Bowel Movements: What's Normal and What's Not?

Written by Dr. Bharat Pothuri, MD, FACG | Updated On 05-19-2025

Bowel Movements What is and is not normal?

We all do it. Yet few of us talk about it. One of the most important indicators of your health as a digestion system is bowel movements. Your stool is able to provide a lot of information, such as color and consistency, or frequency. Gastrodoxs, in this guide, assists you in knowing the normal and abnormal bowel habits. We will discuss such common questions as why is my poop orange, explain change in bowel habits,A, talk about bowel movement with blood clots, and what happens after surgery or a colonoscopy.

Houston gastroenterologist Dr. Bharat Pothuri has been interviewed on practical advice. Ready? Let's get down to it no embarrassment, no, simple facts.

Table of Contents

1. How to have a Healthy Bowel Movement
2. Normal Frequency and its Influencing Factors
3. Stool Appearance: Texture and Shape Color
4. Why Is My Poop Orange?
5. Bowel Habits Change: Red Flags
6. Movement of Bowel With Blood Clots
7. Post Surgery and Post Colonoscopy
8. Table: Abnormal vs. normal Bowel Movements
9. Bowel Habits Healthy Bowel Habits Tips
10. When to Seek Help

1. How to have a Healthy Bowel Movement

• Active voice: makes reading uncomplicated.
• No complicated vocabulary: there is no jargon.

According to Dr. Bharat Pothuri, The process of excretion is called bowel movement as it removes waste in the body. Just imagine it is the last test your digestive system has.

Key Points:

• Stool is composed of water, fibers, bacteria, mucus and your cells.
• A well-functioning intestines flows wastes effectively no haste no effort.
• Listen to your body's signals.

2. Normal Frequency and its Influencing Factors

How Often is Normal?

• General frequency: 3 times a day to 3 times a week.
• Everyone is different.

Factors Which Influence Frequency:

• Diet: Fiber speeds things up.
• Hydration: The stool remains soft.
• Exercise: Increased exercise increases motility.
• Stress: Have the power to make things quick, or slow.
• Medications: Changeable habits are antibiotics and pain pills.

According to Dr. Pothuri: This is a change in bowel habits, when you start feeling like you have to move only three times a week instead of daily. You just ought to have a quick visit to your doctor in Houston or over telehealth.

3. Stool Appearance: Color, Shape and Texture

The appearance of your stool can give you a clue to either wellness or misfortune. Here's what's normal and not.

Color Chart (Common Ranges)

• Light to dark brown: healthy.
• Green: leafy or fast green transit.
• Yellow/ greasy: malabsorption of fats.
• Black/tarry: there may be bleeding in the upper GI.
• Red: food dyes or lower GI bleeding.

Shape and Consistency ( Bristol Stool Chart in Simple Terms )

• Hard pellets (too slow)
• Sausage (borderline) with cracks
• Smooth sausage (ideal)
• Soft blob (ideal)
• The soft blobs are rounded on edges (mild speed-up)
• Fluffy pieces (mild diarrhea)
• Watery (diarrhea)

Consistency Clues:

• Hard stools = dehydration or fiber deficiency.
• Loomy stools = infection, stress or intolerance in food.

4. Why is My Poop Orange?

It is disturbing to find bright orange stool. Here's why it happens.

Common Causes:

• Carrots, sweet potato or pumpkin (carotenoids).
• When organic food is dyed.
• Aluminum hydroxide with antacid.
• Quick movement: bile does not even have time to turn brown.

According to Dr. Pothuri, Orange poop is usually dietary. Unless it clears up in a day or two, consult your GI man in Houston.

When to Worry:

• Takes over 48 hours without change of diet.
• It is accompanied by fever, weight loss or pain.

5. Bowel Habits Change: Red Flags

Change in bowel habits refers to the fact that your routine abruptly changes. It may be the increase or decrease of movements, new urgency or pain.

Watch for these signs:

• Diarrhea or constipation of more than 2 weeks.
• Alteration of stool (thin, ribbon-shaped).
• Recurrent abdominal pain.
• Unexplained weight loss.
• Urgentia nova, incontinentia nova.

According to Dr. Pothuri, patients in Houston whose bowel habits have significantly changed are to be checked. Detection early is important when it comes to such ailments as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or colon cancer.

6. Movement of Bowel With Blood Clots

The presence of blood or clots may be terrifying. Here's what to know.

Possible Causes:

• Anal fissures (bright red) or Hemorrhoids
• Diverticulosis/ diverticulitis
• Inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn bowel disease (ulcerative colitis)
• Polyps or colorectal cancer

What Blood Clots Mean:

• Viewing of clotted blood implies slower bleeding
• The dark clots could originate higher in the colon

Action Steps:

1. Note color: bright red vs. dark
2. Frequency: one time or recurring
3. Houston, contact your doctor.

7. Post Surgery and Post Colonoscopy

The after effects of surgery or colonoscopy may interrupt your routine. Here's what to expect.

Poor Bowel Movement Post Operative

• Painkillers (opioids) have the ability to slow bowels
• Temporary constipation can be induced by anesthesia
• Stool volume can be altered because of low appetite

Tips to Recover:

• Sip water and clear broth
• white fiber in small amounts (oatmeal, bananas)
• Circle the hospital room or hall
• Request your surgeon in Houston to provide you with a stool softener

Bowel Movement Postcolonoscopy

• You can notice small drops of blood or mucus
• The normalcy is restored after 24 hours
• Gas and bloating Gas pains me, pass gas

According to Dr. Pothuri, the normal bowel movement of the majority of Houston patients occurs one day after colonoscopy. In case of your acute pain or persistent bleeding, notify your GI office immediately.

8. Table: Abnormal vs. normal Bowel Movements

9. Bowel Habits Healthy Bowel Habits Tips

• Hydrate: Goal is 8-10 cups of water a day.
• Consume the fiber: Whole grains, fruits, vegetables.
• Exercise: 30 minutes most days.
• Routine: Attempt to treat it as a daily routine.
• Strains to be avoided: Raise your feet on a stool to provide the natural squat.
• Reduce caffeine/alcohol: They may dehydrate you.

10. When to Seek Help

Call your Houston gastroenterologist in case you notice:

• Extreme abdominal pain or exacerbation of abdominal pain.
• Bloody or tarry dark bowel movement.
• Bowel change of more than two weeks.
• Dropping weight or fever, which is not explained.
• New onset of incontinence.

Conclusion

Knowledge of what is considered normal with regard to your bowel movements is the only way to be healthy. Learn to listen to your body, eat in moderation, be active and take a lot of water. In case of any bowel habits change do visit a Houston GI specialist such as Dr. Bharat Pothuri. To have some brand trusted advice, contribute to Gastrodoxs constantly to see nice and informative articles.

About the Author

Dr. Bharat Pothuri is a Board-Certified Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist. With extensive experience in digestive health, he specializes in advanced endoscopic procedures, chronic GI disorder management, and preventive care. Dr. Pothuri is dedicated to providing expert, patient-focused insights to help improve gut health and overall well-being.