Melena Stool Definition, Causes and More
Article Sources
- 1. 'Melaena - Causes - Diagnoses - Management.' TeachMeSurgery, 3 Apr. 2020, teachmesurgery.com/general/presentations/melena/.
- 2. Tresca, Amber J. 'What Are the Causes of Black Stool?' Verywell Health, www.verywellhealth.com/causes-of-black-stool-1941711.
- 3. 'Melena - What You Need to Know.' Drugs.com, www.drugs.com/cg/melena.html.
- 4. 'Cirrhosis.' Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 6 Feb. 2021, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cirrhosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20351487.
- 5. Wilson, I. Dodd. 'Hematemesis, Melena, and Hematochezia.' Clinical Methods: The History, Physical, and Laboratory Examinations. 3rd Edition., U.S. National Library of Medicine, 1 Jan. 1990, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK411/.
7. Prevention
Preventing melenic stools requires an understanding of what caused the issue in the first place. For example, certain drugs, like steroids, may cause bleeding in the GI tract if used over a prolonged period of time. In these cases, individuals might want to review their medication choices.
Making healthy lifestyle choices such as quitting smoking, upping fluid intake and avoiding spicy foods and alcohol can prevent a recurrence in some people. Melenic stools may also be caused by underlying disease that needs to be addressed.
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