December is Constipation Awareness Month!
At Advanced Spine and Pain, we are happy to do our part in raising awareness for constipation-related issues, especially opioid-induced constipation, during constipation awareness month. To that end, we have opted to share with you some fun, if not objectionable, facts about poop.
- The silent majority? – Approximately 50-80% of your poop (minus the water) is bacteria; bacteria that were living happily in your intestines before being excreted out.
- Code Brown – Normal poop is brown. This color is derived from the bile in your poop. Green or yellow poop can be healthy depending on your diet, but if it is red or black, it may be time to visit your doctor.
- Where no man has gone before – There are four bags of astronaut poop or if you prefer, defecation collection devices, left behind on the moon by Neil Armstrong.
- Poop or get off the pot – According to UKactive Research Institute, 2000 British adults were polled as to the time they spend on the toilet/loo and found that the average adult spends 3 hours and 9 minutes on the toilet every week, an average of 27 minutes a day.
- Kernel of truth – Why does corn appear to make it through the GI tract unscathed? Well, we can digest the inner parts of the corn kernel just fine, but the outer corn kernel is comprised of cellulose, an indigestible plant fiber for humans.
- Pooping sand? – The parrot fish spends most of its day biting and scraping off algae from rocks and coral and then poops the residue as sand. This has led to the creation of several small islands and beaches of the Caribbean.
- Hook, line, or sinker – Poop should sink. If it floats, it could be a sign of excessive gas or poor nutrient absorption.
- Pot of gold? – Human poop contains trace amounts of gold, silver, and palladium. Scientists are hard at work attempting to figure out how to extract the precious metals from our poop.
At ASAP we are happy to clear the air of constipation misconceptions. Please talk to one of our pain providers to discuss how best to treat your opioid-induced constipation during constipation awareness month and beyond.