{"id":84610,"date":"2023-11-27T19:18:42","date_gmt":"2023-11-27T19:18:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/happylifestyleinc.com\/?p=84610"},"modified":"2023-11-27T19:18:42","modified_gmt":"2023-11-27T19:18:42","slug":"the-truth-about-pebble-poos-and-how-theyre-a-sign-you-could-be-at-risk-of-swollen-veins-and-prolapse-the-sun","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/happylifestyleinc.com\/lifestyle\/the-truth-about-pebble-poos-and-how-theyre-a-sign-you-could-be-at-risk-of-swollen-veins-and-prolapse-the-sun\/","title":{"rendered":"The truth about \u2018pebble poos\u2019\u2013 and how they\u2019re a sign you could be at risk of swollen veins and prolapse | The Sun"},"content":{"rendered":"

POO that comes out looking like pebbles is something you want to avoid. <\/p>\n

The hard, pellet-like number twos can leave you with some serious complications, from piles to faecal impaction (which is as nasty as it sounds). <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

That's because this type of poo signals constipation.<\/p>\n

Aside from forcing you to waste hours plonked on the cold loo seat, constipation can make you feel bloated and sick.<\/p>\n

According to GP Dr Sarah Jarvis, the uncomfortable affliction can also bring on painful complications in the long term.<\/p>\n

She told Sun Health: "Your poo can definitely say a lot about your bowel\u00a0health.<\/p>\n

Read more on poos <\/h2>\n

<\/picture>SHAPE OF POO <\/span><\/p>\n

I'm a doctor – here's what the shape of your poo means & when to see an expert<\/h3>\n

<\/picture>HIDDEN SIGNS <\/span><\/p>\n

What the texture of your poo reveals about your health – and the danger signs<\/h3>\n

"Constipation is linked to all sorts of other medical problems, such as piles, diverticular disease and even an increased risk of bowel cancer if this is a long-term issue."<\/p>\n

Piles, or haemorrhoids, are swollen veins which cause lumps inside or around the bottom, and can be itchy and bleed.<\/p>\n

They can also cause slimy mucus to travel from inside your bottom. <\/p>\n

Constipation, and indeed piles, usually gets better on its own, but keeping hydrated, eating lots of fibre, and exercising can also help the moving process, the NHS says. <\/p>\n

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It can also be managed with laxatives, which can help get things going. <\/p>\n

In rare cases, being bunged up can lead to serious compilations, such as rectal prolapse, which can require anal surgery to repair.<\/p>\n

This happens when part of the large intestine's lowest section, the rectum, slips\u00a0out of the bum.<\/p>\n

Constipation can also increase the risk of faecal impaction, which is when hard poop gets stuck in your rectum and you can't push it out. <\/p>\n

This problem is very rare but very severe and can result in death if not treated. <\/p>\n

Scientists have linked the chronic condition and long-term constipation generally to\u00a0bowel cancer.<\/p>\n

A Danish study\u00a0found the risk of the disease was 1.78 times higher in people suffering from\u00a0constipation\u00a0than those without.<\/p>\n

But the evidence around this link is quite mixed, and it only suggests an association, not causation.<\/p>\n

How to treat constipation <\/h2>\n

You can usually treat the painful disorder with simple changes to your diet and lifestyle.<\/p>\n

The NHS recommends eating more fibre to get it all moving. <\/p>\n

Government guidelines suggest that the average adult should eat around 30g of fibre daily as part of a healthy, balanced diet.<\/p>\n

However, most people are only managing to eat an average of about 18g day.<\/p>\n

The NHS says you can get fibre from vegetables, wholegrain pasta and bread.<\/p>\n

Not exercising enough could also be stopping you from being more regular. <\/p>\n

Stress, anxiety and\u00a0depression\u00a0could also be playing a part in making your poops harder and lumpier. <\/p>\n

If you think you're suffering from ill mental health, it could be worth speaking to your\u00a0GP to see how they can help.<\/p>\n

Other types of poos <\/h2>\n

According to the Bristol Stool Scale, your number two will fit into one of several categories.<\/p>\n

The helpful guide compares poo to different objects – from modern art and insects to (rather disgustingly) food.<\/p>\n

Sausage-like poos that are soft and easy to pass are what Healthline calls "the gold standard of poop". <\/p>\n

This is because it indicates that all is going smoothly with your digestion and that you're eating the right amount of fibre.<\/p>\n

Snake-shaped poops that are softer than sausage-shaped ones and easier to pass are also considered normal.<\/p>\n

According to\u00a0Healthline, you should ideally get number twos like these every one to three days.<\/p>\n

Caterpillar-like poos that are a bit like pellet poos but longer and also suggest your body needs some fibre. <\/p>\n

Amboeas on the other hand are small and easy to pass.<\/p>\n

These poos are different to diarrhoea, which you can't really control.<\/p>\n

And the website even compares poos caused by Crohn\u2019s disease to paintings by Jackson Pollock, which tend to be coloured with white or yellow streaks.<\/p>\n

According to the NHS, most cases of diarrhoea should clear up without treatment, especially if it more closely resembles the soft serve on the chart, which suggests you're suffering from a mild case of the runs. <\/p>\n

Crohn's disease is a bowel condition that can cause inflammation anywhere in the digestive tract, the NHS says, with diarrhoea a key symptom.<\/p>\n

Over 500,000 people\u00a0in the UK have inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the two main forms of which are Crohn's and ulcerative colitis.<\/p>\n

It's a good idea to stay hydrated and to choose foods that are easy to digest.<\/p>\n

Healthline\u00a0recommends you speak to a doctor if you notice irregular bowel habits for more than a couple days.<\/p>\n

But it's especially important to speak to an expert if you notice any blood in your poop.<\/p>\n

It's not always as obvious as you'd think.<\/p>\n

Blood can make your poo red – as can eating red-tinged foods like beetroot – but bleeding can also make your number twos black.<\/p>\n

Blood in your poop could be a warning sign of\u00a0bowel cancer.<\/p>\n

Other symptoms can include:<\/p>\n