When Should You Actually Be Concerned About a Weird-Looking Poop?

Coca irregularities can be more “regular” than you think.

In a new Health Survey of 2,001 adults in the United States, A third of respondents reported shit anomalies in the last month, Like seeing blood, mucus or non -digested foods in their stool.

Rachel Issaka, MD, MAS, a certified gastroenterologist on the board of directors at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and at the University of Washington Medical Center, said Health That these results do not surprise it, given to what extent the gastrointestinal symptoms (GI) are common.

What she found concerning, however, is that many respondents said they are hesitant to ask for medical treatment for symptoms that could be serious.

“It is possible that a doctor realizes that intestinal changes are normal for this person according to his history,” said Issaka. “But if there is a more serious cause, like colorectal cancer, patients do much better when diagnosed as soon as possible.”

While 62% of Health The survey respondents said they had normal stools, a relatively high number (34%) experienced at least one anomaly in the last month, including:

• Blood in their stools or on toilet paper (11%)
• Mucus (10%)
• Uncomfortable food (14%)
• Unusual color (11%)
• Unusual form (14%)

There were striking generational differences in these results. About half of the millennials (51%) and generation Z (48%) had at least one of these anomalies, compared to 34% of generation X and only 15% of baby boomers.

Issaka said it could be a question of increased conscience. Intestinal health is more and more in the minds of young adults, she noted, because several younger celebrities have been diagnosed with colorectal cancer in recent years, such as actors James Van der Beek, diagnosed in 2023, and Chadwick Boseman, who went from colon cancer to 43 years.

“This, associated with colorectal cancer, increasing in young people, has led to more discussions on colorectal cancers and the signs that people should look for,” said Issaka. “I suspect that the combination of these factors has made that millennials and genzers pay particular attention to their stools that the generations that preceding them.”

Shit anomalies were also more common in people already diagnosed with irritable colon syndrome (IBS), a chronic gastrointestinal disorder. This group was particularly likely to see non -digested foods (40%), an unusual form (38%) and blood in their stool (22%).

“IBS presents a range of symptoms,” said Jennifer Christie, MD, Fasge, Agaf, Director of the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Health. Seeing unusual forms or non -digested foods in the stool can be typical for those who have the SCI, but the blood is not associated with the condition, noted Christie.

Not all changes in intestinal habits are a sign of something sinister, but some symptoms are more threatening than others, and persistent anomalies are worth paying attention.

According to Issaka, two gastrointestinal symptoms are the most worrying: Blood in stool or on hygienic paper and changes in the poop caliber (thickness), especially the thin stool in pencil. These symptoms could indicate Colorectal cancer.

Blood could also be a sign of hemorrhoids or an anal crack, which is a painful tear of the anal tissue, said Christie. Coca of unusual form can also point out other digestive problems – most often constipation (hard and separate lumps) and diarrhea (loose or aqueous stools).

A small amount of mucus in the stool is generally nothing to fear. Since mucus lines the gastrointestinal tract, it can sometimes appear in normal stools. However, large quantities of mucus with diarrhea can indicate intestinal infection, and mucus accompanied by blood could be a sign of inflammatory (MII) or colorectal cancer disease.

Identifying non -digested foods in the toilet can simply mean that you eat too quickly. “Something you have eaten that is difficult to digest (such as corn, peppers and certain legumes) can also cause these changes,” said Christie. In some cases, however, it could point out a problem with absorption or indicate spill syndrome, a condition associated with surgery on the digestive tract.

As for color, there is a range of what is normal. Shades of brown and green are widely considered regular, and even red or blue shit can simply be the result of eating food with artificial dyes or naturally lively colors, such as beets.

However, the stools of light or clay color can mean that something is wrong with your bile system, the drainage system of the gallbladder, the liver and the pancreas. Black stools are most often a sign of bleeding in your intestinal tract.

Some of these irregularities, such as unarmed food and unusual colors, are generally harmless. But Issaka said if All these symptoms persist or overlap other concerns, As involuntary weight loss or unexplained abdominal pain, it is time to Consult a health professional.

Experts also stressed that Blood in the stool always justifies a visit to the doctor.

Do not hesitate to speak – 21% of Health Respondents to the survey avoided the search for care for a digestive problem, mainly due to the thought that this was not sufficiently large (9%) and embarrassment (8%).

“These frank conversations are necessary to raise awareness among normal intestinal diagrams and when medical assistance is necessary,” said Issaka.

_{Health.com interviewed 2,001 adults living in the United States from June 11 to 19, 2025. The survey was presented online via a self-administered questionnaire to a panel of respondents to a market seller. In order to qualify, respondents must be over 18 years old and live in American quotas have been implemented in sampling using benchmarks of the American Community Survey (ACS) of the US Census Bureau for age, race / ethnicity and household income.}