No. 1: It is painful, really painful
During defecation, you should not feel pain, but sometimes it appears. As usual, painful bowel movements can occur due to excessive gas accumulation or constipation. However, if it really hurts a lot and it happens constantly, you need to see a doctor. According to WebMD, painful bowel movements are often a sign of an anal fissure or a tear in the anal opening. In rarer cases, the pain can be a symptom of various dangerous diseases, such as diverticulitis or colon cancer.

No. 2: Bleeding
Blood in the toilet is always a sign of problems, the color can vary, but you should never ignore it. If it is a stain or two drops, then it is probably a hemorrhoid. However, if there are traces of blood in the toilet or on the paper, or if the excrement is reddish-purple or black, it could be a sign of rectal bleeding. If you have such signs, urgently see a doctor.

No. 3: Yellow tint or very unpleasant smell
Excrement always has a specific smell, but if you notice a particularly unpleasant smell or yellow tint, then you have problems. According to Healthline, such a tint and smell usually indicate that the body is inefficiently processing nutrients. Sometimes this symptom is associated with chronic diseases, such as celiac disease. In other cases, it indicates inflammation of the pancreas.

No. 4: You have constipation
Constipation is another common indicator that something is wrong. Representatives of the Mayo Clinic describe constipation as ”infrequent defecation or difficult bowel movements that persist for several weeks or longer”. Constipation usually indicates that you need to add more fiber to your diet, but persistent chronic constipation can be a sign of bigger problems. Sometimes it is a sign of colon obstruction, which needs to be cleared immediately. In other cases, it can be a warning of problems with nerves and muscles.

No. 5: You are constantly running to the toilet.
A healthy intestinal tract does not send constant signals that you need to get to the toilet immediately. Unfortunately, during diarrhea, that is exactly what happens. If you constantly need to be in the toilet and have soft and liquid bowel movements, it indicates health problems. In most cases, diarrhea is related to something insignificant, such as temporary poor stomach function. However, if diarrhea lasts longer than 24 hours, the body can become dehydrated, which often indicates a more serious problem, such as ulcerative colitis.

No. 6: Narrow excrement in shape
Do you notice long and narrow excrement that is shaped like a pencil? Your intestinal tract is shaped like a pipe, so it means that something is blocking part of the intestinal tract. If you notice such a shape, then you need to consume more fiber in your diet, as well as get checked - maybe it is an early sign of constipation. If that does not help and the problems do not go away, see a doctor. It can also indicate a tumor or something else that may be causing intestinal tract obstruction.

No. 7: Excrement ”floats”
Healthy excrement usually sinks to the bottom of the bowl, while unhealthy excrement floats on the water surface. If excrement floats, it means there is a lot of fat in it. Fat is lighter than water, so it helps the excrement float above the water. This is an indicator that your diet has a lot of fats. It can show that the body is improperly processing fats and can be an early sign of pancreatic disease.

No. 8: Very pale color
Any discharge from the intestinal tract that has an overly pale or overly dark tone indicates health problems. Unusually pale-colored excrement forms when the body does not properly process bile. The liver synthesizes bile, which gives excrement a brown color, and the gallbladder delivers bile to the digestive system. If the excrement is pale, it can mean that the liver is not functioning well enough, or there is a blocked bile duct.

Even if the excrement looks healthy, it is worth looking into the bowl to immediately notice changes, of course, if there are any.