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What Causes Black Stool?

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Posted on Mon, 21 Sep 2015
Question: Thank you. I've had a black stool now for about 8 days. It's not getting any better. Should I be concerned?
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Answered by Dr. Amit Jain (50 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Please see the detailed aanswer

Detailed Answer:
Hello! Thanks for putting your query in HCM. I am a Gastroenterologist (DM).

Black stool has got many causes like diet, medications and bleed from gastrointestinal tract. Most common among these is diet containing banana, apple, carrot or any diet rich in iron. Among medications like iron supplements, bismuth and aspirin. And the last is bleed from gastrointestinal tract which has its own symptoms like hypotension, pale skin, feeling of generalised weakness, easy fatiguability etc, which can be checked simply by cheching your hemoglobin levels, stool examination for blood. However if there is no such symptoms and the stool colour is improving on itself, it appears that it may be due to diet you were taking.


I hope I have answered your query and this will help you. If you have any further query I will be happy to answer that too. Remain in touch and get-well soon.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj
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Answered by
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Dr. Amit Jain

Gastroenterologist

Practicing since :2000

Answered : 1524 Questions

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What Causes Black Stool?

Brief Answer: Please see the detailed aanswer Detailed Answer: Hello! Thanks for putting your query in HCM. I am a Gastroenterologist (DM). Black stool has got many causes like diet, medications and bleed from gastrointestinal tract. Most common among these is diet containing banana, apple, carrot or any diet rich in iron. Among medications like iron supplements, bismuth and aspirin. And the last is bleed from gastrointestinal tract which has its own symptoms like hypotension, pale skin, feeling of generalised weakness, easy fatiguability etc, which can be checked simply by cheching your hemoglobin levels, stool examination for blood. However if there is no such symptoms and the stool colour is improving on itself, it appears that it may be due to diet you were taking. I hope I have answered your query and this will help you. If you have any further query I will be happy to answer that too. Remain in touch and get-well soon.