melon;
• milk and dairy products;
• beans, peas.

Significant changes in the color of stool also provoke:

• inability to digest gluten;
• hormonal disorders;
• stress;
• depression;
• taking certain medications - antibiotics, vitamins, contraceptives.

In order to exclude possible serious diseases, it is advisable to undergo an examination to identify the true causes of changes in the color of stool.

Occurrence of problems during pregnancy

Significant restructuring of a woman’s body during the period of bearing a child affects the condition of all her organs and systems, and digestion. Often this manifests itself precisely in the unusual color of stool. The reasons for it are:

• changes in hormonal levels (stool becomes bright or, conversely, pale yellow);
• consumption of dairy products (feces become lightened);
• the use of vitamin complexes and other medications (various shades are possible).

A more dangerous factor in changes in the type of bowel movements during pregnancy is the exacerbation of existing pathologies.

Yellow stool due to diarrhea

If your stool is yellow during short-term diarrhea, you should not worry too much. But prolonged diarrhea with such a tinge of feces poses a serious threat to the health of an adult. It can cause:

• dehydration of the body;
• exhaustion;
• hypovitaminosis.

The presence of liquid yellow stool indicates the possibility of developing the following pathological conditions: hepatitis, colitis, gastritis, dysbacteriosis, liver cirrhosis, peptic ulcer.

Causes of yellow stool during poisoning

Due to intoxication caused by bacteria, poisonous plants or chemicals, irritation of the intestinal mucosa occurs.

This leads to the formation of mucus on its surface, which prevents the absorption of excess fluid. The violation provokes diarrhea of ​​yellow color, foamy masses with a foul odor.

What measures should be taken

As first aid for acute diarrhea and poisoning, it is necessary to:

1. Empty the stomach of its contents.
2. Eliminate food consumption.
3. Take medications that restore and support intestinal microflora.

The stomach can be cleansed by rinsing with warm boiled water. Then take several tablets of activated carbon (at the rate of 1 piece per 10 kg of patient weight).

If a microbial provocateur of intoxication is detected, antibacterial agents are used. The dosage and duration of administration are determined by the doctor.

For preventive purposes, on the advice of a gastroenterologist, in case of recurring diarrhea, you can take Linex, Bificol, Lactobacterin.

An important place in restoring intestinal activity is given to following a gentle diet.

How to get rid of the problem

To normalize the color of stool, it is necessary to adjust the diet and exclude foods that provoke negative changes from the diet.

It should be noted that a special course of treatment is required only if the lack of pigmentation in the feces of an adult patient is caused by the diseases listed above.

Drug treatment is aimed at eliminating the root causes of diseases. The functions of the liver, gall bladder, intestines, and pancreas are restored.

As already mentioned, great importance is given to maintaining a dietary diet that promotes the effective restoration of affected organs.

Surgical treatment is indicated only in cases of cancer of organs.

To prevent the unusual color of stool from becoming a common occurrence and leading to painful conditions, it is necessary to ensure the correct approach to nutrition, lead a healthy lifestyle, avoid stressful situations and follow the recommendations of doctors.

Normal gastrointestinal health is determined by many details, one of which is what color the stool should be. In addition to the shade, however, it is also necessary to take into account such indicators as consistency, composition, and frequency of bowel movements during the day. Read more about what the norm should be and why deviations are formed.

What color of stool is considered normal?

Normally, in an adult, the color of stool should be brown. The color of stool is determined by the presence of bilirubin, which is a breakdown product of hemoglobin, as well as other bile pigments. Any changes in the amount of bilirubin that comes with bile can cause the stool to change color from light yellow to dark brown. It should be noted that significant changes should be a cause for serious concern regarding the health of the digestive system.

At the same time, very often the stool and what color it should be is associated with some features of the diet, and therefore is not a cause for concern. It also does not indicate any abnormalities in the adult’s health. If we talk about children, then in their case any changes should be subject to more serious diagnosis and examination.

However, the shade of stool does not always change due to minor factors. In particular, more serious ones can be recognized by their significant duration and the degree of radicality in the change in shade. In this case, it can be argued that the changes are much more serious and even critical. More on what the stool may look like in this case and why this happens.

Alarming changes in stool color

So, the reason to contact a specialist should be situations in which a change in the shade of stool occurs accompanied by other symptoms.

In particular, we can talk about green or foul-smelling stool, which is usually accompanied by diarrhea, pain in the abdomen, and high fever. Additional symptoms in this situation may include nausea and vomiting. All this points to infectious diseases, for example, salmonellosis.

The stool may be discolored, which goes away accompanied by no less severe symptoms than in the previous case. We are talking about:

1. painful sensations in the abdomen and back;
2. yellowness of the sclera and skin;
3. darkening of urine and worsening urination in general.

Such changes indicate problems associated with the functioning of the liver and biliary tract, and therefore it is strongly recommended to attend to a diagnostic examination. Next, you need to pay attention to the fact that changes may be due to the fact that the stool turns black. In the vast majority of cases, this condition is also accompanied by painful sensations in the abdomen, weakness and pallor of the skin.

Speaking about the case presented earlier, it is necessary to pay attention to other manifestations, in particular, that the pulse may increase and cold sweat may occur. Such manifestations are direct evidence that bleeding has begun in the stomach or duodenum. A much more alarming symptom should be considered a change in the color of the stool to red. Most often this is accompanied by abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting.

This condition is dangerous because it usually indicates the onset of intestinal bleeding.

That is why it is very important to recognize the most alarming symptoms in time and seek help from a specialist for diagnosis and assistance. More details about some of the changes below.

Diseases that are associated with color changes. Which chair should you pay attention to?

The case in which the stool, changing, acquires a green tint, deserves special attention. This may be due to the onset of dysbiosis, which will require special blood tests to determine the presence of dysbiosis and other negative consequences. In addition, lighter green or even white stool may indicate acute infectious enterocolitis. In this case, the disease manifests itself in cutting pain in the abdomen, diarrhea, pus and mucus in the stool.

Of course, green feces can also form for completely natural reasons, in particular, due to the consumption of leafy vegetables. This is especially true for spinach and products with similar food colorings. It should also be noted that green feces can also form in children, after which it is strongly recommended to make an appointment with a specialist.

The sudden formation of black stool has a name - it is melena, which, as noted earlier, is a manifestation of internal bleeding that can affect the intestines or duodenum.

However, this is not a complete list of the most likely factors, which may include peptic ulcer disease, any neoplasms, impaired coagulation, and much more, including infectious processes.

In the case where melena is associated with changes in health, namely weakness, cold sweat or changes in well-being, it is strongly recommended to consult a specialist. This is explained by the fact that forced blood loss is a serious threat to the preservation of human life. I would also like to draw attention to the fact that the stool may be black during pregnancy due to all the factors that were presented earlier. However, most often this is influenced by the use of certain multivitamin complexes and preparations that contain iron.

It is equally important to pay attention to those cases when the stool, which could and should be brown, suddenly turns out to be light or completely white.

In this regard, experts pay attention to the following characteristic features and reasons:

• lightening of stool due to consumption of fatty foods is evidence of chronic pancreatitis, fibrosis, and pancreatic cancer. This is not a complete list, for clarification you should contact a specialist;
• Such fecal masses can also form under normal health conditions, namely due to errors in the diet. Most often this is due to the consumption of excessive amounts of fatty foods - lard, sour cream and others;
• Another variant of the norm should be considered the use of certain medicinal components, which include antibiotics, antifungals and some others.

In general, any change in the color of your stool should be a cause for concern. This is necessary because the human body is a very delicate and sensitive structure, the functioning of which can be influenced by a variety of factors. In order to make sure that nothing threatens life, and also that a person can maintain 100% activity, it is strongly recommended to consult a specialist and not engage in self-treatment.

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1.Can cancer be prevented?
The occurrence of a disease such as cancer depends on many factors. No person can ensure complete safety for himself. But everyone can significantly reduce the chances of developing a malignant tumor.

2.How does smoking affect the development of cancer?
Absolutely, categorically forbid yourself from smoking. Everyone is already tired of this truth. But quitting smoking reduces the risk of developing all types of cancer. Smoking is associated with 30% of deaths from cancer. In Russia, lung tumors kill more people than tumors of all other organs.
Eliminating tobacco from your life is the best prevention. Even if you smoke not a pack a day, but only half a day, the risk of lung cancer is already reduced by 27%, as the American Medical Association found.

3.Does excess weight affect the development of cancer?
Look at the scales more often! Extra pounds will affect more than just your waist. The American Institute for Cancer Research has found that obesity promotes the development of tumors of the esophagus, kidneys and gallbladder. The fact is that adipose tissue not only serves to preserve energy reserves, it also has a secretory function: fat produces proteins that affect the development of a chronic inflammatory process in the body. And oncological diseases appear against the background of inflammation. In Russia, WHO associates 26% of all cancer cases with obesity.

4.Do exercise help reduce the risk of cancer?
Spend at least half an hour a week training. Sport is on the same level as proper nutrition when it comes to cancer prevention. In the United States, a third of all deaths are attributed to the fact that patients did not follow any diet or pay attention to physical exercise. The American Cancer Society recommends exercising 150 minutes a week at a moderate pace or half as much but at a vigorous pace. However, a study published in the journal Nutrition and Cancer in 2010 shows that even 30 minutes can reduce the risk of breast cancer (which affects one in eight women worldwide) by 35%.

5.How does alcohol affect cancer cells?
Less alcohol! Alcohol has been blamed for causing tumors of the mouth, larynx, liver, rectum and mammary glands. Ethyl alcohol breaks down in the body to acetaldehyde, which is then converted into acetic acid under the action of enzymes. Acetaldehyde is a strong carcinogen. Alcohol is especially harmful for women, as it stimulates the production of estrogens - hormones that affect the growth of breast tissue. Excess estrogen leads to the formation of breast tumors, which means that every extra sip of alcohol increases the risk of getting sick.

6.Which cabbage helps fight cancer?
Love broccoli. Vegetables not only contribute to a healthy diet, but they also help fight cancer. This is also why recommendations for healthy eating contain the rule: half of the daily diet should be vegetables and fruits. Particularly useful are cruciferous vegetables, which contain glucosinolates - substances that, when processed, acquire anti-cancer properties. These vegetables include cabbage: regular cabbage, Brussels sprouts and broccoli.

7. Red meat affects which organ cancer?
The more vegetables you eat, the less red meat you put on your plate. Research has confirmed that people who eat more than 500g of red meat per week have a higher risk of developing colorectal cancer.

8.Which of the proposed remedies protect against skin cancer?
Stock up on sunscreen! Women aged 18–36 are especially susceptible to melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer. In Russia, in just 10 years, the incidence of melanoma has increased by 26%, world statistics show an even greater increase. Both tanning equipment and sun rays are blamed for this. The danger can be minimized with a simple tube of sunscreen. A 2010 study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology confirmed that people who regularly apply a special cream have half the incidence of melanoma than those who neglect such cosmetics.
You need to choose a cream with a protection factor of SPF 15, apply it even in winter and even in cloudy weather (the procedure should become the same habit as brushing your teeth), and also not expose it to the sun's rays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

9. Do you think stress affects the development of cancer?
Stress itself does not cause cancer, but it weakens the entire body and creates conditions for the development of this disease. Research has shown that constant worry alters the activity of immune cells responsible for triggering the fight-and-flight mechanism. As a result, a large amount of cortisol, monocytes and neutrophils, which are responsible for inflammatory processes, constantly circulate in the blood. And as already mentioned, chronic inflammatory processes can lead to the formation of cancer cells.

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Task 1 of 9

Can cancer be prevented?

1. Task 2 of 9

   How does smoking affect the development of cancer?

2. Task 3 of 9

   Does excess weight affect the development of cancer?

3. Task 4 of 9

   Does exercise help reduce the risk of cancer?

4. Task 5 of 9

   How does alcohol affect cancer cells?

5. Task 6 of 9

   A person can determine the state of his health based on many factors: appearance, well-being, the presence or absence of pain, and so on. Can it be determined by the type, color and condition of the feces? Yes, you can it has different consistency, shade and frequency of bowel movements. Light yellow stool in an adult - what does it mean and should a person worry if it is present?

   What should the normal color of stool be?

   Normal color of feces indicates good functioning of the digestive system. It is very important to be able to recognize pathological changes; the speed and effectiveness of treatment of the diseases as a result of which they arise depends on this. Bilirubin, which is found in bile, is responsible for the color of feces. Produced from hemoglobin, it leaves the digestive system along with waste food. Therefore, feces should normally have a brown tint. True, the color of feces can take on other shades depending on the diet:

   1. Brown dark. This shade is considered normal. Produced during a mixed diet.
   2. Light brown. A consequence of using a strict diet of plant origin that does not cause any harm to humans.
   3. Black-brown. This indicates that a person eats a lot of meat and dishes made from it.
   4. Light yellow. It says that dairy products predominate in the diet.

   These are the main categories of healthy stool color. If a person observes feces of other colors, then it is worth contacting a doctor, and as soon as possible. Here, not only bilirubin, but also third-party factors may be responsible for the color of stool: possible internal bleeding, pathological disorders in the digestive system, intestinal stagnation, and so on.

   The fact of diarrhea should be taken especially seriously.. The mechanisms of development of this phenomenon are also different. By nature, diarrhea occurs:

   1. Infectious. May be a symptom of diseases such as salmonellosis, dysentery, food infections, viral diarrhea, amoebiasis and so on.
   2. Dyspeptic. It occurs as a consequence of a violation of the digestive function of the stomach due to the development of secretory insufficiency of the liver, pancreas, and the stomach itself. Or due to a deficiency of enzyme production in the small intestine.
   3. Nutritional. This is most often an incorrectly selected diet or an allergic manifestation of the body to any food product.
   4. Toxic. The causes of diarrhea of ​​this nature are detoxification of the body by arsenic or mercury. Toxic diarrhea is a concomitant symptom of uremia.
   5. Medication. The cause of this diarrhea is considered to be mechanical suppression of the physiological flora in the intestines by medications.
   6. Neuralgic. It is considered a consequence of all kinds of intestinal motility disorders. Frequent causes of their occurrence are considered to be feelings of intense fear, anxiety and stress.

   A short and light loose, light-colored stool in an adult actually poses no threat to health. In severe and prolonged forms it leads to exhaustion of the body, becomes a consequence of hypovitaminosis and a significant modification of some organs and systems.

   If you have frequent and prolonged yellow diarrhea, you should consult a doctor (gastroenterologist) for a correct diagnosis and effective therapy to eliminate the causes of its occurrence. Laboratory testing of blood and stool can reveal the presence of chronic infections, including dysentery. You cannot treat diarrhea with antibiotics on your own; this can aggravate the problem and cause side effects. Medicines are prescribed only after identifying the cause of diarrhea, in particular, the type of infection that caused its development.

   Possible causes of light yellow loose stools

   
   Liquid bowel movements occur due to disruption of the process of breakdown of nutrients, as well as due to rapid intestinal motility. These pathological conditions in men and women are characteristic of the following diseases:

   • chronic pancreatitis;
   • dysbacteriosis;
   • inflammation in the intestines.

   All these diseases are characterized by insufficient digestion or poor absorption of food. In this case, the color of feces, smell, chemical composition and consistency also change.

   Liquid and yellow stools have a foul or rancid odor. Pieces of food undigested by the stomach are visible even to the naked eye. In addition to their liquid consistency, they become greasy and are difficult to flush from the toilet.

   Common causes of loose yellow stools in adults are pathological diseases of the gastrointestinal tract accompanied by certain symptoms:

   • rumbling in the stomach;
   • abdominal pain, especially in the morning;
   • nausea;
   • heartburn;
   • flatulence.

   Prolonged yellow diarrhea may indicate the presence of diseases such as:

   • enteritis;
   • colitis;
   • gastritis;
   • ulcers in the gastrointestinal tract or intestines;
   • cirrhosis;
   • hepatitis.

   Yellow diarrhea may occur, especially in the morning, and in those who have had their gallbladder removed. This happens because the flow of bile is impaired. In a healthy person, it enters the digestive system in norms (portions). People who have had their gallbladder removed do not have this clearly defined function.

   Some people do not pay attention to the presence of yellow liquid stools, considering them to be a minor pathological disorder. This concept is erroneous, since they can serve as a signal about the development of bacterial pathology, where this symptom is considered key and indicates a high degree of intoxication in the body.

   Emergency assistance for poisoning and diarrhea:

   1. Cleanse both the intestines and stomach as much as possible.
   2. Reduce, or better yet stop, the load on the digestive tract.
   3. After the symptoms disappear, carry out effective restorative therapy aimed at supporting the functions of the gastrointestinal tract and restoring healthy microflora.

   Use gastric lavage and activated charcoal as cleansing procedures. The procedure must be performed at the very beginning of intoxication. To relieve the gastrointestinal tract as quickly and effectively as possible, you need to follow a gentle diet. If the diagnosis showed that the causative agent of the poisoning was microbes, then strictly take the antibacterial drugs prescribed by the doctor.

   Within 10 days after poisoning, you should undergo a restorative therapeutic course. The doctor who made the diagnosis and accompanied the patient throughout the entire course of treatment will tell you how to do this correctly.

   Yellow stool after poisoning

   Intoxication of the body with plant, chemical poisons, bacteria or fungi is always accompanied by inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. This happens due to the fact that microorganisms or bacteria that get inside the stomach multiply, die, and decompose. This irritates the mucous membrane, causing an inflammatory reaction. The edematous mucosa, in turn, stimulates the production of mucus or serous fluid.

   In addition, the intestinal walls cannot fully and correctly function and absorb the moisture and electrolytes that enter it. The result of this pathology is considered to be excess moisture in the intestines, which provokes the development of secretory diarrhea. That is why light-colored feces after poisoning acquire exactly this shade. Once toxins enter the bloodstream, they spread throughout the body, leading to total intoxication.

   Poisoning can be recognized by the following signs:

   • abdominal cramps;
   • dizziness;
   • fainting;
   • vomit;
   • tachycardia;
   • high body temperature;
   • high sweating;
   • general weakness.

   They can appear all at once, or they can appear separately. When toxic substances enter the body, diarrhea occurs within a few hours. Sometimes even after several days, it depends on the body’s reserve capabilities and the type of toxin. By the nature of liquid feces, you can preliminarily determine the part of the intestine that has undergone inflammation:

   1. Profuse diarrhea (may have a greenish tint) occurs if the localization is in the small intestine.
   2. With frequent urge to go to the toilet, where most of them are false, the inflammation is in the colon. Here the volume of bowel movements is somewhat less. In their composition one can observe mucus impurities.

   If light-colored loose stools are not stopped in time, the person will begin to dehydrate, and this is extremely undesirable, even dangerous. Therefore, at the first signs of diarrhea, its etiology should be established and treatment should begin as soon as possible.

   Features of the treatment of yellow diarrhea

   
   You can stop diarrhea very quickly if you know the nature of its occurrence.. The patient should adhere to the following rules:

   1. Compensation for fluid loss by the body. A patient with diarrhea rapidly loses moisture, so it needs to be replenished on time and in the proper volumes. Drinking plenty of fluids after each bowel movement is a must.
   2. Reception of sorbents. This is a medicinal group of drugs that bind toxins and remove them from the body. These include: activated carbon and smecta.
   3. Improving intestinal motility. The doctor will prescribe one of the effective drugs to achieve this goal. It could be Motilium or Imodium.

   For preventive purposes, in case of frequent poisoning and on the recommendation of a gastroenterologist, you can take medications aimed at supporting and propagating healthy microflora in the intestines. They also inhibit pathogenic microorganisms and bacteria. The most effective in this regard are Bificol, Lactobacterin and Linex.

   Diet after poisoning is not the last place in the treatment of diarrhea. In each case, it is prescribed individually by a nutritionist.

   Clinical manifestations of diarrhea are most often characterized by a typical set of patient complaints. Sometimes, thanks to specific data, the doctor is able to immediately determine the nature of diarrhea:

   1. A high temperature with diarrhea indicates the presence of an infection in the body.. Whenever foreign protein compounds penetrate into immune cells, the body reacts with an increase in temperature. The intestine is one of the key and powerful immune organs, so this phenomenon in the patient should not be very surprising.
   2. Nausea. A key sign of diarrhea of ​​any etiology. This is explained by the fact that when the movement of food or feces through the gastrointestinal tract is disrupted, their incorrect release in the opposite direction is often observed. Toxins are carried throughout the body. The first reflex that reacts to them is gag.
   3. Stomach ache. This is a consequence of increased intestinal motility. It is intense and spastic in nature. Pain is inherent in any type of diarrhea, which is why it is considered a key symptom.
   4. Belching. Rotten belching indicates enzymatic deficiency in the pancreas. In other words, food in the stomach is not digested, but rots. This leads to the formation of foul-smelling gas accumulations, which are released from the stomach in the form of belches.

   Treatment for any type of diarrhea should be prescribed by a doctor. After all, any pathological disorder of the body’s performance is fraught with its consequences and complications. Diarrhea is considered a serious sign and signal of this abnormality, especially if it has acquired a yellow tint.

   Stool - black feces.

   Reasons. Normal stool is shaped, brown in color and has a soft consistency. Intensely black, tarry, liquid or semi-liquid stools are usually a sign of bleeding from the upper gastrointestinal tract.

   It must be said, however, that the black color of stool can be caused by taking certain medications or certain types of food. Tablets containing iron, bismuth preparations (it is present in antacid preparations that are sold in pharmacies without a prescription), activated carbon can turn stool dark. Eating licorice, chocolate, grapes, raisins and cranberries can also cause dark-colored stool. So before you jump to the conclusion that you have internal bleeding, try to remember what you ate in the last 1-2 days.

   The main reasons for the appearance of black tarry stools are bleeding from stomach and duodenal ulcers, bleeding from gastritis, bleeding from varicose veins of the esophagus; the source of blood loss may be tumors of the stomach and small intestine.

   The appearance of blood in the stool can be a complication of drug therapy. There are medications that cause erosion (minor damage) or ulceration of the gastric mucosa. The main culprit is aspirin, which is prescribed for arthritis. Other so-called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as indomethacin, can also cause bleeding.

   What to do. If you have eaten the foods listed above in the last 18-24 hours, do not panic, but to be absolutely sure, go to the doctor as soon as possible.

   If you suffer from stomach ulcers or other diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, then tell your doctor about any changes in the color of your stool.

   
   The stool is scarlet blood or red in color.

   
   
   

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