Your digestive system can provide important clues about your overall health. Below are some concerns you may have and pointers on what steps you should take.
A change in bowel habit, whether towards constipation or looser stools, should ALWAYS be reviewed by a GP. This is especially important if you're over 40 and haven’t made any significant dietary changes that could explain the shift. Conditions such as thyroid issues or more serious problems like cancer can affect bowel movements. We always recommend seeing a doctor if you experience a change in bowel habit.
Floating stools can indicate malabsorption or bowel inflammation. It could also be a side effect of medication. We recommend consulting a doctor, especially if you have not been diagnosed with a bowel condition.
If you are not taking iron supplements, black stools could be a sign of a bleeding ulcer, which requires immediate medical attention. Do not ignore this symptom.
See a doctor! Although there are many blood vessels around the anus, bleeding when passing stool is something that needs to be checked. We understand this can feel embarrassing, but doctors are used to examining all areas of the body. Please don’t ignore this symptom—let us help you figure out what's going on.
Loose stools or abdominal pain may sometimes be attributed to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), but this diagnosis should only be made after ruling out more serious conditions, such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. A GP can arrange simple tests to help find the cause and solution to your symptoms.
Food intolerances, recent infections, or stress (for example, stress related to using school toilets) can affect your child’s bowel habits. GPs are experienced in helping families manage these situations, which can be very stressful to deal with alone.
My mother had bowel cancer but I’m too young for the NHS screening
Private screening is available. The earlier cancer is detected, the higher the chances of successful treatment.
We recommend an initial consultation to assess your symptoms and guide your testing options. We offer home tests that can be done privately, and they are highly accurate in detecting bowel cancer, bowel disease, and inflammation. In some cases, a blood test may also be needed, or a referral to a specialist might be required, which we can arrange. Your GP will guide you towards the best course of action based on your symptoms.
