Some people swear by early mornings. Others find joy in journaling. For a few, workouts have become part of their routine. But for Dr Karan Rajan, an NHS surgeon, it is something else, a habit that is somewhat unusual but could save lives.
What’s that unusual habit? He records his poop!The NHS surgeon meticulously records every bowel movement. He keeps track of the colour, appearance and size, without fail. Why? Because this simple, rather unusual habit is almost a form of preventative medicine.
Why your poop matters
Your poop holds major clues to your health. But the truth is, most of us don’t even look at it. You know the colour of the outfit you wore last year, the name of your partner’s friend you met last month — but would you be able to describe your poop from yesterday? Do you even know the colour, texture, or at least the frequency of your toilet visits? Are you sure whether it had blood or mucus?“I record every poop I have — colour, appearance, size — every single day.
Here’s why tracking YOUR poops could save your life. When colon cancer is caught early, more than 9 out of 10 people survive. When it’s caught late, fewer than 2 out of 10 survive. And cases are rising in the under-50s,” Dr Karan Rajan wrote on X (previously Twitter).Colorectal cancer led to more than 930,000 deaths in 2020, according to the World Health Organization. While it was once thought to be more prevalent in people over the age of 50, there has, of late, been an alarming increase in the incidence of early-onset colorectal cancer.
Dr Rajan’s simple habit could help you detect any abnormalities at an earlier stage.“Most cases take years to develop from polyps, and symptoms can sometimes be hard to spot. This is why you MUST know your baseline stool health,” the surgeon said.
4 things you should be looking for
According to Dr Rajan, here are four things you should know about your poop health baseline:• How often do you poop?• How often do you strain?• Does mucus or blood ever appear?• What does your stool usually look like?These are exactly the questions your doctor will ask if you consult them about any bowel symptoms.So, tracking your poop really helps you understand it better. By recording his bowel movements daily, Dr Rajan maintains a clear awareness of his baseline. Therefore, if there is any change from the norm, there is a better chance of identifying what has gone wrong.“And if your stool looks different from yesterday, is that really a problem? Unlikely… only repeated changes from the norm might suggest there’s a problem.
This is why I track my poops – appearance, regularity, frequency, every day… and why you should too,” the doctor said.
Changes in bowel habits are a sign of colon cancer
One of the warning signs of colon cancer is changes in bowel habits. Colorectal patients often report changes such as constipation, diarrhoea, narrowing, or altered frequency.“Remember: cancer is not ‘just’ a disease of old age. Early detection saves lives. So know your baseline and notice deviations,” the doctor reminded.
So, make an effort to understand your poop.Note: The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting any new medication or treatment, or before changing your diet or supplement regimen.
