Changes in Bowel Movements
While perhaps not the most exciting habit to get into, checking your bowel movements should be part of your daily routine. Knowing what your stool looks like normally means you know when something doesn’t seem quite right, and an abnormal bowel movement can clue you in when something is off in the digestive tract—like pancreatitis. When the condition starts, the proper enzymes for digestion aren’t being produced. This means there’s more waste than normal leaving the digestive tract, since it's not being properly absorbed by the body.
In particular, you may have diarrhea, or you may notice that your stool has become extremely pale or taken on a resemblance to clay when dealing with pancreatitis. Pale stools like these are often accompanied by jaundice—a condition that leaves your skin and eyes with an abnormal, yellowish tint.
Steatorrhea is a bowel condition that's especially indicative of pancreatitis. When dealing with it, stools may appear oily or bulkier than normal, have a tendency to float, and have an extremely offensive odor. All of this is because the body isn’t properly absorbing the foods you’re eating—the fat content in particular. Instead of digesting it, your body sends the fat straight on through the body and out through the large intestine. The higher fat content of the stool gives it the oily appearance and other characteristics. If you’ve noticed your bowel movements seem to be greasier in appearance than they normally are or have developed a rancid odor, it might be time to take a visit to the doctor to check for pancreatitis.
Did you know...
- Have you ever told your husband something and he promptly forgets it? It's not his fault, actually. It really is because he's a man. The hippocampus (the part of the brain that deals with memory) begins to shrink with age faster in men than it does in women. That's why you can remember everything, and he can't!
- Do you know what the strongest muscle in your body is? No, it’s not your biceps or your thighs. It’s actually in your head. The masseter is a muscle in the jaw that is used when chewing. When all of the muscles of the jaw work together, they can exert a force as strong as 200 pounds on the molars. That’s some serious pressure.
- Just saying the words "thank you" can measurably improve your mood. Researchers can actually measure happiness and changes in brain structure when people practiced regular "grateful thinking." This included things like writing thank you notes, writing gratitude journal entries, mindfully counting their blessings, and thanking friends. It may be helpful in overcoming depression!
- Are you currently or often tired? As contradictory as it may sound, one of the best things you can do is exercise! It gives you more energy by improving your blood flow and increasing your oxygen throughout your body. You don't need to do much; a brisk walk is all it takes!
- Starting to feel claustrophobic? The smells of apples may help keep your claustrophobic feelings at bay according to a 1995 study by Dr. Alan Hirsch. Green apples, specifically, helped people change their perception of their space. Maybe they thought of expansive apple orchards? Cucumbers and barbecue made the feelings worse.