Are you ignoring important clues about your health, right from your toilet? Compare your stools to this 7-point scale and find out how you rate. Discover the tell-tale signs of certain serious diseases, and four warning signs that warrant a call to your doctor. STORY AT-A-GLANCE You can learn a great deal about your overall health by taking a look at your stool and noting its color, size, shape, consistency, odor and other features
Your toileting habits, such as frequency of elimination and the ease with which you move your bowels, can provide additional clues to your health status
Three bowel movements per day to three per week is considered the normal range
If you know what to look for, you may be able to detect health problems early enough to stop them in their tracks
Most gastrointestinal problems that lead to constipation and diarrhea can be prevented or resolved by making simple changes to your diet and lifestyle When it comes to toileting habits, the topic is not exactly a favorite among Americans — at least for those above the age of 4. Mention poop and you can easily clear a room — or at the least, generate some unusual facial expressions, nervous laughter and wisecracks about “too much information.”…