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Medical Author:

Siamak T. Nabili, MD, MPH

Siamak T. Nabili, MD, MPH

Dr. Nabili received his undergraduate degree from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), majoring in chemistry and biochemistry. He then completed his graduate degree at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). His graduate training included a specialized fellowship in public health where his research focused on environmental health and health-care delivery and management.

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Medical Editor:

Jay W. Marks, MD

Jay W. Marks, MD

Jay W. Marks, MD, is a board-certified internist and gastroenterologist. He graduated from Yale University School of Medicine and trained in internal medicine and gastroenterology at UCLA/Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

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As for self-care, it is important to recognize whether the change in stool color is persistent, recurrent or transient. Generally, changes in stool color that are transient, for example, once or twice, and then return to healthy stool color are not as important as persistent or recurrent changes.

Some of the symptoms associated with changes of stool color also are important to recognize. For example, if the stool is red, maroon or black, is suggestive of bleeding from the intestines, then symptoms of abdominal pain, lightheadedness, or dizziness (from losing too much blood) may prompt someone to seek medical care more urgently.

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