Having Black Stool?

Image via WikipediaIf somebody is having black stool, Malena in medical terminology; should check, if it is;
· Tarry black,
· Sticks to pan,
· Associated with dizziness or fainting attack.
If so it might be due to invisible or occult blood in stool the person is passing.
Such occult blood in the stool is mostly due to upper gastrointestinal bleeding; that gets altered while passing through the intestine.
Most common causes can be;
· Acid peptic disease,
· Cancer of stomach, esophagus and upper part of intestine.
· Bleeding from esophageal varices.
· Any other cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding.
It can be confirmed by stool occult blood test. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy will invariably clinch the diagnosis.
Sometimes iron containing foods and iron supplementation may give rise to black colored stool.