What causes black stool?
Oct 14, 2022
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhao Haiming
Introduction
Black stool may be caused by factors such as improper diet, medication effects, gastrointestinal bleeding, gastric ulcers, or duodenal ulcers. It is recommended to seek medical attention at a hospital to determine the specific underlying cause of the symptom. It is also advisable to maintain a healthy lifestyle, ensure adequate sleep, improve dietary habits, adjust your overall physical condition, and promote general health.
Black stool may be caused by factors such as improper diet, medication effects, gastrointestinal bleeding, gastric ulcers, or duodenal ulcers. It is recommended to seek medical attention at a hospital to determine the specific underlying cause of the symptom. Detailed analysis is as follows:
1. Improper diet: Consuming dark-colored foods such as dark chocolate, spinach, or animal blood products can lead to darker or black stool due to pigments in these foods. Typically, no other discomfort symptoms occur, and stool color returns to normal after dietary adjustments.
2. Medication effects: Taking iron supplements, bismuth-containing medications, or similar drugs may result in chemical reactions between drug components and substances in the intestines, forming black compounds that darken the stool. This usually causes no significant discomfort and resolves after stopping or adjusting the medication.
3. Gastrointestinal bleeding: Injuries to the digestive tract from improper eating may cause bleeding. Hemoglobin in the blood is oxidized into ferrous sulfide during digestion, turning the stool black. This may be accompanied by symptoms such as vomiting blood or abdominal pain. Prompt medical treatment is required for hemostasis, and medications such as omeprazole enteric-coated capsules, Bothrops atrox venom thrombin for injection, or terlipressin for injection should be used according to medical advice.
4. Gastric ulcer: Damage and bleeding of the gastric mucosa result in blood being digested as it passes through the gastrointestinal tract, causing black stool. Symptoms such as stomach pain and bloating may also occur. It is recommended to take medications such as lansoprazole tablets, pantoprazole enteric-coated tablets, or rabeprazole sodium enteric-coated tablets under a doctor's guidance.
5. Duodenal ulcer: Bleeding from the ulcer site can cause black stool, often accompanied by upper abdominal pain and increased pain when hungry. Treatment may include medications such as colloidal bismuth pectin capsules, potassium citrate bismuth tablets, or cimetidine injection.
It is recommended to maintain a healthy lifestyle with regular作息, ensure adequate sleep, improve dietary habits, adjust overall physical condition, and promote general health.
