Should You Worry About Changes in Your Stool's Appearance?

Hard Stools

Hard stools are those pebbly nuggets that are hard to pass. Sometimes the pebbles lump together into one larger mass that passes through in a single bowel movement. In such cases, there may be a sharp edge to the front of this lump. At other times, only a single pebble or a few little nuggets make their way out during a bowel movement.

Some of the more common causes of hard stool include:

• Constipation
• Lack of adequate water intake
• Lack of dietary fiber
• Waiting too long to have a bowel movement
• Health problems with constipation as a symptom
• Medications with constipation as a side effect

Loose Stools

Loose stools are those that pass through the rectum with a loose, watery appearance. Most often loose stools are associated with the frequent bowel movements of diarrhea.

At times, loose stool may be accompanied by strong urges for passage or a sense of urgency to get to a bathroom quickly. Typically, stools become looser and more watery with repeated trips to the bathroom.

Loose stools can be caused by:

• Diet
• Stress
• Intestinal infection
• Health problems with diarrhea as a symptom
• Medications with diarrhea as a side effect

Floating Stools

Floating stools can be caused by something relatively harmless or be an indicator of a more serious health problem.

Your floating stools are not something to be too concerned about if they are:

• Infrequent
• Accompanied by intestinal gas
• Associated with a recent diet change

Other symptoms of steatorrhea include:

• Foul smell
• Oily appearance
• Soiling episodes

Steatorrhea may indicate a problem with fat malabsorption. This means that fats are not being broken down and digested completely at the level of the small intestine. This may be the result of a lack of adequate amounts of pancreatic enzymes and/or bile acids. The cause of these insufficiencies include:

• Certain diseases such as pancreatitis and cystic fibrosis
• Gallbladder removal
• Gallstones
• Medication side effects

Strangely Colored Stools

Normal stools can come in a range of colors, including:

• Different hues of brown
• Orange
• Tan
• Yellow

The following stool color changes should be brought to the attention of your healthcare provider:

• Black or tar-colored
• Green
• Pale, clay-colored
• Red (bright or dark)

Mucus Covered Stools

Mucus is that clear or slightly yellow gunky substance that sometimes is eliminated alongside the fecal matter of a bowel movement. Small amounts of mucus on the stool is considered to be normal. Larger amounts indicate the presence of an infection or a more chronic health problem.

Bloody Stools

If you see any sign of blood in your stool, you must bring it immediately to the attention of your healthcare provider. The blood may appear bright or dark red and may or may not include clots. Black or tar-colored stools can also be a sign of the presence of blood, but not always.

Blood in stools does not always mean that there is something dangerously wrong with you. It could just be the result of a bleeding hemorrhoid or anal fissure. However, some serious health conditions, such as cancer, can cause blood in the stools.

Pencil Thin Stools

If you only experience thin stool every now and then, it is probably not cause for significant concern as this is not necessarily a sign of a serious health problem. However, you should still bring the symptom to your healthcare provider's attention. If you are experiencing persistent pencil-thin stools you need to tell your healthcare provider immediately.

The causes of pencil-thin stools include:

• Colon cancer
• Diarrhea associated with irritable bowel syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease
• Enlarged prostate
• Polyps in the colon 
• Scar tissue in the colon