2007-03-09 03:03:57 · 7 answers · asked by larry w 1 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Infectious Diseases
As blood digests , it turns black in color. it usually indicates a bleed higher up in the digestive system. This should be checked out ASAP. A high iron diet can also turn stool black.
2007-03-09 04:22:50 · answer #1 · answered by lynne f 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bloody stools often indicate an injury or disorder in the digestive tract. Your doctor may use the term "melena" to describe black, tarry, and foul-smelling stools or "hematochezia" to describe red- or maroon-colored stools.(MedlinePlus)
Melena is black, tarry stool and typically indicates upper GI bleeding, but bleeding from a source in the small bowel or right colon may also be the cause. About 100 to 200 mL of blood in the upper GI tract is required to produce melena, which may persist for several days after bleeding has ceased. Black stool that does not contain occult blood may result from ingestion of iron, bismuth, or various foods and should not be mistaken for melena.(Merck)
Please see the web pages for more details on Bloody or tarry stools.
2007-03-09 03:19:19 · answer #2 · answered by gangadharan nair 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends do you have other symptoms.
Or it can depend on what you have recently eaten.
Believe it or not some foods that have dyes in them can make your fecal matter appear to be dis-colered.
I remember once a kid I ate a blue gumball and I thought I was dying cause imagine the color that came out the back door. I find it quite comical now...
Usually foods with blue, red or purple dyes can cause darker stool.
However, if you are feeling ill to your stomach, experiancing cramps. You may want to consider seeing your doctor, it could be related to anything from a bleeding ulcer to chrons diesease etc...
2007-03-09 03:16:59 · answer #3 · answered by pattiof 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If humans have black stools, they need to see their doctor right away.
2007-03-09 03:08:06 · answer #4 · answered by Shortstuff13 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Usually the sign of internal bleeding
2007-03-09 03:08:27 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
i f you take iron pills or eat lots of food with iron may cause it.May be internal bleeding or could be a side efect from a certain med like im on methotrexate and it was a serious side effect so contact your doc gl
2007-03-09 08:43:55 · answer #6 · answered by sean l 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means you have blood in your feces (poop). It could indicate a bleed somewhere in your digestive system.
2007-03-09 03:08:49 · answer #7 · answered by jfb 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋