Digestive issues: what's normal and what to worry about

THERE'S A LITTLE BLOOD ON THE TP WHEN I WIPE. IS IT COLON CANCER? More likely it's something benign, like a hemorrhoid or an anal fissure, McMahon notes: “Colon cancers are slow

growing and need to be advanced to see red blood in the stool.” Regardless, check with your doctor; blood is a red flag that he or she will want to investigate, along with making sure

you're up to date on colon cancer screenings. If it's a hemorrhoid, your physician will likely recommend eating high-fiber foods and trying bath soaks for comfort. Topical

pain-relieving creams can encourage a fissure to heal. I HEARD THAT THE COLONOSCOPY PREP IS TERRIBLE. CAN I AVOID IT? No, you can't. In fact, in 2018 the American Cancer Society began

recommending that all adults get a colonoscopy every 10 years as of age 45, instead of 50. “We've seen a recent uptick in colon cancer in the younger community,” says gastroenterologist

Felice Schnoll-Sussman of New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. To make the process less unpleasant, Schnoll-Sussman puts patients on a low-residue diet, which means they can

have yogurt and ice cream on the morning of the prep, so they don't feel as restricted as they would on only liquids. Chill the prep solution to make it more palatable, and use a straw

to help it bypass your tongue. MY STOMACH LOOKS MORE BLOATED THAN EVER. WHAT'S THAT ABOUT? Think about how sedentary you've been lately, because if you slow down, your GI tract

does, too. “A backup of stool and fluid in the intestines can lead to constipation, abdominal pain and bloating,” Schnoll-Sussman explains. Your gut can also go sluggish after you start

calcium or iron supplements (one side effect is constipation). TOP FIBER FIXES TO FEED YOUR GUT KARANDAEV/GETTY IMAGES FRUITS * Raspberries, 1 cup: 8 grams * Blackberries, 3/4 cup: 5.7 grams

* Pear, medium: 5.5 grams * Apple, medium: 4.4 grams FUNWITHFOOD/E+/GETTY IMAGES VEGETABLES * Artichoke, medium: 6.9 grams * Carrots, raw, 1 cup: 3.6 grams * Summer squash, raw, 1 cup: 1.2

grams SEEDS AND BEANS * Chia seeds, 2 tablespoons: 7.8 grams * Navy beans, cooked, 1/2 cup: 9.6 grams * Black beans, cooked, 1/2 cup: 7.5 grams I'M BREAKING WIND A LOT. WHY? Processed

foods, especially packaged weight-loss or low-calorie goods, often contain sugar alcohols or artificial sweeteners, which are horrendous for the GI tract — even the sugar substitutes that

are “natural,” says Joseph Fiorito, chief of gastroenterology at Danbury Hospital in Connecticut. When these sugar substitutes are metabolized, normal bacteria in the GI tract break them

down into by-products that irritate the colon and trigger gas, diarrhea and bloating. Read the ingredient list, because these sweeteners can be found in drinks, sweets, condiments and

sauces, and bread. SOMETIMES I CAN'T GET TO THE TOILET IN TIME WHEN I HAVE TO GO NUMBER 2. IS THIS NORMAL? No, and there's probably a simple solution available, says

gastroenterologist Daniel Sussman, an associate professor of clinical medicine at the University of Miami. Certain medications, such as blood pressure pills, can alter hydration levels and

affect how fast things move through your GI tract. Though age-related changes to muscles and nerves can weaken the anal sphincter (the muscle that gives you time to get to the bathroom),

there are ways to manage this issue. Try eating more fiber to bulk up BMs, and cut out foods with added sweeteners or sugar alcohols.