A GI Doctor Says You’re Probably Ignoring This Bathroom Red Flag

Everyone’s bathroom routine is different. What’s normal for you may not be normal for someone else.


"On The Checkup" podcast with board-certified Dr. Mike, he interviewed a gastrointestinal doctor, Trisha Pasricha, MD a professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, who sees patients at Beth Israel Deaconess, about how your bathroom habits affect others' part of your health. She studies the mind-gut connection professionally and also sees patients in her clinic. Dr. Pasricha is a medical journalist too and recently authored “You’ve Been Pooping All Wrong.”

What’s a Normal Poop Schedule?

There’s a lot of nuance in how often you should go, but Dr. Pasricha said it can range from once per day to three times per day to every three days. It really depends on your diet, how much fiber you're getting, and your water intake.

How Long is Too Long On the Toilet?

Dr. Pasricha says if you are taking more than five minutes to poop, you might be at risk for hemorrhoids, which are inflamed veins. If you’re sitting on the toilet watching TikTok videos and lose track of time, you might want to limit your screen time. If you sit long enough to lose feeling in your legs, and you get pins and needles, that’s too long, too.

Speaking of TikTok, are Probiotics Good for IBS?

TikTok influencers are touting massage and probiotics for stomach issues, but most doctors want you to use something based in scientific evidence. Dr. Mike also calls out doctors who sell products and supplements.

Well, these tactics may help some people, but the most effective treatment for GI issues is an increase in something very boring: fiber. The key to adding fiber to your diet is to go very slowly. Adding in more fruit throughout the day, snacking on raw veggies, and drinking a lot of water go along way. But if you introduce a large amount of fiber to your diet suddenly, you may experience pain, gas, and bloating.

Should I Look in the Toilet Bowl After I Go?

Yes. Dr. Pasricha says you should be aware of what’s normal for you. What you leave in the toilet, ideally, should be the shape of a banana if you’re optimizing your gut health.

Is Blood on the Toilet Paper Normal?

Hmmm, probably not. If you have hemorrhoids from straining, you might see a little spec of blood on the toilet paper, but no matter what, get checked out by a doctor, who may refer you to a GI specialist. Blood in the stool can be an indicator of colon cancer and with the uptick in diagnoses in younger men, it’s important to know what’s causing any unusual symptoms you may have.