Chaptini L, Peikin S. Gastrointestinal bleeding. In: Parrillo JE, Dellinger RP, eds. Critical Care Medicine: Principles of Diagnosis and Management in the Adult. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 72.
Kovacs TO, Jensen DM. Gastrointestinal hemorrhage. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 126.
Meguerdichian DA, Goralnick E. Gastrointestinal bleeding. In: Walls RM, Hockberger RS, Gausche-Hill M, eds. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 27.
Savides TJ, Jensen DM. Gastrointestinal bleeding. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 20.
Page 2
McQuaid KR. Approach to the patient with gastrointestinal disease. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 123.
Landmann A, Bonds M, Postier R. Acute abdomen. In: Townsend CM Jr, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, eds. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 21st ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2022:chap 46.
Smith KA. Abdominal pain. In: Walls RM, Hockberger RS, Gausche-Hill M, eds. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 24.
Weber F. Gastrointestinal and hepatic manifestations of systemic diseases. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 37.
Page 3
Mayer EA. Functional gastrointestinal disorders: irritable bowel syndrome, dyspepsia, chest pain of presumed esophageal origin, and heartburn. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 128.
Tack J. Dyspepsia.In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 14.
Page 4
Updated by: Michael M. Phillips, MD, Clinical Professor of Medicine, The George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Looking down into the toilet bowl and seeing poop that looks a bit different than usual can be a little stressful — but it isn’t always cause for alarm.
If you’ve noticed your stools are looking black and tarry, it could be connected to a more serious issue like bleeding in your gastrointestinal tract. But it could also be due to certain things you’ve been eating.
Read on for some of the reasons your poop might be taking on a darker hue, and when to talk with a doctor.
Sometimes, the simplest reason is the actual reason: If you’ve noticed your poop has gone from its usual brown to a blacker color, it could be due to the sorts of foods you’ve been eating. This is especially true if you haven’t noticed any additional gastrointestinal symptoms.
Some foods that can turn your poop black:
- black licorice
- blueberries
- dark chocolate cookies
Iron supplements
Many people take iron supplements for anemia, a condition in which an individual’s blood has a lower-than-normal amount of red blood cells, causing feelings of tiredness and weakness. These supplements can have a few side effects, including
- nausea
- constipation
- black stools
If you take iron supplements and are having issues with side effects, talk with your doctor. There are a few different types of iron supplements, and some may be easier on your stomach than others.
Medicines containing bismuth
Medicines containing bismuth subsalicylate — like Pepto-Bismol — can turn your stools black. Ingesting too much bismuth subsalicylate over a prolonged period of time can also turn your tongue and teeth black.
Ulcers
Ulcers are open sores on the lining of the digestive tract. While they’re not always painful, they can cause:
- a burning sensation in the stomach
- indigestion
- heartburn
- a general feeling of being unwell
When ulcers start to bleed, they can create more severe symptoms, including black, “sticky,” tarry stools (which are darker in color due to blood mixing with digestive fluids). Because this is a more severe symptom, you should talk with your doctor ASAP if these dark stools are accompanied by any of the manifestations above.
Upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding
In addition to ulcers, there are a few other conditions that can cause bleeding in the upper GI tract, which in turn can lead to black, tarry stools. Black stools caused by these kinds of upper GI issues are sometimes referred to as melena. A few of these conditions include:
- gastritis
- esophagitis
- Mallory-Weiss syndrome
- esophageal or stomach cancer
Many of these conditions are serious and include a host of other gastrointestinal symptoms. If your stools have been black and tarry for a few days, and are accompanied by stomach aches and vomiting, you should seek medical help immediately.
Esophageal varices
The esophagus is a tube that carries foods and liquids to the stomach. When veins inside the esophagus become swollen — a condition usually connected to cirrhosis or other advanced liver diseases — they can occasionally rupture and cause both red, bloody stools, or black, tarry stools.
It’s important to call your doctor immediately if you are already aware that you are living with liver disease, and start to experience black stools along with:
- muscle cramps
- stomach discomfort
- rapid weight loss
- jaundice
If your symptoms are not severe enough to warrant a hospital visit, your doctor will likely ask about your medical history and perform a physical examination to try to determine the cause of your unusual stool color. They’ll probably order blood tests and a stool sample, and may also suggest imaging (like X-rays) to see the inside of your digestive tract.
Your doctor may also schedule a gastroscopy or colonoscopy to assess the condition of your gut.
A colonoscopy is often performed while you’re under sedation. Your doctor will insert a thin, flexible tube through your anus into the rectum with a camera on the end to see the inside of your colon and look for the cause of your symptoms.
A gastroscopy is similar in nature to a colonoscopy but focuses on the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. The thin tube is inserted through your throat, rather than the anus.
Treating black stools varies according to what is causing the condition.
If you notice that you’ve been eating a lot of blueberries, blackberries, and other dark foods, limit your intake for a few days and see if it makes a difference.
The same goes for iron supplements and medicines containing bismuth subsalicylate: If you think your black stools may be connected to taking either of these, talk with your doctor about safe alternatives.
Ulcers can have different causes, but milder forms are commonly treated by:
- proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), which reduce the amount of acid in your stomach so the ulcers can heal
- H2 receptor antagonists, which also reduce the amount of acid in the stomach
- over-the-counter antacids
- reduced use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
Surgery is also an option for more severe cases of bleeding ulcers.
If your black stools are due to a condition that is causing upper GI bleeding, your treatment will vary depending on the severity of the condition.
Don’t wait to talk with your doctor if your black, tarry stools are accompanied by gastrointestinal discomfort or other intense symptoms — make an appointment right away or head to the nearest ER.
Black stools can be caused by a variety of issues, from eating too much black licorice to bleeding in your gastrointestinal tract. The key to identifying how serious your condition is are the other symptoms that are present.
If you are experiencing nausea, stomach upset, dizziness, or abdominal pain along with black stools, contact your doctor quickly.
Black stool occurs for a number of reasons. In some cases, it may be a side effect of a medication or a result of the food you have consumed. However, it may also suggest that there is a bleed in your upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This can be serious and should not be ignored. If your stool is black, this may be due to bleeding in the intestinal tract. Dark stool that contains blood from the upper GI tract is sometimes called melena. This can indicate a serious medical condition.
Black feces can occur due to damage to the esophagus, stomach, or small intestine. It is important to always pay attention to stool that appears black and tarry, particularly if it persists.
Read on to learn more about the possible causes of black stool and when to contact a doctor.
One of the main causes of black stool is a bleed in the upper GI tract, which includes the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. Upper GI tract bleeds affect around 80–150 out of 100,000 people each year.
Upper GI bleeds can occur as a result of:
A bleed from a tumor in the upper GI tract can signify cancer, including:
Other cancers, such as breast cancer and lung cancer, can spread to the stomach, which can also lead to bleeding in the upper GI tract.
Peptic ulcer disease is the most prevalent cause of upper GI bleeds, accounting for up to 40–50% of cases.
Although you should never ignore black or tarry feces, it does not always indicate cancer. Other causes of black stool include medication side effects and some foods.
Certain foods can cause your stool to have a dark or black appearance. These include:
- blueberries
- dark leafy vegetables
- black licorice
- Oreo cookies
- grape juice
It is also possible for Pepto-Bismol to cause your stool to appear black. This happens when the active ingredient, bismuth, comes into contact with sulfur in your saliva and digestive system.
Some medications can also result in black stool. One example is aspirin, which can contribute to bleeding in the upper GI tract. Taking aspirin combined with P2Y12 antiplatelet drugs makes this more likely.
Anticoagulants (blood thinners), such as warfarin, can also contribute to the likelihood of having black feces.
Ferrous fumarate and other medications for iron deficiencies may also result in black stool. Contact your doctor if you notice that your stool becomes black and sticky when taking iron.
Learn more about bloody stool here.
The type of treatment required will depend on the cause of the black stool. This can include making changes to your diet, taking over-the-counter medications, and seeking medical intervention.
If black stool occurs due to consuming black or dark foods, reducing your intake of those foods can help prevent this. However, black feces that occurs as a result of eating dark foods is not usually a cause for concern.
Iron supplements can also cause black stool. It is important to contact your doctor before changing or stopping any supplements you are taking, particularly if you take iron for an iron deficiency.
You may require medical treatment to treat the root cause of black stool. This will depend on the condition but may involve:
- a blood transfusion, if a bleed in the upper GI tract results in the excessive loss of red blood cells
- proton pump inhibitors to reduce the production of acid
- injection therapy, wherein a doctor will inject a medication directly into the source of the bleeding
- thermal techniques, which involve applying heat probes to cauterize the area that is bleeding
- angiographic embolization, during which coils are placed onto a catheter to stop blood flow to the injured site
- surgery to apply stitches to lacerations
If your black stool is a symptom of a cancer of the upper GI tract, your surgeon may be able to surgically remove the tumor and affected areas.
If the cancer has not spread, your doctor may recommend radiation therapy.
If it is not possible to operate on the cancer, or if it has spread to other parts of your body, your doctor may recommend radiation therapy or chemotherapy.
You may experience symptoms alongside black and tarry stool that can help a doctor identify the underlying cause.
If you have a bleed in the esophagus, you may experience:
- difficulty swallowing
- vomiting blood, or hematemesis
- indigestion
Contact your doctor if you notice that your stool is black or tarry. They can arrange for tests to identify the underlying cause.
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following symptoms alongside black and bloody stool:
To help diagnose the cause of your black stool, your doctor will ask for information about when you first noticed it and how frequently it occurs.
They may also arrange for tests to take a closer look at your upper GI tract. These tests can include:
- Upper endoscopy: The doctor will use a thin device with a camera at the end to look inside the upper digestive tract. Learn more here.
- Stool culture: In some cases, your doctor may take a sample of your black stool to send to the laboratory for analysis.
- Blood tests: Blood tests can help identify any possible medical causes of black stool.
If your doctor feels that your black stool may be due to cancer, they will arrange for tests to diagnose this. Tests for this purpose can include:
- an MRI scan
- a PET scan
- a CT scan
- an endoscopic ultrasound
- endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
- magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography
Although there is no “correct” stool color, a healthy bowel movement is typically brown. This brown color is due to the presence of bile and bilirubin, which occur when dead red blood cells naturally break down in the intestine.
If your stool is any color other than brown, it may be due to something you have consumed or a result of a medical condition. The table below provides more information about stool colors and what they might mean.
Contact your doctor if you notice blood in your stool or changes in your stool or bowel habits that persist.
Black stool may occur as a result of a bleed in the upper GI tract. This may be due to damage to the esophagus, stomach, or upper intestine. An upper GI bleed may indicate cancer, but this is not always the case.
To diagnose the cause of your black feces, a doctor will carry out a procedure called upper endoscopy. They may also arrange for blood tests and an analysis of stool culture, as well as tests to detect the presence of cancer.
Treatment will depend on the cause of the black stool, but it can include getting a blood transfusion, stitching the site of the bleed, or undergoing surgery to remove a tumor.
Contact your doctor if you have persistent black stool, blood in your stool, or any other changes in your stool or bowel habits.
Page 2
Black stool occurs for a number of reasons. In some cases, it may be a side effect of a medication or a result of the food you have consumed. However, it may also suggest that there is a bleed in your upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This can be serious and should not be ignored. If your stool is black, this may be due to bleeding in the intestinal tract. Dark stool that contains blood from the upper GI tract is sometimes called melena. This can indicate a serious medical condition.
Black feces can occur due to damage to the esophagus, stomach, or small intestine. It is important to always pay attention to stool that appears black and tarry, particularly if it persists.
Read on to learn more about the possible causes of black stool and when to contact a doctor.
One of the main causes of black stool is a bleed in the upper GI tract, which includes the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. Upper GI tract bleeds affect around 80–150 out of 100,000 people each year.
Upper GI bleeds can occur as a result of:
A bleed from a tumor in the upper GI tract can signify cancer, including:
Other cancers, such as breast cancer and lung cancer, can spread to the stomach, which can also lead to bleeding in the upper GI tract.
Peptic ulcer disease is the most prevalent cause of upper GI bleeds, accounting for up to 40–50% of cases.
Although you should never ignore black or tarry feces, it does not always indicate cancer. Other causes of black stool include medication side effects and some foods.
Certain foods can cause your stool to have a dark or black appearance. These include:
- blueberries
- dark leafy vegetables
- black licorice
- Oreo cookies
- grape juice
It is also possible for Pepto-Bismol to cause your stool to appear black. This happens when the active ingredient, bismuth, comes into contact with sulfur in your saliva and digestive system.
Some medications can also result in black stool. One example is aspirin, which can contribute to bleeding in the upper GI tract. Taking aspirin combined with P2Y12 antiplatelet drugs makes this more likely.
Anticoagulants (blood thinners), such as warfarin, can also contribute to the likelihood of having black feces.
Ferrous fumarate and other medications for iron deficiencies may also result in black stool. Contact your doctor if you notice that your stool becomes black and sticky when taking iron.
Learn more about bloody stool here.
The type of treatment required will depend on the cause of the black stool. This can include making changes to your diet, taking over-the-counter medications, and seeking medical intervention.
If black stool occurs due to consuming black or dark foods, reducing your intake of those foods can help prevent this. However, black feces that occurs as a result of eating dark foods is not usually a cause for concern.
Iron supplements can also cause black stool. It is important to contact your doctor before changing or stopping any supplements you are taking, particularly if you take iron for an iron deficiency.
You may require medical treatment to treat the root cause of black stool. This will depend on the condition but may involve:
- a blood transfusion, if a bleed in the upper GI tract results in the excessive loss of red blood cells
- proton pump inhibitors to reduce the production of acid
- injection therapy, wherein a doctor will inject a medication directly into the source of the bleeding
- thermal techniques, which involve applying heat probes to cauterize the area that is bleeding
- angiographic embolization, during which coils are placed onto a catheter to stop blood flow to the injured site
- surgery to apply stitches to lacerations
If your black stool is a symptom of a cancer of the upper GI tract, your surgeon may be able to surgically remove the tumor and affected areas.
If the cancer has not spread, your doctor may recommend radiation therapy.
If it is not possible to operate on the cancer, or if it has spread to other parts of your body, your doctor may recommend radiation therapy or chemotherapy.
You may experience symptoms alongside black and tarry stool that can help a doctor identify the underlying cause.
If you have a bleed in the esophagus, you may experience:
- difficulty swallowing
- vomiting blood, or hematemesis
- indigestion
Contact your doctor if you notice that your stool is black or tarry. They can arrange for tests to identify the underlying cause.
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following symptoms alongside black and bloody stool:
To help diagnose the cause of your black stool, your doctor will ask for information about when you first noticed it and how frequently it occurs.
They may also arrange for tests to take a closer look at your upper GI tract. These tests can include:
- Upper endoscopy: The doctor will use a thin device with a camera at the end to look inside the upper digestive tract. Learn more here.
- Stool culture: In some cases, your doctor may take a sample of your black stool to send to the laboratory for analysis.
- Blood tests: Blood tests can help identify any possible medical causes of black stool.
If your doctor feels that your black stool may be due to cancer, they will arrange for tests to diagnose this. Tests for this purpose can include:
- an MRI scan
- a PET scan
- a CT scan
- an endoscopic ultrasound
- endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
- magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography
Although there is no “correct” stool color, a healthy bowel movement is typically brown. This brown color is due to the presence of bile and bilirubin, which occur when dead red blood cells naturally break down in the intestine.
If your stool is any color other than brown, it may be due to something you have consumed or a result of a medical condition. The table below provides more information about stool colors and what they might mean.
Contact your doctor if you notice blood in your stool or changes in your stool or bowel habits that persist.
Black stool may occur as a result of a bleed in the upper GI tract. This may be due to damage to the esophagus, stomach, or upper intestine. An upper GI bleed may indicate cancer, but this is not always the case.
To diagnose the cause of your black feces, a doctor will carry out a procedure called upper endoscopy. They may also arrange for blood tests and an analysis of stool culture, as well as tests to detect the presence of cancer.
Treatment will depend on the cause of the black stool, but it can include getting a blood transfusion, stitching the site of the bleed, or undergoing surgery to remove a tumor.
Contact your doctor if you have persistent black stool, blood in your stool, or any other changes in your stool or bowel habits.
Page 3
Black stool occurs for a number of reasons. In some cases, it may be a side effect of a medication or a result of the food you have consumed. However, it may also suggest that there is a bleed in your upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This can be serious and should not be ignored. If your stool is black, this may be due to bleeding in the intestinal tract. Dark stool that contains blood from the upper GI tract is sometimes called melena. This can indicate a serious medical condition.
Black feces can occur due to damage to the esophagus, stomach, or small intestine. It is important to always pay attention to stool that appears black and tarry, particularly if it persists.
Read on to learn more about the possible causes of black stool and when to contact a doctor.
One of the main causes of black stool is a bleed in the upper GI tract, which includes the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. Upper GI tract bleeds affect around 80–150 out of 100,000 people each year.
Upper GI bleeds can occur as a result of:
A bleed from a tumor in the upper GI tract can signify cancer, including:
Other cancers, such as breast cancer and lung cancer, can spread to the stomach, which can also lead to bleeding in the upper GI tract.
Peptic ulcer disease is the most prevalent cause of upper GI bleeds, accounting for up to 40–50% of cases.
Although you should never ignore black or tarry feces, it does not always indicate cancer. Other causes of black stool include medication side effects and some foods.
Certain foods can cause your stool to have a dark or black appearance. These include:
- blueberries
- dark leafy vegetables
- black licorice
- Oreo cookies
- grape juice
It is also possible for Pepto-Bismol to cause your stool to appear black. This happens when the active ingredient, bismuth, comes into contact with sulfur in your saliva and digestive system.
Some medications can also result in black stool. One example is aspirin, which can contribute to bleeding in the upper GI tract. Taking aspirin combined with P2Y12 antiplatelet drugs makes this more likely.
Anticoagulants (blood thinners), such as warfarin, can also contribute to the likelihood of having black feces.
Ferrous fumarate and other medications for iron deficiencies may also result in black stool. Contact your doctor if you notice that your stool becomes black and sticky when taking iron.
Learn more about bloody stool here.
The type of treatment required will depend on the cause of the black stool. This can include making changes to your diet, taking over-the-counter medications, and seeking medical intervention.
If black stool occurs due to consuming black or dark foods, reducing your intake of those foods can help prevent this. However, black feces that occurs as a result of eating dark foods is not usually a cause for concern.
Iron supplements can also cause black stool. It is important to contact your doctor before changing or stopping any supplements you are taking, particularly if you take iron for an iron deficiency.
You may require medical treatment to treat the root cause of black stool. This will depend on the condition but may involve:
- a blood transfusion, if a bleed in the upper GI tract results in the excessive loss of red blood cells
- proton pump inhibitors to reduce the production of acid
- injection therapy, wherein a doctor will inject a medication directly into the source of the bleeding
- thermal techniques, which involve applying heat probes to cauterize the area that is bleeding
- angiographic embolization, during which coils are placed onto a catheter to stop blood flow to the injured site
- surgery to apply stitches to lacerations
If your black stool is a symptom of a cancer of the upper GI tract, your surgeon may be able to surgically remove the tumor and affected areas.
If the cancer has not spread, your doctor may recommend radiation therapy.
If it is not possible to operate on the cancer, or if it has spread to other parts of your body, your doctor may recommend radiation therapy or chemotherapy.
You may experience symptoms alongside black and tarry stool that can help a doctor identify the underlying cause.
If you have a bleed in the esophagus, you may experience:
- difficulty swallowing
- vomiting blood, or hematemesis
- indigestion
Contact your doctor if you notice that your stool is black or tarry. They can arrange for tests to identify the underlying cause.
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following symptoms alongside black and bloody stool:
To help diagnose the cause of your black stool, your doctor will ask for information about when you first noticed it and how frequently it occurs.
They may also arrange for tests to take a closer look at your upper GI tract. These tests can include:
- Upper endoscopy: The doctor will use a thin device with a camera at the end to look inside the upper digestive tract. Learn more here.
- Stool culture: In some cases, your doctor may take a sample of your black stool to send to the laboratory for analysis.
- Blood tests: Blood tests can help identify any possible medical causes of black stool.
If your doctor feels that your black stool may be due to cancer, they will arrange for tests to diagnose this. Tests for this purpose can include:
- an MRI scan
- a PET scan
- a CT scan
- an endoscopic ultrasound
- endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
- magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography
Although there is no “correct” stool color, a healthy bowel movement is typically brown. This brown color is due to the presence of bile and bilirubin, which occur when dead red blood cells naturally break down in the intestine.
If your stool is any color other than brown, it may be due to something you have consumed or a result of a medical condition. The table below provides more information about stool colors and what they might mean.
Contact your doctor if you notice blood in your stool or changes in your stool or bowel habits that persist.
Black stool may occur as a result of a bleed in the upper GI tract. This may be due to damage to the esophagus, stomach, or upper intestine. An upper GI bleed may indicate cancer, but this is not always the case.
To diagnose the cause of your black feces, a doctor will carry out a procedure called upper endoscopy. They may also arrange for blood tests and an analysis of stool culture, as well as tests to detect the presence of cancer.
Treatment will depend on the cause of the black stool, but it can include getting a blood transfusion, stitching the site of the bleed, or undergoing surgery to remove a tumor.
Contact your doctor if you have persistent black stool, blood in your stool, or any other changes in your stool or bowel habits.
Page 4
Black stool occurs for a number of reasons. In some cases, it may be a side effect of a medication or a result of the food you have consumed. However, it may also suggest that there is a bleed in your upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This can be serious and should not be ignored. If your stool is black, this may be due to bleeding in the intestinal tract. Dark stool that contains blood from the upper GI tract is sometimes called melena. This can indicate a serious medical condition.
Black feces can occur due to damage to the esophagus, stomach, or small intestine. It is important to always pay attention to stool that appears black and tarry, particularly if it persists.
Read on to learn more about the possible causes of black stool and when to contact a doctor.
One of the main causes of black stool is a bleed in the upper GI tract, which includes the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. Upper GI tract bleeds affect around 80–150 out of 100,000 people each year.
Upper GI bleeds can occur as a result of:
A bleed from a tumor in the upper GI tract can signify cancer, including:
Other cancers, such as breast cancer and lung cancer, can spread to the stomach, which can also lead to bleeding in the upper GI tract.
Peptic ulcer disease is the most prevalent cause of upper GI bleeds, accounting for up to 40–50% of cases.
Although you should never ignore black or tarry feces, it does not always indicate cancer. Other causes of black stool include medication side effects and some foods.
Certain foods can cause your stool to have a dark or black appearance. These include:
- blueberries
- dark leafy vegetables
- black licorice
- Oreo cookies
- grape juice
It is also possible for Pepto-Bismol to cause your stool to appear black. This happens when the active ingredient, bismuth, comes into contact with sulfur in your saliva and digestive system.
Some medications can also result in black stool. One example is aspirin, which can contribute to bleeding in the upper GI tract. Taking aspirin combined with P2Y12 antiplatelet drugs makes this more likely.
Anticoagulants (blood thinners), such as warfarin, can also contribute to the likelihood of having black feces.
Ferrous fumarate and other medications for iron deficiencies may also result in black stool. Contact your doctor if you notice that your stool becomes black and sticky when taking iron.
Learn more about bloody stool here.
The type of treatment required will depend on the cause of the black stool. This can include making changes to your diet, taking over-the-counter medications, and seeking medical intervention.
If black stool occurs due to consuming black or dark foods, reducing your intake of those foods can help prevent this. However, black feces that occurs as a result of eating dark foods is not usually a cause for concern.
Iron supplements can also cause black stool. It is important to contact your doctor before changing or stopping any supplements you are taking, particularly if you take iron for an iron deficiency.
You may require medical treatment to treat the root cause of black stool. This will depend on the condition but may involve:
- a blood transfusion, if a bleed in the upper GI tract results in the excessive loss of red blood cells
- proton pump inhibitors to reduce the production of acid
- injection therapy, wherein a doctor will inject a medication directly into the source of the bleeding
- thermal techniques, which involve applying heat probes to cauterize the area that is bleeding
- angiographic embolization, during which coils are placed onto a catheter to stop blood flow to the injured site
- surgery to apply stitches to lacerations
If your black stool is a symptom of a cancer of the upper GI tract, your surgeon may be able to surgically remove the tumor and affected areas.
If the cancer has not spread, your doctor may recommend radiation therapy.
If it is not possible to operate on the cancer, or if it has spread to other parts of your body, your doctor may recommend radiation therapy or chemotherapy.
You may experience symptoms alongside black and tarry stool that can help a doctor identify the underlying cause.
If you have a bleed in the esophagus, you may experience:
- difficulty swallowing
- vomiting blood, or hematemesis
- indigestion
Contact your doctor if you notice that your stool is black or tarry. They can arrange for tests to identify the underlying cause.
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following symptoms alongside black and bloody stool:
To help diagnose the cause of your black stool, your doctor will ask for information about when you first noticed it and how frequently it occurs.
They may also arrange for tests to take a closer look at your upper GI tract. These tests can include:
- Upper endoscopy: The doctor will use a thin device with a camera at the end to look inside the upper digestive tract. Learn more here.
- Stool culture: In some cases, your doctor may take a sample of your black stool to send to the laboratory for analysis.
- Blood tests: Blood tests can help identify any possible medical causes of black stool.
If your doctor feels that your black stool may be due to cancer, they will arrange for tests to diagnose this. Tests for this purpose can include:
- an MRI scan
- a PET scan
- a CT scan
- an endoscopic ultrasound
- endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
- magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography
Although there is no “correct” stool color, a healthy bowel movement is typically brown. This brown color is due to the presence of bile and bilirubin, which occur when dead red blood cells naturally break down in the intestine.
If your stool is any color other than brown, it may be due to something you have consumed or a result of a medical condition. The table below provides more information about stool colors and what they might mean.
Contact your doctor if you notice blood in your stool or changes in your stool or bowel habits that persist.
Black stool may occur as a result of a bleed in the upper GI tract. This may be due to damage to the esophagus, stomach, or upper intestine. An upper GI bleed may indicate cancer, but this is not always the case.
To diagnose the cause of your black feces, a doctor will carry out a procedure called upper endoscopy. They may also arrange for blood tests and an analysis of stool culture, as well as tests to detect the presence of cancer.
Treatment will depend on the cause of the black stool, but it can include getting a blood transfusion, stitching the site of the bleed, or undergoing surgery to remove a tumor.
Contact your doctor if you have persistent black stool, blood in your stool, or any other changes in your stool or bowel habits.
Page 5
Black stool occurs for a number of reasons. In some cases, it may be a side effect of a medication or a result of the food you have consumed. However, it may also suggest that there is a bleed in your upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This can be serious and should not be ignored. If your stool is black, this may be due to bleeding in the intestinal tract. Dark stool that contains blood from the upper GI tract is sometimes called melena. This can indicate a serious medical condition.
Black feces can occur due to damage to the esophagus, stomach, or small intestine. It is important to always pay attention to stool that appears black and tarry, particularly if it persists.
Read on to learn more about the possible causes of black stool and when to contact a doctor.
One of the main causes of black stool is a bleed in the upper GI tract, which includes the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. Upper GI tract bleeds affect around 80–150 out of 100,000 people each year.
Upper GI bleeds can occur as a result of:
A bleed from a tumor in the upper GI tract can signify cancer, including:
Other cancers, such as breast cancer and lung cancer, can spread to the stomach, which can also lead to bleeding in the upper GI tract.
Peptic ulcer disease is the most prevalent cause of upper GI bleeds, accounting for up to 40–50% of cases.
Although you should never ignore black or tarry feces, it does not always indicate cancer. Other causes of black stool include medication side effects and some foods.
Certain foods can cause your stool to have a dark or black appearance. These include:
- blueberries
- dark leafy vegetables
- black licorice
- Oreo cookies
- grape juice
It is also possible for Pepto-Bismol to cause your stool to appear black. This happens when the active ingredient, bismuth, comes into contact with sulfur in your saliva and digestive system.
Some medications can also result in black stool. One example is aspirin, which can contribute to bleeding in the upper GI tract. Taking aspirin combined with P2Y12 antiplatelet drugs makes this more likely.
Anticoagulants (blood thinners), such as warfarin, can also contribute to the likelihood of having black feces.
Ferrous fumarate and other medications for iron deficiencies may also result in black stool. Contact your doctor if you notice that your stool becomes black and sticky when taking iron.
Learn more about bloody stool here.
The type of treatment required will depend on the cause of the black stool. This can include making changes to your diet, taking over-the-counter medications, and seeking medical intervention.
If black stool occurs due to consuming black or dark foods, reducing your intake of those foods can help prevent this. However, black feces that occurs as a result of eating dark foods is not usually a cause for concern.
Iron supplements can also cause black stool. It is important to contact your doctor before changing or stopping any supplements you are taking, particularly if you take iron for an iron deficiency.
You may require medical treatment to treat the root cause of black stool. This will depend on the condition but may involve:
- a blood transfusion, if a bleed in the upper GI tract results in the excessive loss of red blood cells
- proton pump inhibitors to reduce the production of acid
- injection therapy, wherein a doctor will inject a medication directly into the source of the bleeding
- thermal techniques, which involve applying heat probes to cauterize the area that is bleeding
- angiographic embolization, during which coils are placed onto a catheter to stop blood flow to the injured site
- surgery to apply stitches to lacerations
If your black stool is a symptom of a cancer of the upper GI tract, your surgeon may be able to surgically remove the tumor and affected areas.
If the cancer has not spread, your doctor may recommend radiation therapy.
If it is not possible to operate on the cancer, or if it has spread to other parts of your body, your doctor may recommend radiation therapy or chemotherapy.
You may experience symptoms alongside black and tarry stool that can help a doctor identify the underlying cause.
If you have a bleed in the esophagus, you may experience:
- difficulty swallowing
- vomiting blood, or hematemesis
- indigestion
Contact your doctor if you notice that your stool is black or tarry. They can arrange for tests to identify the underlying cause.
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following symptoms alongside black and bloody stool:
To help diagnose the cause of your black stool, your doctor will ask for information about when you first noticed it and how frequently it occurs.
They may also arrange for tests to take a closer look at your upper GI tract. These tests can include:
- Upper endoscopy: The doctor will use a thin device with a camera at the end to look inside the upper digestive tract. Learn more here.
- Stool culture: In some cases, your doctor may take a sample of your black stool to send to the laboratory for analysis.
- Blood tests: Blood tests can help identify any possible medical causes of black stool.
If your doctor feels that your black stool may be due to cancer, they will arrange for tests to diagnose this. Tests for this purpose can include:
- an MRI scan
- a PET scan
- a CT scan
- an endoscopic ultrasound
- endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
- magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography
Although there is no “correct” stool color, a healthy bowel movement is typically brown. This brown color is due to the presence of bile and bilirubin, which occur when dead red blood cells naturally break down in the intestine.
If your stool is any color other than brown, it may be due to something you have consumed or a result of a medical condition. The table below provides more information about stool colors and what they might mean.
Contact your doctor if you notice blood in your stool or changes in your stool or bowel habits that persist.
Black stool may occur as a result of a bleed in the upper GI tract. This may be due to damage to the esophagus, stomach, or upper intestine. An upper GI bleed may indicate cancer, but this is not always the case.
To diagnose the cause of your black feces, a doctor will carry out a procedure called upper endoscopy. They may also arrange for blood tests and an analysis of stool culture, as well as tests to detect the presence of cancer.
Treatment will depend on the cause of the black stool, but it can include getting a blood transfusion, stitching the site of the bleed, or undergoing surgery to remove a tumor.
Contact your doctor if you have persistent black stool, blood in your stool, or any other changes in your stool or bowel habits.
Page 6
Black stool occurs for a number of reasons. In some cases, it may be a side effect of a medication or a result of the food you have consumed. However, it may also suggest that there is a bleed in your upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This can be serious and should not be ignored. If your stool is black, this may be due to bleeding in the intestinal tract. Dark stool that contains blood from the upper GI tract is sometimes called melena. This can indicate a serious medical condition.
Black feces can occur due to damage to the esophagus, stomach, or small intestine. It is important to always pay attention to stool that appears black and tarry, particularly if it persists.
Read on to learn more about the possible causes of black stool and when to contact a doctor.
One of the main causes of black stool is a bleed in the upper GI tract, which includes the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. Upper GI tract bleeds affect around 80–150 out of 100,000 people each year.
Upper GI bleeds can occur as a result of:
A bleed from a tumor in the upper GI tract can signify cancer, including:
Other cancers, such as breast cancer and lung cancer, can spread to the stomach, which can also lead to bleeding in the upper GI tract.
Peptic ulcer disease is the most prevalent cause of upper GI bleeds, accounting for up to 40–50% of cases.
Although you should never ignore black or tarry feces, it does not always indicate cancer. Other causes of black stool include medication side effects and some foods.
Certain foods can cause your stool to have a dark or black appearance. These include:
- blueberries
- dark leafy vegetables
- black licorice
- Oreo cookies
- grape juice
It is also possible for Pepto-Bismol to cause your stool to appear black. This happens when the active ingredient, bismuth, comes into contact with sulfur in your saliva and digestive system.
Some medications can also result in black stool. One example is aspirin, which can contribute to bleeding in the upper GI tract. Taking aspirin combined with P2Y12 antiplatelet drugs makes this more likely.
Anticoagulants (blood thinners), such as warfarin, can also contribute to the likelihood of having black feces.
Ferrous fumarate and other medications for iron deficiencies may also result in black stool. Contact your doctor if you notice that your stool becomes black and sticky when taking iron.
Learn more about bloody stool here.
The type of treatment required will depend on the cause of the black stool. This can include making changes to your diet, taking over-the-counter medications, and seeking medical intervention.
If black stool occurs due to consuming black or dark foods, reducing your intake of those foods can help prevent this. However, black feces that occurs as a result of eating dark foods is not usually a cause for concern.
Iron supplements can also cause black stool. It is important to contact your doctor before changing or stopping any supplements you are taking, particularly if you take iron for an iron deficiency.
You may require medical treatment to treat the root cause of black stool. This will depend on the condition but may involve:
- a blood transfusion, if a bleed in the upper GI tract results in the excessive loss of red blood cells
- proton pump inhibitors to reduce the production of acid
- injection therapy, wherein a doctor will inject a medication directly into the source of the bleeding
- thermal techniques, which involve applying heat probes to cauterize the area that is bleeding
- angiographic embolization, during which coils are placed onto a catheter to stop blood flow to the injured site
- surgery to apply stitches to lacerations
If your black stool is a symptom of a cancer of the upper GI tract, your surgeon may be able to surgically remove the tumor and affected areas.
If the cancer has not spread, your doctor may recommend radiation therapy.
If it is not possible to operate on the cancer, or if it has spread to other parts of your body, your doctor may recommend radiation therapy or chemotherapy.
You may experience symptoms alongside black and tarry stool that can help a doctor identify the underlying cause.
If you have a bleed in the esophagus, you may experience:
- difficulty swallowing
- vomiting blood, or hematemesis
- indigestion
Contact your doctor if you notice that your stool is black or tarry. They can arrange for tests to identify the underlying cause.
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following symptoms alongside black and bloody stool:
To help diagnose the cause of your black stool, your doctor will ask for information about when you first noticed it and how frequently it occurs.
They may also arrange for tests to take a closer look at your upper GI tract. These tests can include:
- Upper endoscopy: The doctor will use a thin device with a camera at the end to look inside the upper digestive tract. Learn more here.
- Stool culture: In some cases, your doctor may take a sample of your black stool to send to the laboratory for analysis.
- Blood tests: Blood tests can help identify any possible medical causes of black stool.
If your doctor feels that your black stool may be due to cancer, they will arrange for tests to diagnose this. Tests for this purpose can include:
- an MRI scan
- a PET scan
- a CT scan
- an endoscopic ultrasound
- endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
- magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography
Although there is no “correct” stool color, a healthy bowel movement is typically brown. This brown color is due to the presence of bile and bilirubin, which occur when dead red blood cells naturally break down in the intestine.
If your stool is any color other than brown, it may be due to something you have consumed or a result of a medical condition. The table below provides more information about stool colors and what they might mean.
Contact your doctor if you notice blood in your stool or changes in your stool or bowel habits that persist.
Black stool may occur as a result of a bleed in the upper GI tract. This may be due to damage to the esophagus, stomach, or upper intestine. An upper GI bleed may indicate cancer, but this is not always the case.
To diagnose the cause of your black feces, a doctor will carry out a procedure called upper endoscopy. They may also arrange for blood tests and an analysis of stool culture, as well as tests to detect the presence of cancer.
Treatment will depend on the cause of the black stool, but it can include getting a blood transfusion, stitching the site of the bleed, or undergoing surgery to remove a tumor.
Contact your doctor if you have persistent black stool, blood in your stool, or any other changes in your stool or bowel habits.
Page 7
Black stool occurs for a number of reasons. In some cases, it may be a side effect of a medication or a result of the food you have consumed. However, it may also suggest that there is a bleed in your upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This can be serious and should not be ignored. If your stool is black, this may be due to bleeding in the intestinal tract. Dark stool that contains blood from the upper GI tract is sometimes called melena. This can indicate a serious medical condition.
Black feces can occur due to damage to the esophagus, stomach, or small intestine. It is important to always pay attention to stool that appears black and tarry, particularly if it persists.
Read on to learn more about the possible causes of black stool and when to contact a doctor.
One of the main causes of black stool is a bleed in the upper GI tract, which includes the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. Upper GI tract bleeds affect around 80–150 out of 100,000 people each year.
Upper GI bleeds can occur as a result of:
A bleed from a tumor in the upper GI tract can signify cancer, including:
Other cancers, such as breast cancer and lung cancer, can spread to the stomach, which can also lead to bleeding in the upper GI tract.
Peptic ulcer disease is the most prevalent cause of upper GI bleeds, accounting for up to 40–50% of cases.
Although you should never ignore black or tarry feces, it does not always indicate cancer. Other causes of black stool include medication side effects and some foods.
Certain foods can cause your stool to have a dark or black appearance. These include:
- blueberries
- dark leafy vegetables
- black licorice
- Oreo cookies
- grape juice
It is also possible for Pepto-Bismol to cause your stool to appear black. This happens when the active ingredient, bismuth, comes into contact with sulfur in your saliva and digestive system.
Some medications can also result in black stool. One example is aspirin, which can contribute to bleeding in the upper GI tract. Taking aspirin combined with P2Y12 antiplatelet drugs makes this more likely.
Anticoagulants (blood thinners), such as warfarin, can also contribute to the likelihood of having black feces.
Ferrous fumarate and other medications for iron deficiencies may also result in black stool. Contact your doctor if you notice that your stool becomes black and sticky when taking iron.
Learn more about bloody stool here.
The type of treatment required will depend on the cause of the black stool. This can include making changes to your diet, taking over-the-counter medications, and seeking medical intervention.
If black stool occurs due to consuming black or dark foods, reducing your intake of those foods can help prevent this. However, black feces that occurs as a result of eating dark foods is not usually a cause for concern.
Iron supplements can also cause black stool. It is important to contact your doctor before changing or stopping any supplements you are taking, particularly if you take iron for an iron deficiency.
You may require medical treatment to treat the root cause of black stool. This will depend on the condition but may involve:
- a blood transfusion, if a bleed in the upper GI tract results in the excessive loss of red blood cells
- proton pump inhibitors to reduce the production of acid
- injection therapy, wherein a doctor will inject a medication directly into the source of the bleeding
- thermal techniques, which involve applying heat probes to cauterize the area that is bleeding
- angiographic embolization, during which coils are placed onto a catheter to stop blood flow to the injured site
- surgery to apply stitches to lacerations
If your black stool is a symptom of a cancer of the upper GI tract, your surgeon may be able to surgically remove the tumor and affected areas.
If the cancer has not spread, your doctor may recommend radiation therapy.
If it is not possible to operate on the cancer, or if it has spread to other parts of your body, your doctor may recommend radiation therapy or chemotherapy.
You may experience symptoms alongside black and tarry stool that can help a doctor identify the underlying cause.
If you have a bleed in the esophagus, you may experience:
- difficulty swallowing
- vomiting blood, or hematemesis
- indigestion
Contact your doctor if you notice that your stool is black or tarry. They can arrange for tests to identify the underlying cause.
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following symptoms alongside black and bloody stool:
To help diagnose the cause of your black stool, your doctor will ask for information about when you first noticed it and how frequently it occurs.
They may also arrange for tests to take a closer look at your upper GI tract. These tests can include:
- Upper endoscopy: The doctor will use a thin device with a camera at the end to look inside the upper digestive tract. Learn more here.
- Stool culture: In some cases, your doctor may take a sample of your black stool to send to the laboratory for analysis.
- Blood tests: Blood tests can help identify any possible medical causes of black stool.
If your doctor feels that your black stool may be due to cancer, they will arrange for tests to diagnose this. Tests for this purpose can include:
- an MRI scan
- a PET scan
- a CT scan
- an endoscopic ultrasound
- endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
- magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography
Although there is no “correct” stool color, a healthy bowel movement is typically brown. This brown color is due to the presence of bile and bilirubin, which occur when dead red blood cells naturally break down in the intestine.
If your stool is any color other than brown, it may be due to something you have consumed or a result of a medical condition. The table below provides more information about stool colors and what they might mean.
Contact your doctor if you notice blood in your stool or changes in your stool or bowel habits that persist.
Black stool may occur as a result of a bleed in the upper GI tract. This may be due to damage to the esophagus, stomach, or upper intestine. An upper GI bleed may indicate cancer, but this is not always the case.
To diagnose the cause of your black feces, a doctor will carry out a procedure called upper endoscopy. They may also arrange for blood tests and an analysis of stool culture, as well as tests to detect the presence of cancer.
Treatment will depend on the cause of the black stool, but it can include getting a blood transfusion, stitching the site of the bleed, or undergoing surgery to remove a tumor.
Contact your doctor if you have persistent black stool, blood in your stool, or any other changes in your stool or bowel habits.
Page 8
Black stool occurs for a number of reasons. In some cases, it may be a side effect of a medication or a result of the food you have consumed. However, it may also suggest that there is a bleed in your upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This can be serious and should not be ignored. If your stool is black, this may be due to bleeding in the intestinal tract. Dark stool that contains blood from the upper GI tract is sometimes called melena. This can indicate a serious medical condition.
Black feces can occur due to damage to the esophagus, stomach, or small intestine. It is important to always pay attention to stool that appears black and tarry, particularly if it persists.
Read on to learn more about the possible causes of black stool and when to contact a doctor.
One of the main causes of black stool is a bleed in the upper GI tract, which includes the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. Upper GI tract bleeds affect around 80–150 out of 100,000 people each year.
Upper GI bleeds can occur as a result of:
A bleed from a tumor in the upper GI tract can signify cancer, including:
Other cancers, such as breast cancer and lung cancer, can spread to the stomach, which can also lead to bleeding in the upper GI tract.
Peptic ulcer disease is the most prevalent cause of upper GI bleeds, accounting for up to 40–50% of cases.
Although you should never ignore black or tarry feces, it does not always indicate cancer. Other causes of black stool include medication side effects and some foods.
Certain foods can cause your stool to have a dark or black appearance. These include:
- blueberries
- dark leafy vegetables
- black licorice
- Oreo cookies
- grape juice
It is also possible for Pepto-Bismol to cause your stool to appear black. This happens when the active ingredient, bismuth, comes into contact with sulfur in your saliva and digestive system.
Some medications can also result in black stool. One example is aspirin, which can contribute to bleeding in the upper GI tract. Taking aspirin combined with P2Y12 antiplatelet drugs makes this more likely.
Anticoagulants (blood thinners), such as warfarin, can also contribute to the likelihood of having black feces.
Ferrous fumarate and other medications for iron deficiencies may also result in black stool. Contact your doctor if you notice that your stool becomes black and sticky when taking iron.
Learn more about bloody stool here.
The type of treatment required will depend on the cause of the black stool. This can include making changes to your diet, taking over-the-counter medications, and seeking medical intervention.
If black stool occurs due to consuming black or dark foods, reducing your intake of those foods can help prevent this. However, black feces that occurs as a result of eating dark foods is not usually a cause for concern.
Iron supplements can also cause black stool. It is important to contact your doctor before changing or stopping any supplements you are taking, particularly if you take iron for an iron deficiency.
You may require medical treatment to treat the root cause of black stool. This will depend on the condition but may involve:
- a blood transfusion, if a bleed in the upper GI tract results in the excessive loss of red blood cells
- proton pump inhibitors to reduce the production of acid
- injection therapy, wherein a doctor will inject a medication directly into the source of the bleeding
- thermal techniques, which involve applying heat probes to cauterize the area that is bleeding
- angiographic embolization, during which coils are placed onto a catheter to stop blood flow to the injured site
- surgery to apply stitches to lacerations
If your black stool is a symptom of a cancer of the upper GI tract, your surgeon may be able to surgically remove the tumor and affected areas.
If the cancer has not spread, your doctor may recommend radiation therapy.
If it is not possible to operate on the cancer, or if it has spread to other parts of your body, your doctor may recommend radiation therapy or chemotherapy.
You may experience symptoms alongside black and tarry stool that can help a doctor identify the underlying cause.
If you have a bleed in the esophagus, you may experience:
- difficulty swallowing
- vomiting blood, or hematemesis
- indigestion
Contact your doctor if you notice that your stool is black or tarry. They can arrange for tests to identify the underlying cause.
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following symptoms alongside black and bloody stool:
To help diagnose the cause of your black stool, your doctor will ask for information about when you first noticed it and how frequently it occurs.
They may also arrange for tests to take a closer look at your upper GI tract. These tests can include:
- Upper endoscopy: The doctor will use a thin device with a camera at the end to look inside the upper digestive tract. Learn more here.
- Stool culture: In some cases, your doctor may take a sample of your black stool to send to the laboratory for analysis.
- Blood tests: Blood tests can help identify any possible medical causes of black stool.
If your doctor feels that your black stool may be due to cancer, they will arrange for tests to diagnose this. Tests for this purpose can include:
- an MRI scan
- a PET scan
- a CT scan
- an endoscopic ultrasound
- endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
- magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography
Although there is no “correct” stool color, a healthy bowel movement is typically brown. This brown color is due to the presence of bile and bilirubin, which occur when dead red blood cells naturally break down in the intestine.
If your stool is any color other than brown, it may be due to something you have consumed or a result of a medical condition. The table below provides more information about stool colors and what they might mean.
Contact your doctor if you notice blood in your stool or changes in your stool or bowel habits that persist.
Black stool may occur as a result of a bleed in the upper GI tract. This may be due to damage to the esophagus, stomach, or upper intestine. An upper GI bleed may indicate cancer, but this is not always the case.
To diagnose the cause of your black feces, a doctor will carry out a procedure called upper endoscopy. They may also arrange for blood tests and an analysis of stool culture, as well as tests to detect the presence of cancer.
Treatment will depend on the cause of the black stool, but it can include getting a blood transfusion, stitching the site of the bleed, or undergoing surgery to remove a tumor.
Contact your doctor if you have persistent black stool, blood in your stool, or any other changes in your stool or bowel habits.
Page 9
Black stool occurs for a number of reasons. In some cases, it may be a side effect of a medication or a result of the food you have consumed. However, it may also suggest that there is a bleed in your upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This can be serious and should not be ignored. If your stool is black, this may be due to bleeding in the intestinal tract. Dark stool that contains blood from the upper GI tract is sometimes called melena. This can indicate a serious medical condition.
Black feces can occur due to damage to the esophagus, stomach, or small intestine. It is important to always pay attention to stool that appears black and tarry, particularly if it persists.
Read on to learn more about the possible causes of black stool and when to contact a doctor.
One of the main causes of black stool is a bleed in the upper GI tract, which includes the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. Upper GI tract bleeds affect around 80–150 out of 100,000 people each year.
Upper GI bleeds can occur as a result of:
A bleed from a tumor in the upper GI tract can signify cancer, including:
Other cancers, such as breast cancer and lung cancer, can spread to the stomach, which can also lead to bleeding in the upper GI tract.
Peptic ulcer disease is the most prevalent cause of upper GI bleeds, accounting for up to 40–50% of cases.
Although you should never ignore black or tarry feces, it does not always indicate cancer. Other causes of black stool include medication side effects and some foods.
Certain foods can cause your stool to have a dark or black appearance. These include:
- blueberries
- dark leafy vegetables
- black licorice
- Oreo cookies
- grape juice
It is also possible for Pepto-Bismol to cause your stool to appear black. This happens when the active ingredient, bismuth, comes into contact with sulfur in your saliva and digestive system.
Some medications can also result in black stool. One example is aspirin, which can contribute to bleeding in the upper GI tract. Taking aspirin combined with P2Y12 antiplatelet drugs makes this more likely.
Anticoagulants (blood thinners), such as warfarin, can also contribute to the likelihood of having black feces.
Ferrous fumarate and other medications for iron deficiencies may also result in black stool. Contact your doctor if you notice that your stool becomes black and sticky when taking iron.
Learn more about bloody stool here.
The type of treatment required will depend on the cause of the black stool. This can include making changes to your diet, taking over-the-counter medications, and seeking medical intervention.
If black stool occurs due to consuming black or dark foods, reducing your intake of those foods can help prevent this. However, black feces that occurs as a result of eating dark foods is not usually a cause for concern.
Iron supplements can also cause black stool. It is important to contact your doctor before changing or stopping any supplements you are taking, particularly if you take iron for an iron deficiency.
You may require medical treatment to treat the root cause of black stool. This will depend on the condition but may involve:
- a blood transfusion, if a bleed in the upper GI tract results in the excessive loss of red blood cells
- proton pump inhibitors to reduce the production of acid
- injection therapy, wherein a doctor will inject a medication directly into the source of the bleeding
- thermal techniques, which involve applying heat probes to cauterize the area that is bleeding
- angiographic embolization, during which coils are placed onto a catheter to stop blood flow to the injured site
- surgery to apply stitches to lacerations
If your black stool is a symptom of a cancer of the upper GI tract, your surgeon may be able to surgically remove the tumor and affected areas.
If the cancer has not spread, your doctor may recommend radiation therapy.
If it is not possible to operate on the cancer, or if it has spread to other parts of your body, your doctor may recommend radiation therapy or chemotherapy.
You may experience symptoms alongside black and tarry stool that can help a doctor identify the underlying cause.
If you have a bleed in the esophagus, you may experience:
- difficulty swallowing
- vomiting blood, or hematemesis
- indigestion
Contact your doctor if you notice that your stool is black or tarry. They can arrange for tests to identify the underlying cause.
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following symptoms alongside black and bloody stool:
To help diagnose the cause of your black stool, your doctor will ask for information about when you first noticed it and how frequently it occurs.
They may also arrange for tests to take a closer look at your upper GI tract. These tests can include:
- Upper endoscopy: The doctor will use a thin device with a camera at the end to look inside the upper digestive tract. Learn more here.
- Stool culture: In some cases, your doctor may take a sample of your black stool to send to the laboratory for analysis.
- Blood tests: Blood tests can help identify any possible medical causes of black stool.
If your doctor feels that your black stool may be due to cancer, they will arrange for tests to diagnose this. Tests for this purpose can include:
- an MRI scan
- a PET scan
- a CT scan
- an endoscopic ultrasound
- endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
- magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography
Although there is no “correct” stool color, a healthy bowel movement is typically brown. This brown color is due to the presence of bile and bilirubin, which occur when dead red blood cells naturally break down in the intestine.
If your stool is any color other than brown, it may be due to something you have consumed or a result of a medical condition. The table below provides more information about stool colors and what they might mean.
Contact your doctor if you notice blood in your stool or changes in your stool or bowel habits that persist.
Black stool may occur as a result of a bleed in the upper GI tract. This may be due to damage to the esophagus, stomach, or upper intestine. An upper GI bleed may indicate cancer, but this is not always the case.
To diagnose the cause of your black feces, a doctor will carry out a procedure called upper endoscopy. They may also arrange for blood tests and an analysis of stool culture, as well as tests to detect the presence of cancer.
Treatment will depend on the cause of the black stool, but it can include getting a blood transfusion, stitching the site of the bleed, or undergoing surgery to remove a tumor.
Contact your doctor if you have persistent black stool, blood in your stool, or any other changes in your stool or bowel habits.
Page 10
Black stool occurs for a number of reasons. In some cases, it may be a side effect of a medication or a result of the food you have consumed. However, it may also suggest that there is a bleed in your upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This can be serious and should not be ignored. If your stool is black, this may be due to bleeding in the intestinal tract. Dark stool that contains blood from the upper GI tract is sometimes called melena. This can indicate a serious medical condition.
Black feces can occur due to damage to the esophagus, stomach, or small intestine. It is important to always pay attention to stool that appears black and tarry, particularly if it persists.
Read on to learn more about the possible causes of black stool and when to contact a doctor.
One of the main causes of black stool is a bleed in the upper GI tract, which includes the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. Upper GI tract bleeds affect around 80–150 out of 100,000 people each year.
Upper GI bleeds can occur as a result of:
A bleed from a tumor in the upper GI tract can signify cancer, including:
Other cancers, such as breast cancer and lung cancer, can spread to the stomach, which can also lead to bleeding in the upper GI tract.
Peptic ulcer disease is the most prevalent cause of upper GI bleeds, accounting for up to 40–50% of cases.
Although you should never ignore black or tarry feces, it does not always indicate cancer. Other causes of black stool include medication side effects and some foods.
Certain foods can cause your stool to have a dark or black appearance. These include:
- blueberries
- dark leafy vegetables
- black licorice
- Oreo cookies
- grape juice
It is also possible for Pepto-Bismol to cause your stool to appear black. This happens when the active ingredient, bismuth, comes into contact with sulfur in your saliva and digestive system.
Some medications can also result in black stool. One example is aspirin, which can contribute to bleeding in the upper GI tract. Taking aspirin combined with P2Y12 antiplatelet drugs makes this more likely.
Anticoagulants (blood thinners), such as warfarin, can also contribute to the likelihood of having black feces.
Ferrous fumarate and other medications for iron deficiencies may also result in black stool. Contact your doctor if you notice that your stool becomes black and sticky when taking iron.
Learn more about bloody stool here.
The type of treatment required will depend on the cause of the black stool. This can include making changes to your diet, taking over-the-counter medications, and seeking medical intervention.
If black stool occurs due to consuming black or dark foods, reducing your intake of those foods can help prevent this. However, black feces that occurs as a result of eating dark foods is not usually a cause for concern.
Iron supplements can also cause black stool. It is important to contact your doctor before changing or stopping any supplements you are taking, particularly if you take iron for an iron deficiency.
You may require medical treatment to treat the root cause of black stool. This will depend on the condition but may involve:
- a blood transfusion, if a bleed in the upper GI tract results in the excessive loss of red blood cells
- proton pump inhibitors to reduce the production of acid
- injection therapy, wherein a doctor will inject a medication directly into the source of the bleeding
- thermal techniques, which involve applying heat probes to cauterize the area that is bleeding
- angiographic embolization, during which coils are placed onto a catheter to stop blood flow to the injured site
- surgery to apply stitches to lacerations
If your black stool is a symptom of a cancer of the upper GI tract, your surgeon may be able to surgically remove the tumor and affected areas.
If the cancer has not spread, your doctor may recommend radiation therapy.
If it is not possible to operate on the cancer, or if it has spread to other parts of your body, your doctor may recommend radiation therapy or chemotherapy.
You may experience symptoms alongside black and tarry stool that can help a doctor identify the underlying cause.
If you have a bleed in the esophagus, you may experience:
- difficulty swallowing
- vomiting blood, or hematemesis
- indigestion
Contact your doctor if you notice that your stool is black or tarry. They can arrange for tests to identify the underlying cause.
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following symptoms alongside black and bloody stool:
To help diagnose the cause of your black stool, your doctor will ask for information about when you first noticed it and how frequently it occurs.
They may also arrange for tests to take a closer look at your upper GI tract. These tests can include:
- Upper endoscopy: The doctor will use a thin device with a camera at the end to look inside the upper digestive tract. Learn more here.
- Stool culture: In some cases, your doctor may take a sample of your black stool to send to the laboratory for analysis.
- Blood tests: Blood tests can help identify any possible medical causes of black stool.
If your doctor feels that your black stool may be due to cancer, they will arrange for tests to diagnose this. Tests for this purpose can include:
- an MRI scan
- a PET scan
- a CT scan
- an endoscopic ultrasound
- endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
- magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography
Although there is no “correct” stool color, a healthy bowel movement is typically brown. This brown color is due to the presence of bile and bilirubin, which occur when dead red blood cells naturally break down in the intestine.
If your stool is any color other than brown, it may be due to something you have consumed or a result of a medical condition. The table below provides more information about stool colors and what they might mean.
Contact your doctor if you notice blood in your stool or changes in your stool or bowel habits that persist.
Black stool may occur as a result of a bleed in the upper GI tract. This may be due to damage to the esophagus, stomach, or upper intestine. An upper GI bleed may indicate cancer, but this is not always the case.
To diagnose the cause of your black feces, a doctor will carry out a procedure called upper endoscopy. They may also arrange for blood tests and an analysis of stool culture, as well as tests to detect the presence of cancer.
Treatment will depend on the cause of the black stool, but it can include getting a blood transfusion, stitching the site of the bleed, or undergoing surgery to remove a tumor.
Contact your doctor if you have persistent black stool, blood in your stool, or any other changes in your stool or bowel habits.
Page 11
Black stool occurs for a number of reasons. In some cases, it may be a side effect of a medication or a result of the food you have consumed. However, it may also suggest that there is a bleed in your upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This can be serious and should not be ignored. If your stool is black, this may be due to bleeding in the intestinal tract. Dark stool that contains blood from the upper GI tract is sometimes called melena. This can indicate a serious medical condition.
Black feces can occur due to damage to the esophagus, stomach, or small intestine. It is important to always pay attention to stool that appears black and tarry, particularly if it persists.
Read on to learn more about the possible causes of black stool and when to contact a doctor.
One of the main causes of black stool is a bleed in the upper GI tract, which includes the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. Upper GI tract bleeds affect around 80–150 out of 100,000 people each year.
Upper GI bleeds can occur as a result of:
A bleed from a tumor in the upper GI tract can signify cancer, including:
Other cancers, such as breast cancer and lung cancer, can spread to the stomach, which can also lead to bleeding in the upper GI tract.
Peptic ulcer disease is the most prevalent cause of upper GI bleeds, accounting for up to 40–50% of cases.
Although you should never ignore black or tarry feces, it does not always indicate cancer. Other causes of black stool include medication side effects and some foods.
Certain foods can cause your stool to have a dark or black appearance. These include:
- blueberries
- dark leafy vegetables
- black licorice
- Oreo cookies
- grape juice
It is also possible for Pepto-Bismol to cause your stool to appear black. This happens when the active ingredient, bismuth, comes into contact with sulfur in your saliva and digestive system.
Some medications can also result in black stool. One example is aspirin, which can contribute to bleeding in the upper GI tract. Taking aspirin combined with P2Y12 antiplatelet drugs makes this more likely.
Anticoagulants (blood thinners), such as warfarin, can also contribute to the likelihood of having black feces.
Ferrous fumarate and other medications for iron deficiencies may also result in black stool. Contact your doctor if you notice that your stool becomes black and sticky when taking iron.
Learn more about bloody stool here.
The type of treatment required will depend on the cause of the black stool. This can include making changes to your diet, taking over-the-counter medications, and seeking medical intervention.
If black stool occurs due to consuming black or dark foods, reducing your intake of those foods can help prevent this. However, black feces that occurs as a result of eating dark foods is not usually a cause for concern.
Iron supplements can also cause black stool. It is important to contact your doctor before changing or stopping any supplements you are taking, particularly if you take iron for an iron deficiency.
You may require medical treatment to treat the root cause of black stool. This will depend on the condition but may involve:
- a blood transfusion, if a bleed in the upper GI tract results in the excessive loss of red blood cells
- proton pump inhibitors to reduce the production of acid
- injection therapy, wherein a doctor will inject a medication directly into the source of the bleeding
- thermal techniques, which involve applying heat probes to cauterize the area that is bleeding
- angiographic embolization, during which coils are placed onto a catheter to stop blood flow to the injured site
- surgery to apply stitches to lacerations
If your black stool is a symptom of a cancer of the upper GI tract, your surgeon may be able to surgically remove the tumor and affected areas.
If the cancer has not spread, your doctor may recommend radiation therapy.
If it is not possible to operate on the cancer, or if it has spread to other parts of your body, your doctor may recommend radiation therapy or chemotherapy.
You may experience symptoms alongside black and tarry stool that can help a doctor identify the underlying cause.
If you have a bleed in the esophagus, you may experience:
- difficulty swallowing
- vomiting blood, or hematemesis
- indigestion
Contact your doctor if you notice that your stool is black or tarry. They can arrange for tests to identify the underlying cause.
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following symptoms alongside black and bloody stool:
To help diagnose the cause of your black stool, your doctor will ask for information about when you first noticed it and how frequently it occurs.
They may also arrange for tests to take a closer look at your upper GI tract. These tests can include:
- Upper endoscopy: The doctor will use a thin device with a camera at the end to look inside the upper digestive tract. Learn more here.
- Stool culture: In some cases, your doctor may take a sample of your black stool to send to the laboratory for analysis.
- Blood tests: Blood tests can help identify any possible medical causes of black stool.
If your doctor feels that your black stool may be due to cancer, they will arrange for tests to diagnose this. Tests for this purpose can include:
- an MRI scan
- a PET scan
- a CT scan
- an endoscopic ultrasound
- endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
- magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography
Although there is no “correct” stool color, a healthy bowel movement is typically brown. This brown color is due to the presence of bile and bilirubin, which occur when dead red blood cells naturally break down in the intestine.
If your stool is any color other than brown, it may be due to something you have consumed or a result of a medical condition. The table below provides more information about stool colors and what they might mean.
Contact your doctor if you notice blood in your stool or changes in your stool or bowel habits that persist.
Black stool may occur as a result of a bleed in the upper GI tract. This may be due to damage to the esophagus, stomach, or upper intestine. An upper GI bleed may indicate cancer, but this is not always the case.
To diagnose the cause of your black feces, a doctor will carry out a procedure called upper endoscopy. They may also arrange for blood tests and an analysis of stool culture, as well as tests to detect the presence of cancer.
Treatment will depend on the cause of the black stool, but it can include getting a blood transfusion, stitching the site of the bleed, or undergoing surgery to remove a tumor.
Contact your doctor if you have persistent black stool, blood in your stool, or any other changes in your stool or bowel habits.
Page 12
Black stool occurs for a number of reasons. In some cases, it may be a side effect of a medication or a result of the food you have consumed. However, it may also suggest that there is a bleed in your upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This can be serious and should not be ignored. If your stool is black, this may be due to bleeding in the intestinal tract. Dark stool that contains blood from the upper GI tract is sometimes called melena. This can indicate a serious medical condition.
Black feces can occur due to damage to the esophagus, stomach, or small intestine. It is important to always pay attention to stool that appears black and tarry, particularly if it persists.
Read on to learn more about the possible causes of black stool and when to contact a doctor.
One of the main causes of black stool is a bleed in the upper GI tract, which includes the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. Upper GI tract bleeds affect around 80–150 out of 100,000 people each year.
Upper GI bleeds can occur as a result of:
A bleed from a tumor in the upper GI tract can signify cancer, including:
Other cancers, such as breast cancer and lung cancer, can spread to the stomach, which can also lead to bleeding in the upper GI tract.
Peptic ulcer disease is the most prevalent cause of upper GI bleeds, accounting for up to 40–50% of cases.
Although you should never ignore black or tarry feces, it does not always indicate cancer. Other causes of black stool include medication side effects and some foods.
Certain foods can cause your stool to have a dark or black appearance. These include:
- blueberries
- dark leafy vegetables
- black licorice
- Oreo cookies
- grape juice
It is also possible for Pepto-Bismol to cause your stool to appear black. This happens when the active ingredient, bismuth, comes into contact with sulfur in your saliva and digestive system.
Some medications can also result in black stool. One example is aspirin, which can contribute to bleeding in the upper GI tract. Taking aspirin combined with P2Y12 antiplatelet drugs makes this more likely.
Anticoagulants (blood thinners), such as warfarin, can also contribute to the likelihood of having black feces.
Ferrous fumarate and other medications for iron deficiencies may also result in black stool. Contact your doctor if you notice that your stool becomes black and sticky when taking iron.
Learn more about bloody stool here.
The type of treatment required will depend on the cause of the black stool. This can include making changes to your diet, taking over-the-counter medications, and seeking medical intervention.
If black stool occurs due to consuming black or dark foods, reducing your intake of those foods can help prevent this. However, black feces that occurs as a result of eating dark foods is not usually a cause for concern.
Iron supplements can also cause black stool. It is important to contact your doctor before changing or stopping any supplements you are taking, particularly if you take iron for an iron deficiency.
You may require medical treatment to treat the root cause of black stool. This will depend on the condition but may involve:
- a blood transfusion, if a bleed in the upper GI tract results in the excessive loss of red blood cells
- proton pump inhibitors to reduce the production of acid
- injection therapy, wherein a doctor will inject a medication directly into the source of the bleeding
- thermal techniques, which involve applying heat probes to cauterize the area that is bleeding
- angiographic embolization, during which coils are placed onto a catheter to stop blood flow to the injured site
- surgery to apply stitches to lacerations
If your black stool is a symptom of a cancer of the upper GI tract, your surgeon may be able to surgically remove the tumor and affected areas.
If the cancer has not spread, your doctor may recommend radiation therapy.
If it is not possible to operate on the cancer, or if it has spread to other parts of your body, your doctor may recommend radiation therapy or chemotherapy.
You may experience symptoms alongside black and tarry stool that can help a doctor identify the underlying cause.
If you have a bleed in the esophagus, you may experience:
- difficulty swallowing
- vomiting blood, or hematemesis
- indigestion
Contact your doctor if you notice that your stool is black or tarry. They can arrange for tests to identify the underlying cause.
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following symptoms alongside black and bloody stool:
To help diagnose the cause of your black stool, your doctor will ask for information about when you first noticed it and how frequently it occurs.
They may also arrange for tests to take a closer look at your upper GI tract. These tests can include:
- Upper endoscopy: The doctor will use a thin device with a camera at the end to look inside the upper digestive tract. Learn more here.
- Stool culture: In some cases, your doctor may take a sample of your black stool to send to the laboratory for analysis.
- Blood tests: Blood tests can help identify any possible medical causes of black stool.
If your doctor feels that your black stool may be due to cancer, they will arrange for tests to diagnose this. Tests for this purpose can include:
- an MRI scan
- a PET scan
- a CT scan
- an endoscopic ultrasound
- endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
- magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography
Although there is no “correct” stool color, a healthy bowel movement is typically brown. This brown color is due to the presence of bile and bilirubin, which occur when dead red blood cells naturally break down in the intestine.
If your stool is any color other than brown, it may be due to something you have consumed or a result of a medical condition. The table below provides more information about stool colors and what they might mean.
Contact your doctor if you notice blood in your stool or changes in your stool or bowel habits that persist.
Black stool may occur as a result of a bleed in the upper GI tract. This may be due to damage to the esophagus, stomach, or upper intestine. An upper GI bleed may indicate cancer, but this is not always the case.
To diagnose the cause of your black feces, a doctor will carry out a procedure called upper endoscopy. They may also arrange for blood tests and an analysis of stool culture, as well as tests to detect the presence of cancer.
Treatment will depend on the cause of the black stool, but it can include getting a blood transfusion, stitching the site of the bleed, or undergoing surgery to remove a tumor.
Contact your doctor if you have persistent black stool, blood in your stool, or any other changes in your stool or bowel habits.
Page 13
Black stool occurs for a number of reasons. In some cases, it may be a side effect of a medication or a result of the food you have consumed. However, it may also suggest that there is a bleed in your upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This can be serious and should not be ignored. If your stool is black, this may be due to bleeding in the intestinal tract. Dark stool that contains blood from the upper GI tract is sometimes called melena. This can indicate a serious medical condition.
Black feces can occur due to damage to the esophagus, stomach, or small intestine. It is important to always pay attention to stool that appears black and tarry, particularly if it persists.
Read on to learn more about the possible causes of black stool and when to contact a doctor.
One of the main causes of black stool is a bleed in the upper GI tract, which includes the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. Upper GI tract bleeds affect around 80–150 out of 100,000 people each year.
Upper GI bleeds can occur as a result of:
A bleed from a tumor in the upper GI tract can signify cancer, including:
Other cancers, such as breast cancer and lung cancer, can spread to the stomach, which can also lead to bleeding in the upper GI tract.
Peptic ulcer disease is the most prevalent cause of upper GI bleeds, accounting for up to 40–50% of cases.
Although you should never ignore black or tarry feces, it does not always indicate cancer. Other causes of black stool include medication side effects and some foods.
Certain foods can cause your stool to have a dark or black appearance. These include:
- blueberries
- dark leafy vegetables
- black licorice
- Oreo cookies
- grape juice
It is also possible for Pepto-Bismol to cause your stool to appear black. This happens when the active ingredient, bismuth, comes into contact with sulfur in your saliva and digestive system.
Some medications can also result in black stool. One example is aspirin, which can contribute to bleeding in the upper GI tract. Taking aspirin combined with P2Y12 antiplatelet drugs makes this more likely.
Anticoagulants (blood thinners), such as warfarin, can also contribute to the likelihood of having black feces.
Ferrous fumarate and other medications for iron deficiencies may also result in black stool. Contact your doctor if you notice that your stool becomes black and sticky when taking iron.
Learn more about bloody stool here.
The type of treatment required will depend on the cause of the black stool. This can include making changes to your diet, taking over-the-counter medications, and seeking medical intervention.
If black stool occurs due to consuming black or dark foods, reducing your intake of those foods can help prevent this. However, black feces that occurs as a result of eating dark foods is not usually a cause for concern.
Iron supplements can also cause black stool. It is important to contact your doctor before changing or stopping any supplements you are taking, particularly if you take iron for an iron deficiency.
You may require medical treatment to treat the root cause of black stool. This will depend on the condition but may involve:
- a blood transfusion, if a bleed in the upper GI tract results in the excessive loss of red blood cells
- proton pump inhibitors to reduce the production of acid
- injection therapy, wherein a doctor will inject a medication directly into the source of the bleeding
- thermal techniques, which involve applying heat probes to cauterize the area that is bleeding
- angiographic embolization, during which coils are placed onto a catheter to stop blood flow to the injured site
- surgery to apply stitches to lacerations
If your black stool is a symptom of a cancer of the upper GI tract, your surgeon may be able to surgically remove the tumor and affected areas.
If the cancer has not spread, your doctor may recommend radiation therapy.
If it is not possible to operate on the cancer, or if it has spread to other parts of your body, your doctor may recommend radiation therapy or chemotherapy.
You may experience symptoms alongside black and tarry stool that can help a doctor identify the underlying cause.
If you have a bleed in the esophagus, you may experience:
- difficulty swallowing
- vomiting blood, or hematemesis
- indigestion
Contact your doctor if you notice that your stool is black or tarry. They can arrange for tests to identify the underlying cause.
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following symptoms alongside black and bloody stool:
To help diagnose the cause of your black stool, your doctor will ask for information about when you first noticed it and how frequently it occurs.
They may also arrange for tests to take a closer look at your upper GI tract. These tests can include:
- Upper endoscopy: The doctor will use a thin device with a camera at the end to look inside the upper digestive tract. Learn more here.
- Stool culture: In some cases, your doctor may take a sample of your black stool to send to the laboratory for analysis.
- Blood tests: Blood tests can help identify any possible medical causes of black stool.
If your doctor feels that your black stool may be due to cancer, they will arrange for tests to diagnose this. Tests for this purpose can include:
- an MRI scan
- a PET scan
- a CT scan
- an endoscopic ultrasound
- endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
- magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography
Although there is no “correct” stool color, a healthy bowel movement is typically brown. This brown color is due to the presence of bile and bilirubin, which occur when dead red blood cells naturally break down in the intestine.
If your stool is any color other than brown, it may be due to something you have consumed or a result of a medical condition. The table below provides more information about stool colors and what they might mean.
Contact your doctor if you notice blood in your stool or changes in your stool or bowel habits that persist.
Black stool may occur as a result of a bleed in the upper GI tract. This may be due to damage to the esophagus, stomach, or upper intestine. An upper GI bleed may indicate cancer, but this is not always the case.
To diagnose the cause of your black feces, a doctor will carry out a procedure called upper endoscopy. They may also arrange for blood tests and an analysis of stool culture, as well as tests to detect the presence of cancer.
Treatment will depend on the cause of the black stool, but it can include getting a blood transfusion, stitching the site of the bleed, or undergoing surgery to remove a tumor.
Contact your doctor if you have persistent black stool, blood in your stool, or any other changes in your stool or bowel habits.
Page 14
Black stool occurs for a number of reasons. In some cases, it may be a side effect of a medication or a result of the food you have consumed. However, it may also suggest that there is a bleed in your upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This can be serious and should not be ignored. If your stool is black, this may be due to bleeding in the intestinal tract. Dark stool that contains blood from the upper GI tract is sometimes called melena. This can indicate a serious medical condition.
Black feces can occur due to damage to the esophagus, stomach, or small intestine. It is important to always pay attention to stool that appears black and tarry, particularly if it persists.
Read on to learn more about the possible causes of black stool and when to contact a doctor.
One of the main causes of black stool is a bleed in the upper GI tract, which includes the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. Upper GI tract bleeds affect around 80–150 out of 100,000 people each year.
Upper GI bleeds can occur as a result of:
A bleed from a tumor in the upper GI tract can signify cancer, including:
Other cancers, such as breast cancer and lung cancer, can spread to the stomach, which can also lead to bleeding in the upper GI tract.
Peptic ulcer disease is the most prevalent cause of upper GI bleeds, accounting for up to 40–50% of cases.
Although you should never ignore black or tarry feces, it does not always indicate cancer. Other causes of black stool include medication side effects and some foods.
Certain foods can cause your stool to have a dark or black appearance. These include:
- blueberries
- dark leafy vegetables
- black licorice
- Oreo cookies
- grape juice
It is also possible for Pepto-Bismol to cause your stool to appear black. This happens when the active ingredient, bismuth, comes into contact with sulfur in your saliva and digestive system.
Some medications can also result in black stool. One example is aspirin, which can contribute to bleeding in the upper GI tract. Taking aspirin combined with P2Y12 antiplatelet drugs makes this more likely.
Anticoagulants (blood thinners), such as warfarin, can also contribute to the likelihood of having black feces.
Ferrous fumarate and other medications for iron deficiencies may also result in black stool. Contact your doctor if you notice that your stool becomes black and sticky when taking iron.
Learn more about bloody stool here.
The type of treatment required will depend on the cause of the black stool. This can include making changes to your diet, taking over-the-counter medications, and seeking medical intervention.
If black stool occurs due to consuming black or dark foods, reducing your intake of those foods can help prevent this. However, black feces that occurs as a result of eating dark foods is not usually a cause for concern.
Iron supplements can also cause black stool. It is important to contact your doctor before changing or stopping any supplements you are taking, particularly if you take iron for an iron deficiency.
You may require medical treatment to treat the root cause of black stool. This will depend on the condition but may involve:
- a blood transfusion, if a bleed in the upper GI tract results in the excessive loss of red blood cells
- proton pump inhibitors to reduce the production of acid
- injection therapy, wherein a doctor will inject a medication directly into the source of the bleeding
- thermal techniques, which involve applying heat probes to cauterize the area that is bleeding
- angiographic embolization, during which coils are placed onto a catheter to stop blood flow to the injured site
- surgery to apply stitches to lacerations
If your black stool is a symptom of a cancer of the upper GI tract, your surgeon may be able to surgically remove the tumor and affected areas.
If the cancer has not spread, your doctor may recommend radiation therapy.
If it is not possible to operate on the cancer, or if it has spread to other parts of your body, your doctor may recommend radiation therapy or chemotherapy.
You may experience symptoms alongside black and tarry stool that can help a doctor identify the underlying cause.
If you have a bleed in the esophagus, you may experience:
- difficulty swallowing
- vomiting blood, or hematemesis
- indigestion
Contact your doctor if you notice that your stool is black or tarry. They can arrange for tests to identify the underlying cause.
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following symptoms alongside black and bloody stool:
To help diagnose the cause of your black stool, your doctor will ask for information about when you first noticed it and how frequently it occurs.
They may also arrange for tests to take a closer look at your upper GI tract. These tests can include:
- Upper endoscopy: The doctor will use a thin device with a camera at the end to look inside the upper digestive tract. Learn more here.
- Stool culture: In some cases, your doctor may take a sample of your black stool to send to the laboratory for analysis.
- Blood tests: Blood tests can help identify any possible medical causes of black stool.
If your doctor feels that your black stool may be due to cancer, they will arrange for tests to diagnose this. Tests for this purpose can include:
- an MRI scan
- a PET scan
- a CT scan
- an endoscopic ultrasound
- endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
- magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography
Although there is no “correct” stool color, a healthy bowel movement is typically brown. This brown color is due to the presence of bile and bilirubin, which occur when dead red blood cells naturally break down in the intestine.
If your stool is any color other than brown, it may be due to something you have consumed or a result of a medical condition. The table below provides more information about stool colors and what they might mean.
Contact your doctor if you notice blood in your stool or changes in your stool or bowel habits that persist.
Black stool may occur as a result of a bleed in the upper GI tract. This may be due to damage to the esophagus, stomach, or upper intestine. An upper GI bleed may indicate cancer, but this is not always the case.
To diagnose the cause of your black feces, a doctor will carry out a procedure called upper endoscopy. They may also arrange for blood tests and an analysis of stool culture, as well as tests to detect the presence of cancer.
Treatment will depend on the cause of the black stool, but it can include getting a blood transfusion, stitching the site of the bleed, or undergoing surgery to remove a tumor.
Contact your doctor if you have persistent black stool, blood in your stool, or any other changes in your stool or bowel habits.
Page 15
Black stool occurs for a number of reasons. In some cases, it may be a side effect of a medication or a result of the food you have consumed. However, it may also suggest that there is a bleed in your upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This can be serious and should not be ignored. If your stool is black, this may be due to bleeding in the intestinal tract. Dark stool that contains blood from the upper GI tract is sometimes called melena. This can indicate a serious medical condition.
Black feces can occur due to damage to the esophagus, stomach, or small intestine. It is important to always pay attention to stool that appears black and tarry, particularly if it persists.
Read on to learn more about the possible causes of black stool and when to contact a doctor.
One of the main causes of black stool is a bleed in the upper GI tract, which includes the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. Upper GI tract bleeds affect around 80–150 out of 100,000 people each year.
Upper GI bleeds can occur as a result of:
A bleed from a tumor in the upper GI tract can signify cancer, including:
Other cancers, such as breast cancer and lung cancer, can spread to the stomach, which can also lead to bleeding in the upper GI tract.
Peptic ulcer disease is the most prevalent cause of upper GI bleeds, accounting for up to 40–50% of cases.
Although you should never ignore black or tarry feces, it does not always indicate cancer. Other causes of black stool include medication side effects and some foods.
Certain foods can cause your stool to have a dark or black appearance. These include:
- blueberries
- dark leafy vegetables
- black licorice
- Oreo cookies
- grape juice
It is also possible for Pepto-Bismol to cause your stool to appear black. This happens when the active ingredient, bismuth, comes into contact with sulfur in your saliva and digestive system.
Some medications can also result in black stool. One example is aspirin, which can contribute to bleeding in the upper GI tract. Taking aspirin combined with P2Y12 antiplatelet drugs makes this more likely.
Anticoagulants (blood thinners), such as warfarin, can also contribute to the likelihood of having black feces.
Ferrous fumarate and other medications for iron deficiencies may also result in black stool. Contact your doctor if you notice that your stool becomes black and sticky when taking iron.
Learn more about bloody stool here.
The type of treatment required will depend on the cause of the black stool. This can include making changes to your diet, taking over-the-counter medications, and seeking medical intervention.
If black stool occurs due to consuming black or dark foods, reducing your intake of those foods can help prevent this. However, black feces that occurs as a result of eating dark foods is not usually a cause for concern.
Iron supplements can also cause black stool. It is important to contact your doctor before changing or stopping any supplements you are taking, particularly if you take iron for an iron deficiency.
You may require medical treatment to treat the root cause of black stool. This will depend on the condition but may involve:
- a blood transfusion, if a bleed in the upper GI tract results in the excessive loss of red blood cells
- proton pump inhibitors to reduce the production of acid
- injection therapy, wherein a doctor will inject a medication directly into the source of the bleeding
- thermal techniques, which involve applying heat probes to cauterize the area that is bleeding
- angiographic embolization, during which coils are placed onto a catheter to stop blood flow to the injured site
- surgery to apply stitches to lacerations
If your black stool is a symptom of a cancer of the upper GI tract, your surgeon may be able to surgically remove the tumor and affected areas.
If the cancer has not spread, your doctor may recommend radiation therapy.
If it is not possible to operate on the cancer, or if it has spread to other parts of your body, your doctor may recommend radiation therapy or chemotherapy.
You may experience symptoms alongside black and tarry stool that can help a doctor identify the underlying cause.
If you have a bleed in the esophagus, you may experience:
- difficulty swallowing
- vomiting blood, or hematemesis
- indigestion
Contact your doctor if you notice that your stool is black or tarry. They can arrange for tests to identify the underlying cause.
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following symptoms alongside black and bloody stool:
To help diagnose the cause of your black stool, your doctor will ask for information about when you first noticed it and how frequently it occurs.
They may also arrange for tests to take a closer look at your upper GI tract. These tests can include:
- Upper endoscopy: The doctor will use a thin device with a camera at the end to look inside the upper digestive tract. Learn more here.
- Stool culture: In some cases, your doctor may take a sample of your black stool to send to the laboratory for analysis.
- Blood tests: Blood tests can help identify any possible medical causes of black stool.
If your doctor feels that your black stool may be due to cancer, they will arrange for tests to diagnose this. Tests for this purpose can include:
- an MRI scan
- a PET scan
- a CT scan
- an endoscopic ultrasound
- endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
- magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography
Although there is no “correct” stool color, a healthy bowel movement is typically brown. This brown color is due to the presence of bile and bilirubin, which occur when dead red blood cells naturally break down in the intestine.
If your stool is any color other than brown, it may be due to something you have consumed or a result of a medical condition. The table below provides more information about stool colors and what they might mean.
Contact your doctor if you notice blood in your stool or changes in your stool or bowel habits that persist.
Black stool may occur as a result of a bleed in the upper GI tract. This may be due to damage to the esophagus, stomach, or upper intestine. An upper GI bleed may indicate cancer, but this is not always the case.
To diagnose the cause of your black feces, a doctor will carry out a procedure called upper endoscopy. They may also arrange for blood tests and an analysis of stool culture, as well as tests to detect the presence of cancer.
Treatment will depend on the cause of the black stool, but it can include getting a blood transfusion, stitching the site of the bleed, or undergoing surgery to remove a tumor.
Contact your doctor if you have persistent black stool, blood in your stool, or any other changes in your stool or bowel habits.
Page 16
Black stool occurs for a number of reasons. In some cases, it may be a side effect of a medication or a result of the food you have consumed. However, it may also suggest that there is a bleed in your upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This can be serious and should not be ignored. If your stool is black, this may be due to bleeding in the intestinal tract. Dark stool that contains blood from the upper GI tract is sometimes called melena. This can indicate a serious medical condition.
Black feces can occur due to damage to the esophagus, stomach, or small intestine. It is important to always pay attention to stool that appears black and tarry, particularly if it persists.
Read on to learn more about the possible causes of black stool and when to contact a doctor.
One of the main causes of black stool is a bleed in the upper GI tract, which includes the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. Upper GI tract bleeds affect around 80–150 out of 100,000 people each year.
Upper GI bleeds can occur as a result of:
A bleed from a tumor in the upper GI tract can signify cancer, including:
Other cancers, such as breast cancer and lung cancer, can spread to the stomach, which can also lead to bleeding in the upper GI tract.
Peptic ulcer disease is the most prevalent cause of upper GI bleeds, accounting for up to 40–50% of cases.
Although you should never ignore black or tarry feces, it does not always indicate cancer. Other causes of black stool include medication side effects and some foods.
Certain foods can cause your stool to have a dark or black appearance. These include:
- blueberries
- dark leafy vegetables
- black licorice
- Oreo cookies
- grape juice
It is also possible for Pepto-Bismol to cause your stool to appear black. This happens when the active ingredient, bismuth, comes into contact with sulfur in your saliva and digestive system.
Some medications can also result in black stool. One example is aspirin, which can contribute to bleeding in the upper GI tract. Taking aspirin combined with P2Y12 antiplatelet drugs makes this more likely.
Anticoagulants (blood thinners), such as warfarin, can also contribute to the likelihood of having black feces.
Ferrous fumarate and other medications for iron deficiencies may also result in black stool. Contact your doctor if you notice that your stool becomes black and sticky when taking iron.
Learn more about bloody stool here.
The type of treatment required will depend on the cause of the black stool. This can include making changes to your diet, taking over-the-counter medications, and seeking medical intervention.
If black stool occurs due to consuming black or dark foods, reducing your intake of those foods can help prevent this. However, black feces that occurs as a result of eating dark foods is not usually a cause for concern.
Iron supplements can also cause black stool. It is important to contact your doctor before changing or stopping any supplements you are taking, particularly if you take iron for an iron deficiency.
You may require medical treatment to treat the root cause of black stool. This will depend on the condition but may involve:
- a blood transfusion, if a bleed in the upper GI tract results in the excessive loss of red blood cells
- proton pump inhibitors to reduce the production of acid
- injection therapy, wherein a doctor will inject a medication directly into the source of the bleeding
- thermal techniques, which involve applying heat probes to cauterize the area that is bleeding
- angiographic embolization, during which coils are placed onto a catheter to stop blood flow to the injured site
- surgery to apply stitches to lacerations
If your black stool is a symptom of a cancer of the upper GI tract, your surgeon may be able to surgically remove the tumor and affected areas.
If the cancer has not spread, your doctor may recommend radiation therapy.
If it is not possible to operate on the cancer, or if it has spread to other parts of your body, your doctor may recommend radiation therapy or chemotherapy.
You may experience symptoms alongside black and tarry stool that can help a doctor identify the underlying cause.
If you have a bleed in the esophagus, you may experience:
- difficulty swallowing
- vomiting blood, or hematemesis
- indigestion
Contact your doctor if you notice that your stool is black or tarry. They can arrange for tests to identify the underlying cause.
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following symptoms alongside black and bloody stool:
To help diagnose the cause of your black stool, your doctor will ask for information about when you first noticed it and how frequently it occurs.
They may also arrange for tests to take a closer look at your upper GI tract. These tests can include:
- Upper endoscopy: The doctor will use a thin device with a camera at the end to look inside the upper digestive tract. Learn more here.
- Stool culture: In some cases, your doctor may take a sample of your black stool to send to the laboratory for analysis.
- Blood tests: Blood tests can help identify any possible medical causes of black stool.
If your doctor feels that your black stool may be due to cancer, they will arrange for tests to diagnose this. Tests for this purpose can include:
- an MRI scan
- a PET scan
- a CT scan
- an endoscopic ultrasound
- endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
- magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography
Although there is no “correct” stool color, a healthy bowel movement is typically brown. This brown color is due to the presence of bile and bilirubin, which occur when dead red blood cells naturally break down in the intestine.
If your stool is any color other than brown, it may be due to something you have consumed or a result of a medical condition. The table below provides more information about stool colors and what they might mean.
Contact your doctor if you notice blood in your stool or changes in your stool or bowel habits that persist.
Black stool may occur as a result of a bleed in the upper GI tract. This may be due to damage to the esophagus, stomach, or upper intestine. An upper GI bleed may indicate cancer, but this is not always the case.
To diagnose the cause of your black feces, a doctor will carry out a procedure called upper endoscopy. They may also arrange for blood tests and an analysis of stool culture, as well as tests to detect the presence of cancer.
Treatment will depend on the cause of the black stool, but it can include getting a blood transfusion, stitching the site of the bleed, or undergoing surgery to remove a tumor.
Contact your doctor if you have persistent black stool, blood in your stool, or any other changes in your stool or bowel habits.
Page 17
Black stool occurs for a number of reasons. In some cases, it may be a side effect of a medication or a result of the food you have consumed. However, it may also suggest that there is a bleed in your upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This can be serious and should not be ignored. If your stool is black, this may be due to bleeding in the intestinal tract. Dark stool that contains blood from the upper GI tract is sometimes called melena. This can indicate a serious medical condition.
Black feces can occur due to damage to the esophagus, stomach, or small intestine. It is important to always pay attention to stool that appears black and tarry, particularly if it persists.
Read on to learn more about the possible causes of black stool and when to contact a doctor.
One of the main causes of black stool is a bleed in the upper GI tract, which includes the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. Upper GI tract bleeds affect around 80–150 out of 100,000 people each year.
Upper GI bleeds can occur as a result of:
A bleed from a tumor in the upper GI tract can signify cancer, including:
Other cancers, such as breast cancer and lung cancer, can spread to the stomach, which can also lead to bleeding in the upper GI tract.
Peptic ulcer disease is the most prevalent cause of upper GI bleeds, accounting for up to 40–50% of cases.
Although you should never ignore black or tarry feces, it does not always indicate cancer. Other causes of black stool include medication side effects and some foods.
Certain foods can cause your stool to have a dark or black appearance. These include:
- blueberries
- dark leafy vegetables
- black licorice
- Oreo cookies
- grape juice
It is also possible for Pepto-Bismol to cause your stool to appear black. This happens when the active ingredient, bismuth, comes into contact with sulfur in your saliva and digestive system.
Some medications can also result in black stool. One example is aspirin, which can contribute to bleeding in the upper GI tract. Taking aspirin combined with P2Y12 antiplatelet drugs makes this more likely.
Anticoagulants (blood thinners), such as warfarin, can also contribute to the likelihood of having black feces.
Ferrous fumarate and other medications for iron deficiencies may also result in black stool. Contact your doctor if you notice that your stool becomes black and sticky when taking iron.
Learn more about bloody stool here.
The type of treatment required will depend on the cause of the black stool. This can include making changes to your diet, taking over-the-counter medications, and seeking medical intervention.
If black stool occurs due to consuming black or dark foods, reducing your intake of those foods can help prevent this. However, black feces that occurs as a result of eating dark foods is not usually a cause for concern.
Iron supplements can also cause black stool. It is important to contact your doctor before changing or stopping any supplements you are taking, particularly if you take iron for an iron deficiency.
You may require medical treatment to treat the root cause of black stool. This will depend on the condition but may involve:
- a blood transfusion, if a bleed in the upper GI tract results in the excessive loss of red blood cells
- proton pump inhibitors to reduce the production of acid
- injection therapy, wherein a doctor will inject a medication directly into the source of the bleeding
- thermal techniques, which involve applying heat probes to cauterize the area that is bleeding
- angiographic embolization, during which coils are placed onto a catheter to stop blood flow to the injured site
- surgery to apply stitches to lacerations
If your black stool is a symptom of a cancer of the upper GI tract, your surgeon may be able to surgically remove the tumor and affected areas.
If the cancer has not spread, your doctor may recommend radiation therapy.
If it is not possible to operate on the cancer, or if it has spread to other parts of your body, your doctor may recommend radiation therapy or chemotherapy.
You may experience symptoms alongside black and tarry stool that can help a doctor identify the underlying cause.
If you have a bleed in the esophagus, you may experience:
- difficulty swallowing
- vomiting blood, or hematemesis
- indigestion
Contact your doctor if you notice that your stool is black or tarry. They can arrange for tests to identify the underlying cause.
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following symptoms alongside black and bloody stool:
To help diagnose the cause of your black stool, your doctor will ask for information about when you first noticed it and how frequently it occurs.
They may also arrange for tests to take a closer look at your upper GI tract. These tests can include:
- Upper endoscopy: The doctor will use a thin device with a camera at the end to look inside the upper digestive tract. Learn more here.
- Stool culture: In some cases, your doctor may take a sample of your black stool to send to the laboratory for analysis.
- Blood tests: Blood tests can help identify any possible medical causes of black stool.
If your doctor feels that your black stool may be due to cancer, they will arrange for tests to diagnose this. Tests for this purpose can include:
- an MRI scan
- a PET scan
- a CT scan
- an endoscopic ultrasound
- endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
- magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography
Although there is no “correct” stool color, a healthy bowel movement is typically brown. This brown color is due to the presence of bile and bilirubin, which occur when dead red blood cells naturally break down in the intestine.
If your stool is any color other than brown, it may be due to something you have consumed or a result of a medical condition. The table below provides more information about stool colors and what they might mean.
Contact your doctor if you notice blood in your stool or changes in your stool or bowel habits that persist.
Black stool may occur as a result of a bleed in the upper GI tract. This may be due to damage to the esophagus, stomach, or upper intestine. An upper GI bleed may indicate cancer, but this is not always the case.
To diagnose the cause of your black feces, a doctor will carry out a procedure called upper endoscopy. They may also arrange for blood tests and an analysis of stool culture, as well as tests to detect the presence of cancer.
Treatment will depend on the cause of the black stool, but it can include getting a blood transfusion, stitching the site of the bleed, or undergoing surgery to remove a tumor.
Contact your doctor if you have persistent black stool, blood in your stool, or any other changes in your stool or bowel habits.
Page 18
Black stool occurs for a number of reasons. In some cases, it may be a side effect of a medication or a result of the food you have consumed. However, it may also suggest that there is a bleed in your upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This can be serious and should not be ignored. If your stool is black, this may be due to bleeding in the intestinal tract. Dark stool that contains blood from the upper GI tract is sometimes called melena. This can indicate a serious medical condition.
Black feces can occur due to damage to the esophagus, stomach, or small intestine. It is important to always pay attention to stool that appears black and tarry, particularly if it persists.
Read on to learn more about the possible causes of black stool and when to contact a doctor.
One of the main causes of black stool is a bleed in the upper GI tract, which includes the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. Upper GI tract bleeds affect around 80–150 out of 100,000 people each year.
Upper GI bleeds can occur as a result of:
A bleed from a tumor in the upper GI tract can signify cancer, including:
Other cancers, such as breast cancer and lung cancer, can spread to the stomach, which can also lead to bleeding in the upper GI tract.
Peptic ulcer disease is the most prevalent cause of upper GI bleeds, accounting for up to 40–50% of cases.
Although you should never ignore black or tarry feces, it does not always indicate cancer. Other causes of black stool include medication side effects and some foods.
Certain foods can cause your stool to have a dark or black appearance. These include:
- blueberries
- dark leafy vegetables
- black licorice
- Oreo cookies
- grape juice
It is also possible for Pepto-Bismol to cause your stool to appear black. This happens when the active ingredient, bismuth, comes into contact with sulfur in your saliva and digestive system.
Some medications can also result in black stool. One example is aspirin, which can contribute to bleeding in the upper GI tract. Taking aspirin combined with P2Y12 antiplatelet drugs makes this more likely.
Anticoagulants (blood thinners), such as warfarin, can also contribute to the likelihood of having black feces.
Ferrous fumarate and other medications for iron deficiencies may also result in black stool. Contact your doctor if you notice that your stool becomes black and sticky when taking iron.
Learn more about bloody stool here.
The type of treatment required will depend on the cause of the black stool. This can include making changes to your diet, taking over-the-counter medications, and seeking medical intervention.
If black stool occurs due to consuming black or dark foods, reducing your intake of those foods can help prevent this. However, black feces that occurs as a result of eating dark foods is not usually a cause for concern.
Iron supplements can also cause black stool. It is important to contact your doctor before changing or stopping any supplements you are taking, particularly if you take iron for an iron deficiency.
You may require medical treatment to treat the root cause of black stool. This will depend on the condition but may involve:
- a blood transfusion, if a bleed in the upper GI tract results in the excessive loss of red blood cells
- proton pump inhibitors to reduce the production of acid
- injection therapy, wherein a doctor will inject a medication directly into the source of the bleeding
- thermal techniques, which involve applying heat probes to cauterize the area that is bleeding
- angiographic embolization, during which coils are placed onto a catheter to stop blood flow to the injured site
- surgery to apply stitches to lacerations
If your black stool is a symptom of a cancer of the upper GI tract, your surgeon may be able to surgically remove the tumor and affected areas.
If the cancer has not spread, your doctor may recommend radiation therapy.
If it is not possible to operate on the cancer, or if it has spread to other parts of your body, your doctor may recommend radiation therapy or chemotherapy.
You may experience symptoms alongside black and tarry stool that can help a doctor identify the underlying cause.
If you have a bleed in the esophagus, you may experience:
- difficulty swallowing
- vomiting blood, or hematemesis
- indigestion
Contact your doctor if you notice that your stool is black or tarry. They can arrange for tests to identify the underlying cause.
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following symptoms alongside black and bloody stool:
To help diagnose the cause of your black stool, your doctor will ask for information about when you first noticed it and how frequently it occurs.
They may also arrange for tests to take a closer look at your upper GI tract. These tests can include:
- Upper endoscopy: The doctor will use a thin device with a camera at the end to look inside the upper digestive tract. Learn more here.
- Stool culture: In some cases, your doctor may take a sample of your black stool to send to the laboratory for analysis.
- Blood tests: Blood tests can help identify any possible medical causes of black stool.
If your doctor feels that your black stool may be due to cancer, they will arrange for tests to diagnose this. Tests for this purpose can include:
- an MRI scan
- a PET scan
- a CT scan
- an endoscopic ultrasound
- endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
- magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography
Although there is no “correct” stool color, a healthy bowel movement is typically brown. This brown color is due to the presence of bile and bilirubin, which occur when dead red blood cells naturally break down in the intestine.
If your stool is any color other than brown, it may be due to something you have consumed or a result of a medical condition. The table below provides more information about stool colors and what they might mean.
Contact your doctor if you notice blood in your stool or changes in your stool or bowel habits that persist.
Black stool may occur as a result of a bleed in the upper GI tract. This may be due to damage to the esophagus, stomach, or upper intestine. An upper GI bleed may indicate cancer, but this is not always the case.
To diagnose the cause of your black feces, a doctor will carry out a procedure called upper endoscopy. They may also arrange for blood tests and an analysis of stool culture, as well as tests to detect the presence of cancer.
Treatment will depend on the cause of the black stool, but it can include getting a blood transfusion, stitching the site of the bleed, or undergoing surgery to remove a tumor.
Contact your doctor if you have persistent black stool, blood in your stool, or any other changes in your stool or bowel habits.
Page 19
Black stool occurs for a number of reasons. In some cases, it may be a side effect of a medication or a result of the food you have consumed. However, it may also suggest that there is a bleed in your upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This can be serious and should not be ignored. If your stool is black, this may be due to bleeding in the intestinal tract. Dark stool that contains blood from the upper GI tract is sometimes called melena. This can indicate a serious medical condition.
Black feces can occur due to damage to the esophagus, stomach, or small intestine. It is important to always pay attention to stool that appears black and tarry, particularly if it persists.
Read on to learn more about the possible causes of black stool and when to contact a doctor.
One of the main causes of black stool is a bleed in the upper GI tract, which includes the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. Upper GI tract bleeds affect around 80–150 out of 100,000 people each year.
Upper GI bleeds can occur as a result of:
A bleed from a tumor in the upper GI tract can signify cancer, including:
Other cancers, such as breast cancer and lung cancer, can spread to the stomach, which can also lead to bleeding in the upper GI tract.
Peptic ulcer disease is the most prevalent cause of upper GI bleeds, accounting for up to 40–50% of cases.
Although you should never ignore black or tarry feces, it does not always indicate cancer. Other causes of black stool include medication side effects and some foods.
Certain foods can cause your stool to have a dark or black appearance. These include:
- blueberries
- dark leafy vegetables
- black licorice
- Oreo cookies
- grape juice
It is also possible for Pepto-Bismol to cause your stool to appear black. This happens when the active ingredient, bismuth, comes into contact with sulfur in your saliva and digestive system.
Some medications can also result in black stool. One example is aspirin, which can contribute to bleeding in the upper GI tract. Taking aspirin combined with P2Y12 antiplatelet drugs makes this more likely.
Anticoagulants (blood thinners), such as warfarin, can also contribute to the likelihood of having black feces.
Ferrous fumarate and other medications for iron deficiencies may also result in black stool. Contact your doctor if you notice that your stool becomes black and sticky when taking iron.
Learn more about bloody stool here.
The type of treatment required will depend on the cause of the black stool. This can include making changes to your diet, taking over-the-counter medications, and seeking medical intervention.
If black stool occurs due to consuming black or dark foods, reducing your intake of those foods can help prevent this. However, black feces that occurs as a result of eating dark foods is not usually a cause for concern.
Iron supplements can also cause black stool. It is important to contact your doctor before changing or stopping any supplements you are taking, particularly if you take iron for an iron deficiency.
You may require medical treatment to treat the root cause of black stool. This will depend on the condition but may involve:
- a blood transfusion, if a bleed in the upper GI tract results in the excessive loss of red blood cells
- proton pump inhibitors to reduce the production of acid
- injection therapy, wherein a doctor will inject a medication directly into the source of the bleeding
- thermal techniques, which involve applying heat probes to cauterize the area that is bleeding
- angiographic embolization, during which coils are placed onto a catheter to stop blood flow to the injured site
- surgery to apply stitches to lacerations
If your black stool is a symptom of a cancer of the upper GI tract, your surgeon may be able to surgically remove the tumor and affected areas.
If the cancer has not spread, your doctor may recommend radiation therapy.
If it is not possible to operate on the cancer, or if it has spread to other parts of your body, your doctor may recommend radiation therapy or chemotherapy.
You may experience symptoms alongside black and tarry stool that can help a doctor identify the underlying cause.
If you have a bleed in the esophagus, you may experience:
- difficulty swallowing
- vomiting blood, or hematemesis
- indigestion
Contact your doctor if you notice that your stool is black or tarry. They can arrange for tests to identify the underlying cause.
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following symptoms alongside black and bloody stool:
To help diagnose the cause of your black stool, your doctor will ask for information about when you first noticed it and how frequently it occurs.
They may also arrange for tests to take a closer look at your upper GI tract. These tests can include:
- Upper endoscopy: The doctor will use a thin device with a camera at the end to look inside the upper digestive tract. Learn more here.
- Stool culture: In some cases, your doctor may take a sample of your black stool to send to the laboratory for analysis.
- Blood tests: Blood tests can help identify any possible medical causes of black stool.
If your doctor feels that your black stool may be due to cancer, they will arrange for tests to diagnose this. Tests for this purpose can include:
- an MRI scan
- a PET scan
- a CT scan
- an endoscopic ultrasound
- endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
- magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography
Although there is no “correct” stool color, a healthy bowel movement is typically brown. This brown color is due to the presence of bile and bilirubin, which occur when dead red blood cells naturally break down in the intestine.
If your stool is any color other than brown, it may be due to something you have consumed or a result of a medical condition. The table below provides more information about stool colors and what they might mean.
Contact your doctor if you notice blood in your stool or changes in your stool or bowel habits that persist.
Black stool may occur as a result of a bleed in the upper GI tract. This may be due to damage to the esophagus, stomach, or upper intestine. An upper GI bleed may indicate cancer, but this is not always the case.
To diagnose the cause of your black feces, a doctor will carry out a procedure called upper endoscopy. They may also arrange for blood tests and an analysis of stool culture, as well as tests to detect the presence of cancer.
Treatment will depend on the cause of the black stool, but it can include getting a blood transfusion, stitching the site of the bleed, or undergoing surgery to remove a tumor.
Contact your doctor if you have persistent black stool, blood in your stool, or any other changes in your stool or bowel habits.
Page 20
Black stool occurs for a number of reasons. In some cases, it may be a side effect of a medication or a result of the food you have consumed. However, it may also suggest that there is a bleed in your upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This can be serious and should not be ignored. If your stool is black, this may be due to bleeding in the intestinal tract. Dark stool that contains blood from the upper GI tract is sometimes called melena. This can indicate a serious medical condition.
Black feces can occur due to damage to the esophagus, stomach, or small intestine. It is important to always pay attention to stool that appears black and tarry, particularly if it persists.
Read on to learn more about the possible causes of black stool and when to contact a doctor.
One of the main causes of black stool is a bleed in the upper GI tract, which includes the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. Upper GI tract bleeds affect around 80–150 out of 100,000 people each year.
Upper GI bleeds can occur as a result of:
A bleed from a tumor in the upper GI tract can signify cancer, including:
Other cancers, such as breast cancer and lung cancer, can spread to the stomach, which can also lead to bleeding in the upper GI tract.
Peptic ulcer disease is the most prevalent cause of upper GI bleeds, accounting for up to 40–50% of cases.
Although you should never ignore black or tarry feces, it does not always indicate cancer. Other causes of black stool include medication side effects and some foods.
Certain foods can cause your stool to have a dark or black appearance. These include:
- blueberries
- dark leafy vegetables
- black licorice
- Oreo cookies
- grape juice
It is also possible for Pepto-Bismol to cause your stool to appear black. This happens when the active ingredient, bismuth, comes into contact with sulfur in your saliva and digestive system.
Some medications can also result in black stool. One example is aspirin, which can contribute to bleeding in the upper GI tract. Taking aspirin combined with P2Y12 antiplatelet drugs makes this more likely.
Anticoagulants (blood thinners), such as warfarin, can also contribute to the likelihood of having black feces.
Ferrous fumarate and other medications for iron deficiencies may also result in black stool. Contact your doctor if you notice that your stool becomes black and sticky when taking iron.
Learn more about bloody stool here.
The type of treatment required will depend on the cause of the black stool. This can include making changes to your diet, taking over-the-counter medications, and seeking medical intervention.
If black stool occurs due to consuming black or dark foods, reducing your intake of those foods can help prevent this. However, black feces that occurs as a result of eating dark foods is not usually a cause for concern.
Iron supplements can also cause black stool. It is important to contact your doctor before changing or stopping any supplements you are taking, particularly if you take iron for an iron deficiency.
You may require medical treatment to treat the root cause of black stool. This will depend on the condition but may involve:
- a blood transfusion, if a bleed in the upper GI tract results in the excessive loss of red blood cells
- proton pump inhibitors to reduce the production of acid
- injection therapy, wherein a doctor will inject a medication directly into the source of the bleeding
- thermal techniques, which involve applying heat probes to cauterize the area that is bleeding
- angiographic embolization, during which coils are placed onto a catheter to stop blood flow to the injured site
- surgery to apply stitches to lacerations
If your black stool is a symptom of a cancer of the upper GI tract, your surgeon may be able to surgically remove the tumor and affected areas.
If the cancer has not spread, your doctor may recommend radiation therapy.
If it is not possible to operate on the cancer, or if it has spread to other parts of your body, your doctor may recommend radiation therapy or chemotherapy.
You may experience symptoms alongside black and tarry stool that can help a doctor identify the underlying cause.
If you have a bleed in the esophagus, you may experience:
- difficulty swallowing
- vomiting blood, or hematemesis
- indigestion
Contact your doctor if you notice that your stool is black or tarry. They can arrange for tests to identify the underlying cause.
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following symptoms alongside black and bloody stool:
To help diagnose the cause of your black stool, your doctor will ask for information about when you first noticed it and how frequently it occurs.
They may also arrange for tests to take a closer look at your upper GI tract. These tests can include:
- Upper endoscopy: The doctor will use a thin device with a camera at the end to look inside the upper digestive tract. Learn more here.
- Stool culture: In some cases, your doctor may take a sample of your black stool to send to the laboratory for analysis.
- Blood tests: Blood tests can help identify any possible medical causes of black stool.
If your doctor feels that your black stool may be due to cancer, they will arrange for tests to diagnose this. Tests for this purpose can include:
- an MRI scan
- a PET scan
- a CT scan
- an endoscopic ultrasound
- endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
- magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography
Although there is no “correct” stool color, a healthy bowel movement is typically brown. This brown color is due to the presence of bile and bilirubin, which occur when dead red blood cells naturally break down in the intestine.
If your stool is any color other than brown, it may be due to something you have consumed or a result of a medical condition. The table below provides more information about stool colors and what they might mean.
Contact your doctor if you notice blood in your stool or changes in your stool or bowel habits that persist.
Black stool may occur as a result of a bleed in the upper GI tract. This may be due to damage to the esophagus, stomach, or upper intestine. An upper GI bleed may indicate cancer, but this is not always the case.
To diagnose the cause of your black feces, a doctor will carry out a procedure called upper endoscopy. They may also arrange for blood tests and an analysis of stool culture, as well as tests to detect the presence of cancer.
Treatment will depend on the cause of the black stool, but it can include getting a blood transfusion, stitching the site of the bleed, or undergoing surgery to remove a tumor.
Contact your doctor if you have persistent black stool, blood in your stool, or any other changes in your stool or bowel habits.
Page 21
Black stool occurs for a number of reasons. In some cases, it may be a side effect of a medication or a result of the food you have consumed. However, it may also suggest that there is a bleed in your upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This can be serious and should not be ignored. If your stool is black, this may be due to bleeding in the intestinal tract. Dark stool that contains blood from the upper GI tract is sometimes called melena. This can indicate a serious medical condition.
Black feces can occur due to damage to the esophagus, stomach, or small intestine. It is important to always pay attention to stool that appears black and tarry, particularly if it persists.
Read on to learn more about the possible causes of black stool and when to contact a doctor.
One of the main causes of black stool is a bleed in the upper GI tract, which includes the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. Upper GI tract bleeds affect around 80–150 out of 100,000 people each year.
Upper GI bleeds can occur as a result of:
A bleed from a tumor in the upper GI tract can signify cancer, including:
Other cancers, such as breast cancer and lung cancer, can spread to the stomach, which can also lead to bleeding in the upper GI tract.
Peptic ulcer disease is the most prevalent cause of upper GI bleeds, accounting for up to 40–50% of cases.
Although you should never ignore black or tarry feces, it does not always indicate cancer. Other causes of black stool include medication side effects and some foods.
Certain foods can cause your stool to have a dark or black appearance. These include:
- blueberries
- dark leafy vegetables
- black licorice
- Oreo cookies
- grape juice
It is also possible for Pepto-Bismol to cause your stool to appear black. This happens when the active ingredient, bismuth, comes into contact with sulfur in your saliva and digestive system.
Some medications can also result in black stool. One example is aspirin, which can contribute to bleeding in the upper GI tract. Taking aspirin combined with P2Y12 antiplatelet drugs makes this more likely.
Anticoagulants (blood thinners), such as warfarin, can also contribute to the likelihood of having black feces.
Ferrous fumarate and other medications for iron deficiencies may also result in black stool. Contact your doctor if you notice that your stool becomes black and sticky when taking iron.
Learn more about bloody stool here.
The type of treatment required will depend on the cause of the black stool. This can include making changes to your diet, taking over-the-counter medications, and seeking medical intervention.
If black stool occurs due to consuming black or dark foods, reducing your intake of those foods can help prevent this. However, black feces that occurs as a result of eating dark foods is not usually a cause for concern.
Iron supplements can also cause black stool. It is important to contact your doctor before changing or stopping any supplements you are taking, particularly if you take iron for an iron deficiency.
You may require medical treatment to treat the root cause of black stool. This will depend on the condition but may involve:
- a blood transfusion, if a bleed in the upper GI tract results in the excessive loss of red blood cells
- proton pump inhibitors to reduce the production of acid
- injection therapy, wherein a doctor will inject a medication directly into the source of the bleeding
- thermal techniques, which involve applying heat probes to cauterize the area that is bleeding
- angiographic embolization, during which coils are placed onto a catheter to stop blood flow to the injured site
- surgery to apply stitches to lacerations
If your black stool is a symptom of a cancer of the upper GI tract, your surgeon may be able to surgically remove the tumor and affected areas.
If the cancer has not spread, your doctor may recommend radiation therapy.
If it is not possible to operate on the cancer, or if it has spread to other parts of your body, your doctor may recommend radiation therapy or chemotherapy.
You may experience symptoms alongside black and tarry stool that can help a doctor identify the underlying cause.
If you have a bleed in the esophagus, you may experience:
- difficulty swallowing
- vomiting blood, or hematemesis
- indigestion
Contact your doctor if you notice that your stool is black or tarry. They can arrange for tests to identify the underlying cause.
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following symptoms alongside black and bloody stool:
To help diagnose the cause of your black stool, your doctor will ask for information about when you first noticed it and how frequently it occurs.
They may also arrange for tests to take a closer look at your upper GI tract. These tests can include:
- Upper endoscopy: The doctor will use a thin device with a camera at the end to look inside the upper digestive tract. Learn more here.
- Stool culture: In some cases, your doctor may take a sample of your black stool to send to the laboratory for analysis.
- Blood tests: Blood tests can help identify any possible medical causes of black stool.
If your doctor feels that your black stool may be due to cancer, they will arrange for tests to diagnose this. Tests for this purpose can include:
- an MRI scan
- a PET scan
- a CT scan
- an endoscopic ultrasound
- endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
- magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography
Although there is no “correct” stool color, a healthy bowel movement is typically brown. This brown color is due to the presence of bile and bilirubin, which occur when dead red blood cells naturally break down in the intestine.
If your stool is any color other than brown, it may be due to something you have consumed or a result of a medical condition. The table below provides more information about stool colors and what they might mean.
Contact your doctor if you notice blood in your stool or changes in your stool or bowel habits that persist.
Black stool may occur as a result of a bleed in the upper GI tract. This may be due to damage to the esophagus, stomach, or upper intestine. An upper GI bleed may indicate cancer, but this is not always the case.
To diagnose the cause of your black feces, a doctor will carry out a procedure called upper endoscopy. They may also arrange for blood tests and an analysis of stool culture, as well as tests to detect the presence of cancer.
Treatment will depend on the cause of the black stool, but it can include getting a blood transfusion, stitching the site of the bleed, or undergoing surgery to remove a tumor.
Contact your doctor if you have persistent black stool, blood in your stool, or any other changes in your stool or bowel habits.
Page 22
Black stool occurs for a number of reasons. In some cases, it may be a side effect of a medication or a result of the food you have consumed. However, it may also suggest that there is a bleed in your upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This can be serious and should not be ignored. If your stool is black, this may be due to bleeding in the intestinal tract. Dark stool that contains blood from the upper GI tract is sometimes called melena. This can indicate a serious medical condition.
Black feces can occur due to damage to the esophagus, stomach, or small intestine. It is important to always pay attention to stool that appears black and tarry, particularly if it persists.
Read on to learn more about the possible causes of black stool and when to contact a doctor.
One of the main causes of black stool is a bleed in the upper GI tract, which includes the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. Upper GI tract bleeds affect around 80–150 out of 100,000 people each year.
Upper GI bleeds can occur as a result of:
A bleed from a tumor in the upper GI tract can signify cancer, including:
Other cancers, such as breast cancer and lung cancer, can spread to the stomach, which can also lead to bleeding in the upper GI tract.
Peptic ulcer disease is the most prevalent cause of upper GI bleeds, accounting for up to 40–50% of cases.
Although you should never ignore black or tarry feces, it does not always indicate cancer. Other causes of black stool include medication side effects and some foods.
Certain foods can cause your stool to have a dark or black appearance. These include:
- blueberries
- dark leafy vegetables
- black licorice
- Oreo cookies
- grape juice
It is also possible for Pepto-Bismol to cause your stool to appear black. This happens when the active ingredient, bismuth, comes into contact with sulfur in your saliva and digestive system.
Some medications can also result in black stool. One example is aspirin, which can contribute to bleeding in the upper GI tract. Taking aspirin combined with P2Y12 antiplatelet drugs makes this more likely.
Anticoagulants (blood thinners), such as warfarin, can also contribute to the likelihood of having black feces.
Ferrous fumarate and other medications for iron deficiencies may also result in black stool. Contact your doctor if you notice that your stool becomes black and sticky when taking iron.
Learn more about bloody stool here.
The type of treatment required will depend on the cause of the black stool. This can include making changes to your diet, taking over-the-counter medications, and seeking medical intervention.
If black stool occurs due to consuming black or dark foods, reducing your intake of those foods can help prevent this. However, black feces that occurs as a result of eating dark foods is not usually a cause for concern.
Iron supplements can also cause black stool. It is important to contact your doctor before changing or stopping any supplements you are taking, particularly if you take iron for an iron deficiency.
You may require medical treatment to treat the root cause of black stool. This will depend on the condition but may involve:
- a blood transfusion, if a bleed in the upper GI tract results in the excessive loss of red blood cells
- proton pump inhibitors to reduce the production of acid
- injection therapy, wherein a doctor will inject a medication directly into the source of the bleeding
- thermal techniques, which involve applying heat probes to cauterize the area that is bleeding
- angiographic embolization, during which coils are placed onto a catheter to stop blood flow to the injured site
- surgery to apply stitches to lacerations
If your black stool is a symptom of a cancer of the upper GI tract, your surgeon may be able to surgically remove the tumor and affected areas.
If the cancer has not spread, your doctor may recommend radiation therapy.
If it is not possible to operate on the cancer, or if it has spread to other parts of your body, your doctor may recommend radiation therapy or chemotherapy.
You may experience symptoms alongside black and tarry stool that can help a doctor identify the underlying cause.
If you have a bleed in the esophagus, you may experience:
- difficulty swallowing
- vomiting blood, or hematemesis
- indigestion
Contact your doctor if you notice that your stool is black or tarry. They can arrange for tests to identify the underlying cause.
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following symptoms alongside black and bloody stool:
To help diagnose the cause of your black stool, your doctor will ask for information about when you first noticed it and how frequently it occurs.
They may also arrange for tests to take a closer look at your upper GI tract. These tests can include:
- Upper endoscopy: The doctor will use a thin device with a camera at the end to look inside the upper digestive tract. Learn more here.
- Stool culture: In some cases, your doctor may take a sample of your black stool to send to the laboratory for analysis.
- Blood tests: Blood tests can help identify any possible medical causes of black stool.
If your doctor feels that your black stool may be due to cancer, they will arrange for tests to diagnose this. Tests for this purpose can include:
- an MRI scan
- a PET scan
- a CT scan
- an endoscopic ultrasound
- endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
- magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography
Although there is no “correct” stool color, a healthy bowel movement is typically brown. This brown color is due to the presence of bile and bilirubin, which occur when dead red blood cells naturally break down in the intestine.
If your stool is any color other than brown, it may be due to something you have consumed or a result of a medical condition. The table below provides more information about stool colors and what they might mean.
Contact your doctor if you notice blood in your stool or changes in your stool or bowel habits that persist.
Black stool may occur as a result of a bleed in the upper GI tract. This may be due to damage to the esophagus, stomach, or upper intestine. An upper GI bleed may indicate cancer, but this is not always the case.
To diagnose the cause of your black feces, a doctor will carry out a procedure called upper endoscopy. They may also arrange for blood tests and an analysis of stool culture, as well as tests to detect the presence of cancer.
Treatment will depend on the cause of the black stool, but it can include getting a blood transfusion, stitching the site of the bleed, or undergoing surgery to remove a tumor.
Contact your doctor if you have persistent black stool, blood in your stool, or any other changes in your stool or bowel habits.
Page 23
Black stool occurs for a number of reasons. In some cases, it may be a side effect of a medication or a result of the food you have consumed. However, it may also suggest that there is a bleed in your upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This can be serious and should not be ignored. If your stool is black, this may be due to bleeding in the intestinal tract. Dark stool that contains blood from the upper GI tract is sometimes called melena. This can indicate a serious medical condition.
Black feces can occur due to damage to the esophagus, stomach, or small intestine. It is important to always pay attention to stool that appears black and tarry, particularly if it persists.
Read on to learn more about the possible causes of black stool and when to contact a doctor.
One of the main causes of black stool is a bleed in the upper GI tract, which includes the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. Upper GI tract bleeds affect around 80–150 out of 100,000 people each year.
Upper GI bleeds can occur as a result of:
A bleed from a tumor in the upper GI tract can signify cancer, including:
Other cancers, such as breast cancer and lung cancer, can spread to the stomach, which can also lead to bleeding in the upper GI tract.
Peptic ulcer disease is the most prevalent cause of upper GI bleeds, accounting for up to 40–50% of cases.
Although you should never ignore black or tarry feces, it does not always indicate cancer. Other causes of black stool include medication side effects and some foods.
Certain foods can cause your stool to have a dark or black appearance. These include:
- blueberries
- dark leafy vegetables
- black licorice
- Oreo cookies
- grape juice
It is also possible for Pepto-Bismol to cause your stool to appear black. This happens when the active ingredient, bismuth, comes into contact with sulfur in your saliva and digestive system.
Some medications can also result in black stool. One example is aspirin, which can contribute to bleeding in the upper GI tract. Taking aspirin combined with P2Y12 antiplatelet drugs makes this more likely.
Anticoagulants (blood thinners), such as warfarin, can also contribute to the likelihood of having black feces.
Ferrous fumarate and other medications for iron deficiencies may also result in black stool. Contact your doctor if you notice that your stool becomes black and sticky when taking iron.
Learn more about bloody stool here.
The type of treatment required will depend on the cause of the black stool. This can include making changes to your diet, taking over-the-counter medications, and seeking medical intervention.
If black stool occurs due to consuming black or dark foods, reducing your intake of those foods can help prevent this. However, black feces that occurs as a result of eating dark foods is not usually a cause for concern.
Iron supplements can also cause black stool. It is important to contact your doctor before changing or stopping any supplements you are taking, particularly if you take iron for an iron deficiency.
You may require medical treatment to treat the root cause of black stool. This will depend on the condition but may involve:
- a blood transfusion, if a bleed in the upper GI tract results in the excessive loss of red blood cells
- proton pump inhibitors to reduce the production of acid
- injection therapy, wherein a doctor will inject a medication directly into the source of the bleeding
- thermal techniques, which involve applying heat probes to cauterize the area that is bleeding
- angiographic embolization, during which coils are placed onto a catheter to stop blood flow to the injured site
- surgery to apply stitches to lacerations
If your black stool is a symptom of a cancer of the upper GI tract, your surgeon may be able to surgically remove the tumor and affected areas.
If the cancer has not spread, your doctor may recommend radiation therapy.
If it is not possible to operate on the cancer, or if it has spread to other parts of your body, your doctor may recommend radiation therapy or chemotherapy.
You may experience symptoms alongside black and tarry stool that can help a doctor identify the underlying cause.
If you have a bleed in the esophagus, you may experience:
- difficulty swallowing
- vomiting blood, or hematemesis
- indigestion
Contact your doctor if you notice that your stool is black or tarry. They can arrange for tests to identify the underlying cause.
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following symptoms alongside black and bloody stool:
To help diagnose the cause of your black stool, your doctor will ask for information about when you first noticed it and how frequently it occurs.
They may also arrange for tests to take a closer look at your upper GI tract. These tests can include:
- Upper endoscopy: The doctor will use a thin device with a camera at the end to look inside the upper digestive tract. Learn more here.
- Stool culture: In some cases, your doctor may take a sample of your black stool to send to the laboratory for analysis.
- Blood tests: Blood tests can help identify any possible medical causes of black stool.
If your doctor feels that your black stool may be due to cancer, they will arrange for tests to diagnose this. Tests for this purpose can include:
- an MRI scan
- a PET scan
- a CT scan
- an endoscopic ultrasound
- endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
- magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography
Although there is no “correct” stool color, a healthy bowel movement is typically brown. This brown color is due to the presence of bile and bilirubin, which occur when dead red blood cells naturally break down in the intestine.
If your stool is any color other than brown, it may be due to something you have consumed or a result of a medical condition. The table below provides more information about stool colors and what they might mean.
Contact your doctor if you notice blood in your stool or changes in your stool or bowel habits that persist.
Black stool may occur as a result of a bleed in the upper GI tract. This may be due to damage to the esophagus, stomach, or upper intestine. An upper GI bleed may indicate cancer, but this is not always the case.
To diagnose the cause of your black feces, a doctor will carry out a procedure called upper endoscopy. They may also arrange for blood tests and an analysis of stool culture, as well as tests to detect the presence of cancer.
Treatment will depend on the cause of the black stool, but it can include getting a blood transfusion, stitching the site of the bleed, or undergoing surgery to remove a tumor.
Contact your doctor if you have persistent black stool, blood in your stool, or any other changes in your stool or bowel habits.
Page 24
Black stool occurs for a number of reasons. In some cases, it may be a side effect of a medication or a result of the food you have consumed. However, it may also suggest that there is a bleed in your upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This can be serious and should not be ignored. If your stool is black, this may be due to bleeding in the intestinal tract. Dark stool that contains blood from the upper GI tract is sometimes called melena. This can indicate a serious medical condition.
Black feces can occur due to damage to the esophagus, stomach, or small intestine. It is important to always pay attention to stool that appears black and tarry, particularly if it persists.
Read on to learn more about the possible causes of black stool and when to contact a doctor.
One of the main causes of black stool is a bleed in the upper GI tract, which includes the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. Upper GI tract bleeds affect around 80–150 out of 100,000 people each year.
Upper GI bleeds can occur as a result of:
A bleed from a tumor in the upper GI tract can signify cancer, including:
Other cancers, such as breast cancer and lung cancer, can spread to the stomach, which can also lead to bleeding in the upper GI tract.
Peptic ulcer disease is the most prevalent cause of upper GI bleeds, accounting for up to 40–50% of cases.
Although you should never ignore black or tarry feces, it does not always indicate cancer. Other causes of black stool include medication side effects and some foods.
Certain foods can cause your stool to have a dark or black appearance. These include:
- blueberries
- dark leafy vegetables
- black licorice
- Oreo cookies
- grape juice
It is also possible for Pepto-Bismol to cause your stool to appear black. This happens when the active ingredient, bismuth, comes into contact with sulfur in your saliva and digestive system.
Some medications can also result in black stool. One example is aspirin, which can contribute to bleeding in the upper GI tract. Taking aspirin combined with P2Y12 antiplatelet drugs makes this more likely.
Anticoagulants (blood thinners), such as warfarin, can also contribute to the likelihood of having black feces.
Ferrous fumarate and other medications for iron deficiencies may also result in black stool. Contact your doctor if you notice that your stool becomes black and sticky when taking iron.
Learn more about bloody stool here.
The type of treatment required will depend on the cause of the black stool. This can include making changes to your diet, taking over-the-counter medications, and seeking medical intervention.
If black stool occurs due to consuming black or dark foods, reducing your intake of those foods can help prevent this. However, black feces that occurs as a result of eating dark foods is not usually a cause for concern.
Iron supplements can also cause black stool. It is important to contact your doctor before changing or stopping any supplements you are taking, particularly if you take iron for an iron deficiency.
You may require medical treatment to treat the root cause of black stool. This will depend on the condition but may involve:
- a blood transfusion, if a bleed in the upper GI tract results in the excessive loss of red blood cells
- proton pump inhibitors to reduce the production of acid
- injection therapy, wherein a doctor will inject a medication directly into the source of the bleeding
- thermal techniques, which involve applying heat probes to cauterize the area that is bleeding
- angiographic embolization, during which coils are placed onto a catheter to stop blood flow to the injured site
- surgery to apply stitches to lacerations
If your black stool is a symptom of a cancer of the upper GI tract, your surgeon may be able to surgically remove the tumor and affected areas.
If the cancer has not spread, your doctor may recommend radiation therapy.
If it is not possible to operate on the cancer, or if it has spread to other parts of your body, your doctor may recommend radiation therapy or chemotherapy.
You may experience symptoms alongside black and tarry stool that can help a doctor identify the underlying cause.
If you have a bleed in the esophagus, you may experience:
- difficulty swallowing
- vomiting blood, or hematemesis
- indigestion
Contact your doctor if you notice that your stool is black or tarry. They can arrange for tests to identify the underlying cause.
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following symptoms alongside black and bloody stool:
To help diagnose the cause of your black stool, your doctor will ask for information about when you first noticed it and how frequently it occurs.
They may also arrange for tests to take a closer look at your upper GI tract. These tests can include:
- Upper endoscopy: The doctor will use a thin device with a camera at the end to look inside the upper digestive tract. Learn more here.
- Stool culture: In some cases, your doctor may take a sample of your black stool to send to the laboratory for analysis.
- Blood tests: Blood tests can help identify any possible medical causes of black stool.
If your doctor feels that your black stool may be due to cancer, they will arrange for tests to diagnose this. Tests for this purpose can include:
- an MRI scan
- a PET scan
- a CT scan
- an endoscopic ultrasound
- endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
- magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography
Although there is no “correct” stool color, a healthy bowel movement is typically brown. This brown color is due to the presence of bile and bilirubin, which occur when dead red blood cells naturally break down in the intestine.
If your stool is any color other than brown, it may be due to something you have consumed or a result of a medical condition. The table below provides more information about stool colors and what they might mean.
Contact your doctor if you notice blood in your stool or changes in your stool or bowel habits that persist.
Black stool may occur as a result of a bleed in the upper GI tract. This may be due to damage to the esophagus, stomach, or upper intestine. An upper GI bleed may indicate cancer, but this is not always the case.
To diagnose the cause of your black feces, a doctor will carry out a procedure called upper endoscopy. They may also arrange for blood tests and an analysis of stool culture, as well as tests to detect the presence of cancer.
Treatment will depend on the cause of the black stool, but it can include getting a blood transfusion, stitching the site of the bleed, or undergoing surgery to remove a tumor.
Contact your doctor if you have persistent black stool, blood in your stool, or any other changes in your stool or bowel habits.
Page 25
Black stool occurs for a number of reasons. In some cases, it may be a side effect of a medication or a result of the food you have consumed. However, it may also suggest that there is a bleed in your upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This can be serious and should not be ignored. If your stool is black, this may be due to bleeding in the intestinal tract. Dark stool that contains blood from the upper GI tract is sometimes called melena. This can indicate a serious medical condition.
Black feces can occur due to damage to the esophagus, stomach, or small intestine. It is important to always pay attention to stool that appears black and tarry, particularly if it persists.
Read on to learn more about the possible causes of black stool and when to contact a doctor.
One of the main causes of black stool is a bleed in the upper GI tract, which includes the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. Upper GI tract bleeds affect around 80–150 out of 100,000 people each year.
Upper GI bleeds can occur as a result of:
A bleed from a tumor in the upper GI tract can signify cancer, including:
Other cancers, such as breast cancer and lung cancer, can spread to the stomach, which can also lead to bleeding in the upper GI tract.
Peptic ulcer disease is the most prevalent cause of upper GI bleeds, accounting for up to 40–50% of cases.
Although you should never ignore black or tarry feces, it does not always indicate cancer. Other causes of black stool include medication side effects and some foods.
Certain foods can cause your stool to have a dark or black appearance. These include:
- blueberries
- dark leafy vegetables
- black licorice
- Oreo cookies
- grape juice
It is also possible for Pepto-Bismol to cause your stool to appear black. This happens when the active ingredient, bismuth, comes into contact with sulfur in your saliva and digestive system.
Some medications can also result in black stool. One example is aspirin, which can contribute to bleeding in the upper GI tract. Taking aspirin combined with P2Y12 antiplatelet drugs makes this more likely.
Anticoagulants (blood thinners), such as warfarin, can also contribute to the likelihood of having black feces.
Ferrous fumarate and other medications for iron deficiencies may also result in black stool. Contact your doctor if you notice that your stool becomes black and sticky when taking iron.
Learn more about bloody stool here.
The type of treatment required will depend on the cause of the black stool. This can include making changes to your diet, taking over-the-counter medications, and seeking medical intervention.
If black stool occurs due to consuming black or dark foods, reducing your intake of those foods can help prevent this. However, black feces that occurs as a result of eating dark foods is not usually a cause for concern.
Iron supplements can also cause black stool. It is important to contact your doctor before changing or stopping any supplements you are taking, particularly if you take iron for an iron deficiency.
You may require medical treatment to treat the root cause of black stool. This will depend on the condition but may involve:
- a blood transfusion, if a bleed in the upper GI tract results in the excessive loss of red blood cells
- proton pump inhibitors to reduce the production of acid
- injection therapy, wherein a doctor will inject a medication directly into the source of the bleeding
- thermal techniques, which involve applying heat probes to cauterize the area that is bleeding
- angiographic embolization, during which coils are placed onto a catheter to stop blood flow to the injured site
- surgery to apply stitches to lacerations
If your black stool is a symptom of a cancer of the upper GI tract, your surgeon may be able to surgically remove the tumor and affected areas.
If the cancer has not spread, your doctor may recommend radiation therapy.
If it is not possible to operate on the cancer, or if it has spread to other parts of your body, your doctor may recommend radiation therapy or chemotherapy.
You may experience symptoms alongside black and tarry stool that can help a doctor identify the underlying cause.
If you have a bleed in the esophagus, you may experience:
- difficulty swallowing
- vomiting blood, or hematemesis
- indigestion
Contact your doctor if you notice that your stool is black or tarry. They can arrange for tests to identify the underlying cause.
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following symptoms alongside black and bloody stool:
To help diagnose the cause of your black stool, your doctor will ask for information about when you first noticed it and how frequently it occurs.
They may also arrange for tests to take a closer look at your upper GI tract. These tests can include:
- Upper endoscopy: The doctor will use a thin device with a camera at the end to look inside the upper digestive tract. Learn more here.
- Stool culture: In some cases, your doctor may take a sample of your black stool to send to the laboratory for analysis.
- Blood tests: Blood tests can help identify any possible medical causes of black stool.
If your doctor feels that your black stool may be due to cancer, they will arrange for tests to diagnose this. Tests for this purpose can include:
- an MRI scan
- a PET scan
- a CT scan
- an endoscopic ultrasound
- endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
- magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography
Although there is no “correct” stool color, a healthy bowel movement is typically brown. This brown color is due to the presence of bile and bilirubin, which occur when dead red blood cells naturally break down in the intestine.
If your stool is any color other than brown, it may be due to something you have consumed or a result of a medical condition. The table below provides more information about stool colors and what they might mean.
Contact your doctor if you notice blood in your stool or changes in your stool or bowel habits that persist.
Black stool may occur as a result of a bleed in the upper GI tract. This may be due to damage to the esophagus, stomach, or upper intestine. An upper GI bleed may indicate cancer, but this is not always the case.
To diagnose the cause of your black feces, a doctor will carry out a procedure called upper endoscopy. They may also arrange for blood tests and an analysis of stool culture, as well as tests to detect the presence of cancer.
Treatment will depend on the cause of the black stool, but it can include getting a blood transfusion, stitching the site of the bleed, or undergoing surgery to remove a tumor.
Contact your doctor if you have persistent black stool, blood in your stool, or any other changes in your stool or bowel habits.
Page 26
Black stool occurs for a number of reasons. In some cases, it may be a side effect of a medication or a result of the food you have consumed. However, it may also suggest that there is a bleed in your upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This can be serious and should not be ignored. If your stool is black, this may be due to bleeding in the intestinal tract. Dark stool that contains blood from the upper GI tract is sometimes called melena. This can indicate a serious medical condition.
Black feces can occur due to damage to the esophagus, stomach, or small intestine. It is important to always pay attention to stool that appears black and tarry, particularly if it persists.
Read on to learn more about the possible causes of black stool and when to contact a doctor.
One of the main causes of black stool is a bleed in the upper GI tract, which includes the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. Upper GI tract bleeds affect around 80–150 out of 100,000 people each year.
Upper GI bleeds can occur as a result of:
A bleed from a tumor in the upper GI tract can signify cancer, including:
Other cancers, such as breast cancer and lung cancer, can spread to the stomach, which can also lead to bleeding in the upper GI tract.
Peptic ulcer disease is the most prevalent cause of upper GI bleeds, accounting for up to 40–50% of cases.
Although you should never ignore black or tarry feces, it does not always indicate cancer. Other causes of black stool include medication side effects and some foods.
Certain foods can cause your stool to have a dark or black appearance. These include:
- blueberries
- dark leafy vegetables
- black licorice
- Oreo cookies
- grape juice
It is also possible for Pepto-Bismol to cause your stool to appear black. This happens when the active ingredient, bismuth, comes into contact with sulfur in your saliva and digestive system.
Some medications can also result in black stool. One example is aspirin, which can contribute to bleeding in the upper GI tract. Taking aspirin combined with P2Y12 antiplatelet drugs makes this more likely.
Anticoagulants (blood thinners), such as warfarin, can also contribute to the likelihood of having black feces.
Ferrous fumarate and other medications for iron deficiencies may also result in black stool. Contact your doctor if you notice that your stool becomes black and sticky when taking iron.
Learn more about bloody stool here.
The type of treatment required will depend on the cause of the black stool. This can include making changes to your diet, taking over-the-counter medications, and seeking medical intervention.
If black stool occurs due to consuming black or dark foods, reducing your intake of those foods can help prevent this. However, black feces that occurs as a result of eating dark foods is not usually a cause for concern.
Iron supplements can also cause black stool. It is important to contact your doctor before changing or stopping any supplements you are taking, particularly if you take iron for an iron deficiency.
You may require medical treatment to treat the root cause of black stool. This will depend on the condition but may involve:
- a blood transfusion, if a bleed in the upper GI tract results in the excessive loss of red blood cells
- proton pump inhibitors to reduce the production of acid
- injection therapy, wherein a doctor will inject a medication directly into the source of the bleeding
- thermal techniques, which involve applying heat probes to cauterize the area that is bleeding
- angiographic embolization, during which coils are placed onto a catheter to stop blood flow to the injured site
- surgery to apply stitches to lacerations
If your black stool is a symptom of a cancer of the upper GI tract, your surgeon may be able to surgically remove the tumor and affected areas.
If the cancer has not spread, your doctor may recommend radiation therapy.
If it is not possible to operate on the cancer, or if it has spread to other parts of your body, your doctor may recommend radiation therapy or chemotherapy.
You may experience symptoms alongside black and tarry stool that can help a doctor identify the underlying cause.
If you have a bleed in the esophagus, you may experience:
- difficulty swallowing
- vomiting blood, or hematemesis
- indigestion
Contact your doctor if you notice that your stool is black or tarry. They can arrange for tests to identify the underlying cause.
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following symptoms alongside black and bloody stool:
To help diagnose the cause of your black stool, your doctor will ask for information about when you first noticed it and how frequently it occurs.
They may also arrange for tests to take a closer look at your upper GI tract. These tests can include:
- Upper endoscopy: The doctor will use a thin device with a camera at the end to look inside the upper digestive tract. Learn more here.
- Stool culture: In some cases, your doctor may take a sample of your black stool to send to the laboratory for analysis.
- Blood tests: Blood tests can help identify any possible medical causes of black stool.
If your doctor feels that your black stool may be due to cancer, they will arrange for tests to diagnose this. Tests for this purpose can include:
- an MRI scan
- a PET scan
- a CT scan
- an endoscopic ultrasound
- endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
- magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography
Although there is no “correct” stool color, a healthy bowel movement is typically brown. This brown color is due to the presence of bile and bilirubin, which occur when dead red blood cells naturally break down in the intestine.
If your stool is any color other than brown, it may be due to something you have consumed or a result of a medical condition. The table below provides more information about stool colors and what they might mean.
Contact your doctor if you notice blood in your stool or changes in your stool or bowel habits that persist.
Black stool may occur as a result of a bleed in the upper GI tract. This may be due to damage to the esophagus, stomach, or upper intestine. An upper GI bleed may indicate cancer, but this is not always the case.
To diagnose the cause of your black feces, a doctor will carry out a procedure called upper endoscopy. They may also arrange for blood tests and an analysis of stool culture, as well as tests to detect the presence of cancer.
Treatment will depend on the cause of the black stool, but it can include getting a blood transfusion, stitching the site of the bleed, or undergoing surgery to remove a tumor.
Contact your doctor if you have persistent black stool, blood in your stool, or any other changes in your stool or bowel habits.