Right-sided colon cancer is primarily characterized by pain syndrome without pronounced signs of impaired movement of intestinal contents. Intestinal discomfort syndrome occurs quite early. Initially, this is a feeling of heaviness, bloating and rumbling in the intestines, occurring 3-5 hours after eating; later on, flatulence, belching, nausea, and then severe pain on the right and in the middle of the abdomen occur. Weakness increases relatively early, and anemia develops without any visible signs. intestinal blood loss. There is often an increase in body temperature, sometimes even with periodic chills. Cecal cancer with a tendency to ulceration is characterized by signs of general intoxication caused by the absorption of decay products. It should be noted that in almost 25% of cases there is a tendency to constipation, while loose stool with an admixture of blood is relatively rare (mainly with cancer of the transverse colon), when blood is mixed with liquid or pasty feces.
In about a third of cases, it is possible to palpate the tumor “in the form of a lump of varying sizes with a dense consistency, usually not particularly sensitive, and in its outline not reminiscent of any organ” (V.P. Obraztsov). When localized in the right and left flexures of the colon (as well as in the area of the ascending and descending colon), the tumor is usually difficult to palpate. A tumor of the transverse colon is palpable in most cases, but also in advanced cases. At first it is mobile, shifting during palpation along with the intestine.
In the blood, a decrease in red blood cells and hemoglobin is usually observed quite early, and when the tumor disintegrates, moderate leukocytosis and an increase in ESR are observed.
Left-sided colon cancer is characterized by a relatively long asymptomatic or, more precisely, low-symptomatic course and a lower frequency and degree of pain, although the latter in many cases can be intense. More often and more severely expressed is a violation of intestinal patency, up to the development of partial or complete obstruction, necessitating urgent surgical intervention. In approximately half of cases, constipation is noted, but constipation and diarrhea often alternate.
More than a quarter of patients have blood in their stool (on the surface of their stool). Often, in contrast to hemorrhoids, blood is released before the passage of feces, sometimes even outside the act of defecation in the form of “spitting” of bloody mucus, which is especially common with rectosigmoid cancer. Weight loss begins relatively late and much less often, and in any case later, than when cancer is localized in the right half of the colon, signs of general intoxication develop and fever appears.
When localized in the sigmoid colon, the tumor is palpable relatively often, in the descending colon - less often, and in the left flexure of the colon - very rarely.
It should be remembered that it is possible to palpate the tuberosity in the sigmoid colon if there are fecal stones in it, and therefore, in doubtful cases, palpation should be repeated after a cleansing enema.
In case of rectal cancer, a violation of the act of defecation is very typical: constipation, pain, false urges. The stool is often released in small "nuts" ("sheep stool") and in the form of a thin ribbon (ribbon stool). Blood, often mucus and pus are usually visible on its surface. In some cases, there is an alternation of diarrhea and constipation, as well as “constipated diarrhea.”
In some cases, there is a discharge of blood and mucus during the passage of gases and outside the act of defecation, and sometimes “bloody mucous spitting.” Digital examination is of decisive importance in the diagnosis of rectal cancer.
Laboratory studies indicate increasing anemia, a constant increase in ESR, it is noted positive reaction for availability hidden blood in feces.
Of great importance X-ray examination. The most important radiological signs are: long-term and persistent delay of the contrast mass; filling defects with irregular edges; constant narrowing of the intestine that is not amenable to antispastic agents (atropine injections); pathological relief of the intestinal mucosa, which is better identified by the double contrast method (filling the intestine with a contrast suspension and, after its removal, with gas.
Prof. G.I. Burchinsky
If a person produces thin stool, the main cause of the problem is most likely problems with the digestive system. But in some cases, pathology can be a consequence of serious illnesses.
It is impossible to determine on your own what contributed to the development of the disease. To do this, you need to visit a specialist who will conduct a diagnosis and take stool for analysis, after which the reason for the deviation will be announced.
Pathogenesis
If an adult produces ribbon-like feces, it is simply impossible not to notice such changes. Everyone knows what a normal stool looks like, and if the stool has changed shape, this is a serious reason to think about your health.
You shouldn’t sound the alarm right away; in the first days you need to monitor your body and try to listen to it.
You should immediately visit a doctor if the following symptoms occur:
- the appearance of mucus in feces;
- presence of blood clots;
- frequent urge to defecate.
If your general health has worsened and problems with the gastrointestinal tract have appeared, thin stool may be a sign of the onset of dangerous pathologies requiring immediate professional treatment.
Doctors say that initial stage It is possible to cure almost all diseases, even polyps and hemorrhoids. But if you leave illnesses to their own devices, they will begin to progress and more complex and lengthy therapy will be required.
It is important to understand that both diseases are considered harbingers of intestinal cancer, which often ends fatal. To avoid serious troubles, it is necessary to quickly find out why ribbon-shaped feces occur and what is the cause of the disease in a particular case.
Main reasons for deviation
As practice shows, it is not so rare for feces to appear in a thin ribbon. Such a disturbance in the functioning of the intestines is observed:
Long and thin feces can be caused by eating too much fast food and not drinking enough water. The first thing doctors advise to do in case of such a disorder is to review the diet and introduce more healthy products, especially fruits and vegetables.
Possible diseases
Why is the stool long and comes out like a thin sausage? Such intestinal dysfunction may indicate the development of certain pathologies.
Hemorrhoids
This inflammatory process not only causes severe discomfort and pain to a person, but can also cause the development of dangerous pathologies. The disease provokes disruption of blood flow in the veins, as a result of which the capillaries stretch and a hemorrhoid is formed.
International medicine classifies 3 forms of hemorrhoids: internal, external and mixed, which differ in symptoms and require different treatments.
Reasons for development:
Hemorrhoids should not be left untreated; the disease can lead to the development of tumors of a malignant nature.
Neoplasms in the intestines
The appearance of ribbon-like feces can occur during the formation of polyps and other growths. The intestinal wall begins to change, causing pain. The size and shape of stool may also change.
Doctors warn that thin line stool could be the result of bowel cancer. The increasing formation begins to put pressure on the intestines, causing deformation of feces. If a malignant tumor has formed, defecation is accompanied by the release of blood and thick mucus, the patient begins to suffer from constipation.
Colon cancer also entails weight loss, lethargy and apathy, and problems with the immune system. If such signs occur, you should immediately visit a doctor.
For staging accurate diagnosis You will have to undergo examinations such as:
- anoscopy, in which a special device is inserted into the anus, giving the physician the opportunity to visually assess the condition of the intestines;
- finger examination;
- sigmoidoscopy;
- general blood analysis;
- biochemistry.
If a patient is diagnosed with a large growth, the only option is surgical intervention, conservative therapy in such cases it turns out to be ineffective.
Colitis
With this disease, pain occurs in the lower abdomen (usually on the left side).
Depending on how severely the intestines are affected, the pain can be cutting, stabbing and burning. Appear constant flatulence, diarrhea and constipation, blood and mucus in the stool, bowel movements are accompanied by painful sensations.
Colitis has the following symptoms:
Banded feces in women
In young ladies, the occurrence of pathology is usually associated with bearing a child.
During pregnancy, pressure is placed on the pelvic organs, and the rectum becomes less elastic. Due to intestinal obstruction, feces may be released in long strips and resemble a thin ribbon.
Such disorders can also be a consequence of the formation of hemorrhoidal cones and excessive accumulation of mucus in the intestines.
Another cause of illness in pregnant women is poor nutrition. If your diet lacks vegetables, fruits, dairy products and fiber, and hard foods predominate, intestinal activity may be impaired.
You should urgently visit a doctor if the stool is accompanied by the release of blood clots and constant pain. A dangerous sign is an increase in body temperature.
Causes of pathology in men
Many representatives of the stronger sex begin to suffer from prostatitis closer to 40 years of age. This inflammatory process also has a bad effect on the functioning of the intestines, as a result of which the walls of the organ begin to narrow, reducing the passage for excretion of feces.
In addition to prostatitis, the following causes of this phenomenon in men can be identified:
- frequent stress and anxiety;
- intestinal diseases;
- development pathological processes due to genetic predisposition;
- inflammation in the intestines;
- external or internal hemorrhoids;
- undertreated infectious diseases.
To establish the exact cause of the disease, you need to visit a doctor and undergo the necessary diagnostics.
Prevention and treatment
It is much easier to prevent the development of a disease than to eliminate it later. To gastrointestinal tract and the intestines functioned properly, doctors advise adhering to the following recommendations:
If you follow these simple requirements, the risk of thin stool will be minimized. And for the intestines to work like a clock, you need to spend as much time as possible on fresh air and include at least minimal physical activity in your life.
People generally rarely pay attention to their stool, but changes in the nature of the feces can tell a lot.
If stool has a normal shape, color and consistency for a long time, then everything is in order with a person’s health.
These indicators may change for a short time depending on the diet. If a person’s feces have become thin, like a ribbon or a snake, then this is already a cause for alarm, since it indicates the presence of various diseases.
The most common cause of thin stool is hemorrhoids. If an adult constantly works physically, suffers from constipation or physical inactivity (deterioration of motor skills due to a sedentary lifestyle), then he may develop such a disease.
The disease develops due to the inflammatory process and further education blood clots in the veins of the colon.
As a result of thrombosis, nodes appear that protrude from the intestinal walls. Thus, the lumen in the colon decreases, which leads to the thinning of the feces passing through it.
In women, the appearance of thin stool may be associated with pregnancy. As the uterus expands, it begins to compress the intestines, reducing its width.
Such a process can lead not only to thinning of the stool, but also to constipation, which affects most expectant mothers.
In addition, a decrease in the lumen of the colon and a sedentary lifestyle during pregnancy can lead to hemorrhoids.
When the usual thickness of stool changes to the expectant mother You should definitely consult a doctor, since ignoring this symptom will most likely cause a complete stop of feces in the intestines and further intoxication of the body.
The appearance of thin feces is always associated with a decrease in the lumen in the large intestine. This pathology can occur due to the presence of polyps (growths on the mucous membrane) in the intestines.
Basically, such formations are not dangerous and do not cause discomfort at an early stage, but in the future they can cause painful sensations and malignize (turn into malignant tumors).
Possible complications
A decrease in the lumen in the large intestine occurs as a result of various ailments - hemorrhoids, polyps, giardiasis.
All these diseases at an early stage do not create any discomfort for the patient, and they are quite easy to cure.
But if you let the disease take its course, the consequences in the future will be very sad.
Untreated hemorrhoids can lead to the development of paraproctitis - purulent inflammation of the rectum, which destroys organ tissue. With a long course of the disease, malignancy of the resulting fistulas is very likely.
Hemorrhoids are characterized not only by the formation of lumps and the appearance of thin feces.
In the second and third stages of the disease, the patient experiences severe pain, blood is observed in the feces, and the nodes fall out during defecation and physical effort. The skin in the anal area may turn red and begin to itch, and a burning sensation often appears.
Subsequently, the nodes begin to become inflamed, purulent fistulas form, and body temperature rises. If a patient at this stage of hemorrhoids does not consult a doctor and does not begin treatment, then death may occur due to the development of sepsis - blood poisoning.
Polyps that are harmless at first also do not immediately make themselves felt. If you continue to ignore the emerging symptoms of their presence, then a more terrible disease may develop that threatens a person’s life - rectal cancer. This is due to malignancy of formations.
The patient needs to pay attention to his stool after defecation - if it becomes thin, then he should definitely consult a doctor.
For more late stages When you have a bowel movement, you may see blood, mucus, or pus in your stool.
Rectal cancer is characterized by long-term (more than one week) constipation associated with tumor growth.
Each malignancy Over time it becomes larger in size. This causes the stool to become even thinner than before.
Subsequently, if left untreated, the patient develops metastases in the body - secondary foci of cancer, leading to intoxication of the body and deterioration of the condition.
A person’s body temperature periodically rises, weakness, sudden weight loss, nausea and vomiting are observed.
Life expectancy at late stages cancer is significantly reduced. Thus, at the first appearance of thin stool, you need to contact a doctor who will carry out all the necessary diagnostics and prescribe treatment.
Prevention and treatment of illnesses
All doctors have repeatedly emphasized that any disease is much easier to prevent than to treat. Diseases that cause thin feces in humans are no exception.
First of all, you should reduce the load on the intestines, that is, reduce to a minimum the amount of foods harmful to it.
A large amount of dry food leads to hardening of stool, which, in turn, can damage the intestinal walls and cause inflammatory processes.
To prevent a decrease in the lumen of the colon and the appearance of thin feces, it is recommended to enrich your diet with fresh fruits and vegetables, and herbs.
The nature of the food you eat is of great importance - it is advisable to eat the first course (soup, borscht, broth) at least once a day. The frequency of food intake is also considered important - it is not recommended to eat either too often or very rarely.
In addition, you need to take a variety of medications with caution - do not exceed the dosage, and monitor for side effects.
Experts advise to be as nervous as possible, since stress and anxiety also cause inflammatory processes in the intestines.
If, during an examination in the hospital, the doctor diagnosed certain ailments, then treatment should begin immediately.
At an early stage of the disease, the doctor may prescribe certain ointments, creams or suppositories for hemorrhoids.
If the disease is advanced or polyps in the intestines are diagnosed, then treatment will include surgery.
The doctor may prescribe certain antibiotics or anti-inflammatory drugs if needed.
The appearance of thin feces is always associated with a decrease in the lumen in the large intestine. Most often, this occurs due to the presence of hemorrhoids or the formation of polyps in the intestines.
At an early stage, these pathologies are not accompanied by severe discomfort, but if treatment is not started in time, more serious ailments may develop, for example, paraproctitis or rectal cancer.
Such diseases already threaten a person’s life, so at the first appearance of thin stool, it is advisable to visit a doctor and examine the intestines.
Questions
Question: What are the symptoms of colorectal cancer?
What are the symptoms colorectal cancer?
Colorectal cancer may for a long time be asymptomatic, especially if the tumor is small. However, colorectal cancer is accompanied by two types of symptoms - characteristic and nonspecific. Nonspecific symptoms include general weakness and lethargy, weight loss, loss of appetite, aversion to food, perversion of taste and smell, as well as low-grade fever, not rising above 37.0 o C.
- Pain in the lower abdomen. Pain may radiate to the sacrum, coccyx, lower back, or perineum;
In addition to the above common symptoms colorectal cancer, there are some features clinical picture, depending on the exact location of the tumor. If the tumor is located in the right half of the colon, then it is characterized by the following clinical picture:
- Discharge of blood at the very beginning of defecation;
In addition, depending on the leading symptoms, several characteristic clinical forms of colorectal cancer are distinguished. Let's consider the characteristic clinical forms cancer:
Causes of thin stool with hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids are currently a disease of most people of working age. For some, the disease manifests itself with minor symptoms; for others, the severity of discomfort reaches such a degree that it significantly disrupts the usual way of life. Hemorrhoids are manifested by pain, burning inside the rectum and a number of other unpleasant symptoms. The shape of stool can also indicate pathology - when the veins expand and the appearance hemorrhoids it becomes thin. Sometimes it is this symptom that worries a person the most and this forces him to see a doctor. Why does stool with hemorrhoids change its usual appearance and what needs to be done to eliminate the pathology? It is easy to answer this question if you know what changes in the body occur with hemorrhoids.
What are hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids occur due to inflammation and subsequent thrombosis of the hemorrhoidal veins located in the rectum. This leads to the fact that the blood flow is disrupted, the veins are stretched and nodes are formed that protrude from under the mucous layer. Hemorrhoids are divided into three forms, these are:
- Internal - vasodilation is localized only within the rectum, and the resulting nodes protrude into its lumen. Internal hemorrhoids develops gradually and is therefore often detected in the last stages.
- External - hemorrhoidal nodes emerge from the lumen of the rectum and are easy to feel around the anus. At the first stage, the nodes correct themselves, but at the last stage they cannot be corrected without surgical intervention. Outer form hemorrhoids manifest themselves with severe symptoms at the earliest stage of the onset of pathology.
- The combined form of the disease is diagnosed when hemorrhoids occupy both the inside of the rectum and the area around the anus.
The formation of dilated hemorrhoidal veins mainly results from high blood pressure V abdominal cavity. In turn, such a violation is provoked by a fairly large number of changes in the body. Most often these are constipation, constant heavy physical labor, and physical inactivity. Women mainly acquire this disease during pregnancy and during protracted and difficult labor.
Why does the character of stool change with hemorrhoids?
Hemorrhoids are manifested by quite characteristic symptoms, primarily these are painful manifestations that occur during and after the act of defecation. Some patients feel constant heaviness in the lower abdomen, burning and itching in the anus. Thin feces appear mainly with the internal form of hemorrhoids. This is due to the fact that hemorrhoids partially block the lumen of the rectum and compress the feces leaving the intestine, as a result of which the shape of the stool changes. Normally, bowel movements should be cylindrical, ranging from 2 to 5 cm in diameter and have constrictions formed under the influence of movement through the intestines. It is believed that a person should have bowel movements at least three times a week; for some, this happens two or three times a day. If, with such a frequency of bowel movements, the general health does not change, and there are no signs of constipation or diarrhea, then this is considered normal.
The shape of feces with developing hemorrhoids also changes due to the fact that painful sensations lead to the fact that a person is afraid to have a bowel movement again. This leads to the development of constipation and, accordingly, stool changes its usual appearance. Thin, ribbon-like stool can also be caused by digestive problems, which often happens with pancreatitis. It is possible to find out exactly the reason for the change in the appearance of stool only after a comprehensive examination.
Often, it is ribbon-shaped stool that is the first sign of the appearance of hemorrhoids in the lumen of the rectum. A person may not pay attention to minor discomforts such as burning and periodic itching, associating them with bowel movements. Therefore, if an unusual shape of stool appears, you should contact a proctologist; in order to identify changes in the rectum, the doctor only needs to conduct a routine digital examination. If necessary, the doctor sends his patients for diagnostic procedures.
What pathologies cause changes in the shape of feces?
Hemorrhoids are one of the main reasons why stool becomes thin. But in addition to this pathology, pencil-shaped bowel movements can also occur with diseases that lead to a narrowing of the lumen of the rectum. In some cases, the cause of thin stool is spastic narrowing of the sphincter that occurs as a result of inflammatory processes or pathologies of the central and autonomic nervous systems.
Feces in the form of a ribbon may also indicate neoplasms, most often these are polyps, although the development of cancerous tumor. It is possible to differentiate hemorrhoids and other pathologies of the lower intestine only on the basis of diagnostic procedures and tests. Hemorrhoidal dilatation of the vessels of the rectum and malignant formation of this area manifest themselves with similar symptoms, but they also have some distinctive features, This:
- Character bloody discharge. If a person has hemorrhoids, scarlet-colored blood is usually released at the end of a bowel movement; it remains on the surface of the stool without mixing with it. Often with hemorrhoids, a thin stream of blood can be seen on the surface of the stool. With cancer, the blood is dark and mixed with stool.
- Mucus secretion in rectal cancer. The mucous secretion is secreted immediately before bowel movement, and it has bad smell and often pus is mixed with it. The disintegration of the tumor or its traumatization leads to the appearance of tumor fragments in the stool; this is not the case with hemorrhoids.
- Constipation with malignant lesions of any part of the intestine is long-lasting, up to a week or more. People with hemorrhoids have problems with bowel movements for no more than two to three days.
- Ribbon-shaped cancer in rectal cancer begins to appear as the tumor protrudes into the lumen; the larger the tumor, the thinner the stool becomes. In the final stages, the thickness of the discharge is much less than one centimeter.
- With any malignant lesion at the third or fourth stage, metastases occur, which leads to changes in the functioning internal organs. With cancer, symptoms of intoxication also occur, this fast weight loss, nausea, weakness, periodic rise in temperature, loss of appetite. In women in advanced cases, fistulas form between the rectum, urethra and vagina, this leads to the fact that part of the feces begin to be released during urination.
We must never forget that hemorrhoids can become the root cause of a malignant process. The later you start treating this disease, the higher the likelihood of the most unfavorable outcome. Therefore, even the appearance of stool that has changed in shape should be a reason to come to an appointment with a surgeon or proctologist, who can prescribe the appropriate examination and treatment.
Why is stool thin in shape?
Hello friends! Today I propose to discuss a very serious topic, why has the feces become thin in shape? What could this mean?
Most people pay little attention to color and shape, and some try not to look at all. This attitude is fundamentally wrong.
You can learn a lot about what's going on in your body by the changes in your stool (for example, when it becomes light-colored).
This will give you the opportunity to prevent the development of serious diseases.
Thin stool
You already know from previous articles what a normal stool should look like and what a change in its color means. Now I will tell you why it becomes thin, and what the consequences may be.
If you notice that changes have occurred and the stool appears thin, listen to your condition and watch carefully to see if additional symptoms have appeared:
- A mixture of mucus
- Streaks of scarlet blood,
- Stool became more frequent.
The presence of such additional factors clearly indicates that it is time to see a doctor. These are symptoms of diseases such as:
- Rectal polyps,
- Haemorrhoids.
Most often these diseases long time do not manifest themselves and do not bother a person in any way. The only indicator of their occurrence is a change in the shape of the stool (becoming, for example, thin).
It may be objected that these diseases are not dangerous and can be easily treated. It’s absolutely not difficult to get rid of both polyps and hemorrhoids if you don’t start the process.
Both of these diseases are harbingers of colorectal cancer, and this is already very dangerous disease. Therefore, the sooner you notice that the stool is thin, pencil-shaped, and get checked by a gastroenterologist, you will save yourself from more serious troubles.
Tape feces
Very rarely, cancerous growths grow on their own; most often they are preceded by harmless small growths - polyps. They do not cause harm and do not bother a person until they develop into a malignant tumor.
Gradually, growing, the tumor blocks the lumen of the intestine, and the output is thin feces. If you ignore this fact, after a while you will feel:
- Mild pain radiating to the sacrum
- Frequent urge to defecate,
- Constipation.
Further development of cancerous formation will result in ribbon-like stool, increased and spreading pain, as well as a feeling foreign body in the rectum.
Today's medicine successfully treats colorectal cancer, but why bring the situation to such a state?
I would like to dwell on one more point. Sometimes childhood illnesses pave the way for the development of serious illnesses in adulthood. For example, lamblia.
They live and develop in small intestine And bile ducts. By attaching to the intestinal walls, they irritate the thin mucous membrane and cause inflammation.
Constantly inflamed intestinal walls, isn’t this an excellent environment for the growth of polyps or malignant tumors?
It is almost impossible to determine the presence of Giardia without analysis; they do not manifest themselves. Parents should be alerted to poor weight gain in the child, as well as frequent attacks of nausea for no particular reason.
Fecal analysis for Giardia
Unhooking from their place, they are able to “travel” through the intestines in order to attach to a new place and become an adult lamblia. The presence of cysts or adult motile individuals in the stool is indicated by a stool analysis for Giardia.
Collection rules for analysis:
For a more reliable result, you need fresh morning stool. It is collected in a special container with a preservative, received the day before at the clinic. In the laboratory, the presence of cysts is checked under a microscope. Visually detecting them is an indisputable result.
I hope I was able to convince even the most squeamish people that it is necessary to monitor the condition of your stool. If you find thin stool, do not put off visiting a doctor and check your health.
Why is there thin stool?
If a person produces thin stool, the main cause of the problem is most likely problems with the digestive system. But in some cases, pathology can be a consequence of serious illnesses.
It is impossible to determine on your own what contributed to the development of the disease. To do this, you need to visit a specialist who will conduct a diagnosis and take stool for analysis, after which the reason for the deviation will be announced.
Pathogenesis
If an adult produces ribbon-like feces, it is simply impossible not to notice such changes. Everyone knows what a normal stool looks like, and if the stool has changed shape, this is a serious reason to think about your health.
You shouldn’t sound the alarm right away; in the first days you need to monitor your body and try to listen to it.
You should immediately visit a doctor if the following symptoms occur:
- the appearance of mucus in feces;
- presence of blood clots;
- frequent urge to defecate.
If your overall health has worsened and problems with the gastrointestinal tract have appeared, thin stool may be a sign of the onset of dangerous pathologies that require immediate professional treatment.
Doctors say that at the initial stage it is possible to cure almost all diseases, even polyps and hemorrhoids. But if you leave illnesses to their own devices, they will begin to progress and more complex and lengthy therapy will be required.
It is important to understand that both diseases are considered precursors to colon cancer, which is often fatal. To avoid serious troubles, it is necessary to quickly find out why ribbon-shaped feces occur and what is the cause of the disease in a particular case.
Main reasons for deviation
As practice shows, it is not so rare for feces to appear in a thin ribbon. Such a disturbance in the functioning of the intestines is observed:
Long and thin feces can be caused by eating too much fast food and not drinking enough water. The first thing doctors advise to do in case of such a disorder is to review the diet and introduce more healthy foods, especially fruits and vegetables.
Possible diseases
Why is the stool long and comes out like a thin sausage? Such intestinal dysfunction may indicate the development of certain pathologies.
Hemorrhoids
This inflammatory process not only causes severe discomfort and pain to a person, but can also cause the development of dangerous pathologies. The disease provokes disruption of blood flow in the veins, as a result of which the capillaries stretch and a hemorrhoid is formed.
International medicine classifies 3 forms of hemorrhoids: internal, external and mixed, which differ in symptoms and require different treatments.
- Sedentary lifestyle.
- Carrying a child.
- Alcohol abuse.
- Persistent constipation or diarrhea.
- Poor nutrition.
- Itching in the anal area.
- Genetic predisposition.
Hemorrhoids should not be left untreated; the disease can lead to the development of tumors of a malignant nature.
Neoplasms in the intestines
The appearance of ribbon-like feces can occur during the formation of polyps and other growths. The intestinal wall begins to change, causing pain. The size and shape of stool may also change.
Doctors warn that thin line stool could be the result of bowel cancer. The increasing formation begins to put pressure on the intestines, causing deformation of feces. If a malignant tumor has formed, defecation is accompanied by the release of blood and thick mucus, and the patient begins to suffer from constipation.
Colon cancer also entails weight loss, lethargy and apathy, and problems with the immune system. If such signs occur, you should immediately visit a doctor.
To make an accurate diagnosis, you will have to undergo examinations such as:
- anoscopy, in which a special device is inserted into the anus, giving the physician the opportunity to visually assess the condition of the intestines;
- finger examination;
- sigmoidoscopy;
- general blood analysis;
- biochemistry.
If the patient is diagnosed with a large growth, the only option is surgery; conservative therapy in such cases is ineffective.
Colitis
With this disease, pain occurs in the lower abdomen (usually on the left side).
Depending on how severely the intestines are affected, the pain can be cutting, stabbing and burning. Constant flatulence, diarrhea and constipation, admixtures of blood and mucus in the stool appear, and bowel movements are accompanied by painful sensations.
Colitis has the following symptoms:
Banded feces in women
In young ladies, the occurrence of pathology is usually associated with bearing a child.
During pregnancy, pressure is placed on the pelvic organs, and the rectum becomes less elastic. Due to intestinal obstruction, feces may be released in long strips and resemble a thin ribbon.
Such disorders can also be a consequence of the formation of hemorrhoidal cones and excessive accumulation of mucus in the intestines.
Another cause of illness in pregnant women is poor nutrition. If the diet lacks vegetables, fruits, dairy products and fiber, and hard foods predominate, intestinal activity may be impaired.
You should urgently visit a doctor if the stool is accompanied by the release of blood clots and constant pain. A dangerous sign is an increase in body temperature.
Causes of pathology in men
Many representatives of the stronger sex begin to suffer from prostatitis closer to 40 years of age. This inflammatory process also has a bad effect on the functioning of the intestines, as a result of which the walls of the organ begin to narrow, reducing the passage for excretion of feces.
In addition to prostatitis, the following causes of this phenomenon in men can be identified:
- frequent stress and anxiety;
- intestinal diseases;
- development of pathological processes due to genetic predisposition;
- inflammation in the intestines;
- external or internal hemorrhoids;
- untreated infectious diseases.
To establish the exact cause of the disease, you need to visit a doctor and undergo the necessary diagnostics.
Prevention and treatment
It is much easier to prevent the development of a disease than to eliminate it later. To ensure that the gastrointestinal tract and intestines function properly, doctors advise adhering to the following recommendations:
- Stop consumption harmful products and include more fresh vegetables and fruits in your diet. Fermented milk products and low-fat meat broths will also help normalize intestinal activity. It is better to avoid dry snacks and fast food.
- Meals should be regular. You need to eat every 2-3 hours, and the portions should be small. But eating right before bed is not recommended.
- It is required to strictly monitor the intake of medications, not to exceed the dosage and not to carry out treatment longer than the prescribed period.
- In case of intoxication, you need to immediately begin to cleanse the body of toxins, and not wait until everything returns to normal on its own.
- Strictly monitor personal hygiene.
- If possible, you need to give up bad habits.
- Once a year it is recommended to visit doctors and undergo preventive diagnostics which will help to detect the presence of diseases in time.
If you follow these simple requirements, the risk of thin stool will be minimized. And in order for the intestines to work like clockwork, you need to spend as much time as possible in the fresh air and include at least minimal physical activity in your life.
Methods of therapy for the appearance of thin stool
The human body constantly tells him about changes in the functioning of his organs. Thin stool is a symptom that indicates the onset of the development of dangerous diseases. Therefore, it is worth taking changes in stool seriously.
Reasons why thin stool appears
Thin feces can form in a person in the following situations:
The disease occurs as a result of inflammatory processes. This contributes to the formation of blood clots in the veins of the colon. Due to thrombosis, nodes are formed, which lead to thinning of the stool passing through it.
The formation of banded feces is accompanied by the following points:
- poor nutrition;
- sedentary lifestyle;
- pregnancy;
- frequent constipation and diarrhea;
- alcohol abuse;
- heredity.
Hemorrhoids, polyps, and giardiasis in the initial stage are easily treatable, but if a person does not take any measures, this can lead to serious consequences.
If hemorrhoids are not treated, paraproctitis occurs - purulent inflammation rectum, which destroys organ tissue. This leads to malignancy of the resulting fistulas.
Symptoms of hemorrhoids are:
- thin stool;
- formation of cones;
- fecal retention;
- feces may contain impurities of blood and mucus.
The following stages of hemorrhoid development are accompanied by itching, pain, and the nodes fall out during bowel movements or during physical exertion.
Thin stool with IBS
If the functional activity of the lower gastrointestinal tract is disrupted, but the areas remain undamaged, then they speak of irritable bowel syndrome.
Symptoms accompanying the disease are divided into 3 groups:
- intestinal;
- causes related to other digestive organs;
- unrelated symptoms from the digestive tract.
The first group is characterized by pain in the lower abdomen on the left side. The sensations can be varied: aching, burning, constant, cutting, dagger-like. In this case, other symptoms also occur: ribbon stool with mucus, diarrhea, constipation, bloating.
The second group includes reactions from other organs of the gastrointestinal tract: vomiting, nausea, sour belching, a feeling of bitterness in the mouth.
Third group: anxiety, restlessness, sleep disturbance, depression.
The main causes of SCR are:
- poor nutrition;
- heredity;
- poisoning;
- sedentary lifestyle;
- stress;
- infectious intestinal diseases.
To begin treatment, it is necessary to diagnose the disease in time. To confirm the diagnosis you need:
- make general and biochemical tests blood;
- conduct a colonoscopy and FGDS;
- take a general urine test;
- make a coprogram.
Treatment involves following a diet and taking medications that eliminate the symptoms of the disease. If SCD occurs as a result of stress, then you should consult a psychotherapist.
Changes in stool due to neoplasms in the intestine
Changes in feces can be observed when neoplasms and polyps appear on the intestinal mucosa. Malignant tumors are the most dangerous.
Polyps that form on the intestinal mucosa are considered benign growths. They cause banded feces because they reduce the intestinal lumen.
Polyps are harmless to humans, but over time they can become malignant. It means that benign tumor develops into a malignant formation.
Pathological growths spread throughout the intestinal mucosa, which narrows the passage for feces. This leads to constipation and thinning of stool.
A cancerous tumor in the intestine is a dangerous disease. It is accompanied by a false urge to evacuate, pain in the anus and constipation. In case of intestinal cancer, stool is excreted with impurities of blood, pus or mucus. The disease may not make itself felt for a long time. Therefore, to diagnose oncology on early stages it can be difficult. If cancer is detected in the last stages, this leads to a decrease in the chances of recovery.
Symptoms of bowel cancer
With rectal cancer, thin stool is observed. As the size of the tumor increases, the feces become thinner.
Symptoms of bowel cancer:
- Abdominal pain radiating to the sacrum and perineum.
- Hardening of stool, prolonged constipation.
- Feeling of incomplete emptying.
- The shape of the chair resembles a thin pencil.
- Stands out dark blood with feces.
- Decreased immunity.
- Constant weakness.
- Decreased and lack of appetite.
- Sharp weight loss.
- Anemia.
When you detect the first signs of the disease, you need to consult a specialist. An experienced doctor can recognize the development of pathology and prescribe the necessary tests.
Methods for determining the oncological process in the rectum:
- Biochemical and general tests blood.
- Sigmoidoscopy.
- Fecal occult blood test.
- Anoscopy - examination anal passage using an anoscope.
Treatment for colorectal cancer involves stopping the growth of the tumor. For this purpose, radiotherapy and chemotherapy are used. Doctors also use surgery to combat this disease.
The coprogram helps to identify changes in bowel function, Bladder, pancreas, stomach and liver. And also detect the onset of inflammation or choose the right treatment option.
Prevention and treatment of thin stool
To prevent the appearance of thin stool, you should follow several recommendations.
Diet tips:
- adhere to a balanced diet;
- add liquid dishes to the diet: hot soups and broths;
- diversify the menu with fresh fruits and vegetables;
- refuse dry food and fast foods;
- limit the number of snacks on the go;
- drink the recommended amount of clean water;
- quit smoking and alcohol;
- The optimal number of meals is 3–5 times.
- Stressful situations should be avoided. You need to try to be less nervous and worried.
- It is recommended to play sports.
- Monitor the quantity and quality of medications used. It is important to prevent overdose of medications.
- Take care of yourself and maintain personal hygiene.
- Apply for it in a timely manner medical care in case of poisoning with mushrooms, medications and other drugs.
- Don’t forget about a preventive examination at the clinic.
If during the examination the doctor notices symptoms of the disease, then treatment must be started immediately.
At the initial stage of the disease, the doctor prescribes ointments, creams or suppositories for hemorrhoids.
If polyps are found or the disease is advanced, surgery may be required.
Thin stool is a symptom that should alert a person. If it appears, you need to consult a doctor to prevent the development of serious diseases.
Pathology in which thin stool is released, is associated with problems in the functioning of the digestive system or has more serious preconditions.
Diagnosis of banded stools should be carried out by a doctor, but if this is not possible, it is worth finding out what are the reasons for such deviations during bowel movements.
The disease has an internal or external nature. If on scraps toilet paper or blood is observed in the stool or underwear, this indicates the appearance of internal hemorrhoids.
With the external form of the disease spherical growths visible in the anal area.
The reason for the development of the disease in both cases lies in improper blood circulation in the rectum, which leads to its stagnation at the intersection of capillaries and veins. The more blood cells in the nodular plexuses, the more impressive the lump looks.
At the early stage of the disease, it causes almost no concern, but later the discomfort becomes unbearable.
Pineal growths provoke pain and itching begins. When bowel movements become painful, the process may accompanied by bleeding. The feces become thinner as they pass between the cones and have a ribbon-like appearance at the exit.
Sometimes the sitting posture becomes unbearable for the patient. In the internal form of the disease, they swell venous vessels anus, and with external hemorrhoids, the veins swell closer to the sphincter.
What does ribbon stool mean in women?
Most often, among the fair sex, the appearance of thin feces during bowel movements is associated with pregnancy. In women during this period, compression of the pelvic organs occurs due to active cell growth reproductive organ.
At the same time, the intestinal walls become less elastic. May cause hemorrhoids or constipation. Then, due to intestinal obstruction, feces will be released in thin strips, in the shape of a narrow ribbon.
This happens due to the formation of obstacles in the form of hemorrhoidal cones, the accumulation of copious amounts of mucus on the intestinal walls.
When passing between them, feces will be forced through a narrow space, which will determine its similar shape.
Sometimes thin stools are observed with poor nutrition– poor in plant fiber, with a lack of first courses and a predominance of hard foods. If this is the only reason, you need to add more fresh vegetables to your diet, vegetable oil, fermented milk products.
If there is blood during bowel movements, pain appears, general state characterized chronic fatigue, depression, increased body temperature, that is, the likelihood of developing an intestinal tumor in the body.
Causes of illness during bowel movements in men
The stronger sex is susceptible prostatitis. The inflammatory process, which affects the functioning of the rectum, leads to the fact that the passage between its walls narrows, and there is not enough of it for feces.
They narrow as they pass through the inflamed intestinal walls. This is the most common reason. Among the others we can highlight:
- Exposure stressful situations. Any traumatic experience has an impact - both from distant childhood and from recent times.
- Problems with the movement of feces through the intestinal space.
- Mutation processes at the gene level due to hereditary predisposition to illness.
- Irritable bowel syndrome or an aggravated inflammatory process in all its parts.
- Hemorrhoids internal or external.
- Previous infectious diseases that were localized in the intestines. This applies to dysentery, cholera, and acute bacterial infection.
What preventive measures can be taken?
It is more convenient and easier to prevent any disease than to subsequently spend a lot of effort fighting it. To protect yourself from diseases that cause the appearance of banded stools, it is recommended:
- diversify your diet fresh vegetables and fruits;
- Be sure to eat soups and broths, eat less dry food;
- do not overeat or starve for a long time;
- stop having snacks on the go;
- control the intake of medications and try to prevent their overdose and side effects;
- respond in a timely manner to the process of intoxication of the body in case of poisoning with mushrooms, medicines or food;
- give up a sedentary lifestyle and exercise, do exercises periodically;
- observe personal hygiene;
- at least once a year preventive examination in the clinic.
If you follow these tips, you can reduce the risk of thin stool and the diseases that cause it.
If the stool comes out pencil thin?
The most common and dangerous cause A similar pathology is considered to be a cancerous tumor in the intestine. The disease is accompanied by false urge to defecate, pain in the anus and constipation. Then there is an admixture of blood, mucous secretions or pus in the stool.
When rectal cancer occurs fecal retention in some parts of the intestine on the way to exit. Its walls narrow due to the appearance of pathological growths on them, foci with cancerous cells.
The worst thing is when the disease goes away without manifestation. characteristic symptoms, then it is diagnosed at later stages, which can reduce the patient’s chances of recovery.
When the tumor has still reached a large size, it is difficult to determine the presence of pathology in the intestines, but an experienced doctor can do this. If you have the slightest suspicion of cancer, you should immediately contact the clinic; always remember this.
Among the non-specific, that is, not characteristic only this disease, signs of development bowel cancer highlight a state of weakness, weight loss without visible reasons, lack of interest in food, exacerbation of taste buds.
K clearly severe symptoms include abdominal pain radiating to the sacrum, perineum, prolonged constipation, a feeling of insufficient fecal output during bowel movements. Moreover, the shape of the chair is similar to a pencil due to its thinness.
Timely identification of the causes of thin stool will relieve you of discomfort and speed up recovery.
Cancer can develop in the thin, thick or rectum. The neoplasm most often affects the large intestine, or rather its colon. The color of stool with intestinal cancer can have different shades.
Cancer that starts in the colon is called.
Cancer that starts in the rectum is called rectal cancer.
Colorectal cancer is general concept for the colon and rectum.
Main symptoms
Common stomach illnesses or changes in bowel habits are common occurrence. They don't always mean that people have serious illness, such as cancer. However, not all symptoms should be ignored. Learn about the symptoms of cancer that should prompt you to see your doctor.
- Changes in bowel habits.
- Change appearance bowel movements and bowel movements.
- Color change.
- Blood in the stool or bleeding from the rectum.
- Feeling of intestinal discomfort.
- Cramping pain in the lower abdomen.
- Unintentional weight loss, weakness and fatigue.
Let's analyze these symptoms in more detail to decide what needs to be done next and what to talk about with your doctor.
Changes in bowel habits
Persistent changes in bowel habits or blood in the stool can be a symptom of colorectal cancer in any part of the colon or rectum.
If you notice any of these changes, then this is a signal to not only take note, but to start taking action and making lifestyle changes at the same time.
If the changes continue for a certain time, then it is necessary to consult a therapist and proctologist. The information you share will help your doctor determine the cause.
Diarrhea. Light stools and diarrhea (multiple liquid stools) are common. Changes may be caused by intolerance to certain foods, medications, stress or travel. Most people have diarrhea several times a year. The danger is diarrhea that lasts more than three days.
Constipation. Constipation is defined as having fewer than three bowel movements per week and is one of the most common gastrointestinal complaints. Constipation does not mean that the patient has... Change in diet, poor and unhealthy diet, stress, dehydration or lack physical activity may also cause constipation. Fecal deposits in the intestines can cause cancer. If a person has constipation for more than two weeks, they should consult a doctor.
Changes in the appearance of stool and bowel movements
The way stool looks can be a good indicator of what's going on inside the intestines. Small and hard stools are an indicator of constipation. You need to see a doctor. Especially if it resembles goat droppings. Or there is no feces at all.
Changing shape. If the stool becomes thin, narrow, and ribbon-shaped, this may be a sign of changes inside the colon. Narrower than usual stool and mucus in the stool should alert you. Consult a doctor, this condition is being assessed.
Color change
The color of stool with intestinal cancer takes on a reddish tint due to the presence of blood. If you notice the presence of blood in the stool, or darkened excrement, this may be evidence of changes in the rectum. Bright red, black, or very dark colored stool should never be ignored. A doctor can help determine the cause.
Keep in mind that some foods may also stain your stool:
- beets - red;
- carrots and pumpkin – orange;
- activated carbon – black;
- currant - dark.
In this case, there is no need to be scared, this is normal.
Blood in the stool or bleeding from the rectum
One of the most alarming symptoms Cancer may include blood in the stool or bleeding from the rectum. Small streaks of blood in the feces should also be alarming. Sometimes they can only be seen under a microscope.
Conditions such as hemorrhoids or fissures can also cause small amounts of blood, so if you notice blood, contact your doctor and be sure to explain any other symptoms you may be experiencing at the same time. A large amount of blood may warrant a visit to the emergency room.
Feeling of intestinal discomfort
A feeling of discomfort in the intestines or a desire to “have movement” in the intestines. A feeling that the intestines are not emptied completely. Rectal bleeding/pain in the anus, or lump in the rectum/ anus. Abdominal pain or swelling in the abdomen. A feeling of fullness in the stomach or flatulence in the intestines or rectum is evidence that the intestines were not completely emptied after defecation.
Cramping pain in the lower abdomen
Keep in mind that discomfort that does not go away over time or cramps in the intestines is worse. A person may experience frequent pain and flatulence. Eat constant feeling If you have bowel movements and the feeling does not go away, if you have one of the symptoms, consult your doctor.
Unintentional weight loss, weakness and fatigue
Chronic rectal bleeding can cause iron deficiency. The patient may feel tired all the time and have pale skin. If the energy level drops and the patient begins to lose weight for no reason, it is necessary to consult a doctor to evaluate the diagnosis.
Fear of a cancer diagnosis should not keep you from going to the clinic in a timely manner. If cancer is suspected, the earlier it is detected, the better for the patient. Almost 90% of bowel cancer cases are treatable and survival rates are good if diagnosed early.
Keep in mind that not everyone experiences symptoms, especially in the early stages of bowel cancer. Do not wait until symptoms occur to get screened for cancer if you are over 50 years old or have a family history of cancer. Talk to your doctor for more information detailed information about options for comprehensive examination.
May be triggered by certain medications and food products. Do not delay contacting your doctor if you experience any of the symptoms described for two weeks or more, because early diagnosis cancer is successfully treated. About 55 percent of people diagnosed with bowel cancer are men and about 45 percent are women. A woman often has cancer sigmoid colon caused by ovarian cancer.
Protective factors that reduce the risk of developing cancer:
- Physical activity
- Aspirin
- Combination of hormone replacement therapy
- Removal of polyps
- Eat more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and foods low in animal fats.
- Regular examination after 50 years.
Almost all colorectal cancers start as polyps (growths) in the colon or rectum. Such polyps may be present in the colon for many years before invasive cancer develops.
They may not cause any symptoms. Colorectal cancer screening can find precancerous polyps, and removing them early will prevent cancer from developing. This type of treatment will be the most effective. Diet can reduce your chance of developing cancer.
Taking low-dose aspirin may help prevent not only colon cancer, but also cardiovascular diseases depending on age and risk factors. Research shows that people can reduce their risk of colorectal cancer by limiting their alcohol consumption and quitting tobacco.
