However, there are some red flags for bowel habit changes to be aware of.

What Is Considered a Healthy Bowel Movement?

Normal bowel movement patterns vary from one person to the next.

abnormal bowel movement signs

Illustration by Jessica Olah, Verywell

It generally takes 14 to 58 hours for food to move through thedigestive tract.

Many factors can influence bowel movement patterns, including:

How Long Should It Take to Poop?

These gases can penetrate stool and cause them to float even in perfectly healthy people.

However, certain bowel symptoms should not be ignored.

See your healthcare provider if you experience:

What Does Poop Look like With Colon Problems?

Stools should be brown, soft but well-formed, and look like a sausage.

University of Michigan Health.Constipation: Frequently asked questions.

2022;9(1):e001017.

doi:10.1136/bmjgast-2022-001017

Unity Point Health.What the color and consistency of your poop says about you.

2018;97(20):e10631.

2020 May;41(3):139145. doi:10.4082/kjfm.18.0182

Selvaraj V, Alsamman M.Antibiotic-associate diarrhea beyondC.

difficile: A scoping review.Brown Hospital Med.

2022;2(1).

doi:doi:10.56305/001c.39745

Harvard Health Publishing.What to do when medication makes you constipated.

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Diarrhea.

CHI Saint Joseph Health.Colorectal cancer stool: Signs to look out for.

The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons.Hemorrhoids: Expanded information.

The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons.Rectal prolapse: Expanded version.