Stools that are too hard and dry, watery, slimy, ribbon-like or thread-like, floating, in balls or with traces of mucus or blood, are a clear sign that something has not worked properly during the digestive processes.
Now let's see how to interpret the changes in the shape and consistency of the feces, while as regards the presence of blood, mucus and chromatic alterations, we refer to the related insights listed below in the "Related Articles" section.
Did you know that ... 75% of the total weight of feces is given by water.
(fruit and vegetables) and liquids.
and from too rapid intestinal transit with insufficient reabsorption of liquids (see: malabsorption).
or intestine.
IN-DEPTH ARTICLES:
The characteristics highlighted in the table, also due to the few characters available, are obviously indicative and completely incomplete. Fortunately, in most cases the changes in the shape and appearance of the stool are completely separated from any pathological condition. Despite this, without triggering dangerous alarms, it is good to underline the importance of contacting your doctor whenever you notice a "important variation of these characteristics, especially when the anomaly arises suddenly and lasts for a long time:
- thin, ribbon-like stools: they can be caused by an intestinal obstruction or stenosis (narrowing). Unfortunately, even a polyp, a neoplasm or a colon cancer can be at the basis of these conditions.
- Floating stools, associated with episodes of intermittent diarrhea: the phenomenon of floating is due to the excessive presence of gas, caused by the metabolization of unabsorbed food residues by intestinal bacteria.
It is therefore a typical condition of food intolerances, such as lactose, gluten (see celiac disease), of malabsorption syndromes in general, but also of inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease.
A medical consultation should be sought as soon as possible, especially when changes in the shape and consistency of the stool are accompanied by vomiting, more or less high fever, chills, fatigue and generalized malaise, rapid weight loss, lack of appetite, yellowish skin and / or severe abdominal pain.
