What Your Poop Says About Your Health | Mayo Clinic

Описание: Welcome to Health Matters, a podcast from Mayo Clinic. In this episode, host Kristen Meinzer talks about something everyone does — but few people discuss: poop.

Dr. Xiao Jing Iris Wang, a Mayo Clinic gastroenterologist in Rochester, Minnesota, explains what “normal” stool can look like and when changes may signal a problem. You’ll learn how to assess poop color, shape, and consistency, what the Bristol Stool Form Scale means, and why regularity matters more than going every day.

We also cover practical, evidence-based tips for constipation relief and diarrhea treatment, including when home remedies may help and when it’s time to talk to a clinician.

In this episode
• What poop is and why you can still have bowel movements even if you’re not eating much
• Poop color warnings: bright red blood, black tarry stool, and pale/gray stool
• What “healthy” stool consistency looks like — and why straining isn’t normal
• Constipation basics: hydration, fiber, and fruits like kiwi and prunes
• Over-the-counter options: stool softeners, osmotic laxatives, and stimulant laxatives
• Diarrhea: common causes, hydration risks, and when to seek care
• Proper pooping posture: footstool positioning, breathing, and avoiding long toilet sits
• The pelvic floor’s role in bowel movements and why it matters

When to seek medical care
Talk to a health care professional if you notice blood, persistent symptoms, major changes from your usual pattern, severe bloating, trouble eating, or signs of dehydration.

More episodes and resources: https://mcpress.mayoclinic.org/podcas...
Leave a voicemail with a question or topic idea: (507) 538-6272
Learn more about Dr. Wang’s book, “Boo Can’t Poo,” in the show notes.

Subscribe for more Mayo Clinic health guidance, and if this episode helped, please rate and review to help others find the show.

00:00 Health Matters intro + episode setup
00:24 Why we don’t talk about poop
00:01:28 What poop actually is
00:02:33 How to tell if it’s healthy
00:02:40 Poop color: what’s concerning
00:03:44 Shape, consistency, and straining
00:06:27 Does poop smell mean anything?
00:07:07 How often should you poop?
00:08:22 Timing, coffee, and bathroom routines
00:10:53 Transition: constipation and diarrhea
00:11:16 Constipation: definition and stool types
00:11:45 Common causes: water, stress, travel
00:14:09 Pelvic floor dysfunction explained
00:15:10 First fixes: hydration + fiber fruits
00:16:13 OTC options: stool softeners and laxatives
00:20:08 When to use meds preventatively
00:22:24 Suppositories vs enemas (when helpful)
00:25:22 When to see a doctor
00:26:16 Diarrhea: home remedies and fiber
00:28:07 When diarrhea is more serious
00:30:02 Infections, food poisoning, and antibiotics caution
00:33:42 The right way to poop (no straining)
00:36:54 Footstools, posture, and pelvic relaxation
00:38:41 Don’t sit too long—listen to urges
00:39:40 Mind-body tools: hypnotherapy, VR, mindfulness
00:43:10 Boo Can’t Poo + normalizing the topic
00:45:02 Ideal poop session recap
00:46:04 Outro + voicemail and resources

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