Does Your Poop Resemble Coffee Grounds? We have Answers!

Last Updated: December 11, 2022

It’s interesting that you would ask about the appearance of poop and why it may resemble coffee grounds. While there could be many reasons for this, one possibility is due to a condition called melena.

What Is Melena?

Melena is the medical term for black, tarry stools that are caused by the presence of blood in the feces.

This can happen when there is bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract, such as the stomach or small intestine.

The blood is partially digested by the stomach acid and enzymes, which causes it to appear black and tarry.

One possible cause of melena is gastritis, which is inflammation of the stomach lining.

This can be caused by a number of factors, including excessive alcohol use, certain medications, or an infection with Helicobacter pylori bacteria. When the stomach lining is inflamed, it can become more fragile and more likely to bleed.

This can result in black, tarry stools that resemble coffee grounds.

What Causes Melena

Another possible cause of melena is a peptic ulcer, which is a sore that forms on the lining of the stomach or small intestine.

These ulcers can be caused by the same factors that can lead to gastritis, such as excessive alcohol use, certain medications, or an infection with H. pylori bacteria.

When a peptic ulcer bleeds, it can cause black, tarry stools that look like coffee grounds.

In addition to gastritis and peptic ulcers, there are other medical conditions that can cause melena.

These include cancer of the stomach or intestines, diverticulitis (inflammation of the large intestine), or a bleeding disorder.

In some cases, the cause of melena may not be clear, and further testing may be needed to determine the underlying cause.

It’s important to note that not all cases of black, tarry stools are due to melena. In some cases, the cause may be something as simple as consuming food or supplements that contain a large amount of iron.

For example, if you eat a lot of black licorice or take iron supplements, your stools may appear black and tarry without there being any underlying medical condition.

What Should I Do About The Grounds?

If you have black, tarry stools that resemble coffee grounds, it’s important to talk to your doctor.

They can help determine the underlying cause and provide appropriate treatment. In some cases, treatment may involve medications to control bleeding or treat the underlying condition.

In more severe cases, surgery may be necessary to repair a bleeding ulcer or remove a cancerous tumor.

In conclusion, the appearance of poop that looks like coffee grounds may be due to a condition called melena, which is caused by the presence of blood in the feces.

This can happen as a result of various medical conditions, such as gastritis, peptic ulcers, or cancer. If you have black, tarry stools, it’s important to talk to your doctor to determine the underlying cause and receive appropriate treatment.

How Bad Is It?

Truth be told, we are not Physicians and we never dull out medical advice. That said, one of our staff had this exact issue (Don’t ask how we know) :-), but their case ended up being a lack of hydration…go figure!

We’re not saying this is the cause of anyones “Grounds”, what we are saying is that seeing a health professional is your best bet.

Take Care & be well!

About the author

Jason Hughes

Hey, I'm Jason and welcome to my website. I created VeganLiftz because of my passion (more like obsession) with the vegan diet, strength training, Bodybuilding, Health & Wellness. Feel free to peruse the various articles on this website; I hope you find something useful!

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