Why does stool sink

List of Partners vendors. Seeing your poop float might surprise you. But it's usually nothing to worry about. More often than not, it's related to something you had to eat. Other times, floating poop can be a symptom of an underlying condition. If you're experiencing other symptoms as well, consider talking to your healthcare provider. Here are the main reasons behind this type of stool poop , ways to prevent it, and when you should see a healthcare provider.

Your intestines, or bowels , are part of your digestive system. They help your body break down and digest food. Most of the time, floating stool is the result of something you ate. If you eat a large meal or something that produces gas, the gas mixes with stool in the intestines. The extra air from the gas makes poop less dense, or packed. This leads it to float when it hits the toilet bowl. Have you noticed you feel gassy after you eat specific foods?

That's because certain types of foods can produce gas. Here are some examples:. Many of these foods contain sugars that can make excess gas, like sorbitol or fructose. For instance, prunes, apples, peaches, and sugar-free foods contain sorbitol.

Sodas, honey, and fruit juices are high in fructose. If your floating stool is a result of gas-producing food, there's some good news. Your poop should return to normal after you eat less of the foods that bother you. People with lactose intolerance may have floating poop when they eat dairy products.

That's because they have low levels of the enzyme lactase that the body needs to digest lactose a sugar in milk. Lactose isn't only in milk—it's also in many other dairy products, like yogurt, ice cream, and some cheeses. That's why someone with lactose intolerance might become bloated or gassy after eating dairy , which can lead to floating stool. Along with gas, people with irritable bowel syndrome IBS may have floating stools. The researchers concluded that floating stools were a characteristic feature of IBS.

Excess gas in your stool can make it to float. Eating foods that contain sugars like sorbitol or fructose can produce excess gas. People with lactose intolerance and IBS might have a similar experience. Here's a look at several conditions that can lead to floating stools. Some medical conditions can cause malabsorption, or the inability to absorb nutrients from the food you eat. Unsurprisingly, malabsorption can lead to floating poop.

Conditions that disturb the lining of your digestive tract can have this effect, such as:. Chronic pancreatitis is when there's inflammation in your pancreas. The condition is usually a result of gallstones or long-term alcohol abuse. It often occurs after acute, or sudden, pancreatitis. It's also linked to diabetes. While floating stool is common in pancreatitis, you may experience other symptoms as well.

Stomach pain, back pain, bloating, and weight loss are all common. Sclerosing cholangitis affects the bile ducts in and around your liver. It's closely linked with ulcerative colitis. The condition is marked by inflammation, scarring, and destruction of these bile ducts.

Along with floating stools, symptoms include:. Choledocholithiasis is when you have one or more gallstones in the common bile duct. The condition doesn't provoke any symptoms unless the stone blocks the bile duct. As well as floating stools, you might feel pain in the right upper or middle upper stomach. The pain usually lasts for at least 30 minutes. The jejunum is one of three sections that make up the small intestine.

Learn about its function and anatomy, as well as the conditions that can affect…. At-home microbiome testing kits can be a first step. We look at these and give our recommendations for your overall gut health questions.

Cholangitis is inflammation swelling in the bile duct. Treatment depends on your symptoms and whether you have chronic or acute cholangitis. Gastroparesis is a condition in which your stomach empties into your small intestine too slowly.

Learn about the best diet for gastroparesis and what…. Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas and causes abdominal tenderness and pain. Learn more. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Sinking vs. Floating vs. Healthy poop color. Healthy poop shapes and consistencies. Healthy poop smells. Healthy pooping frequency.

Read this next. Medically reviewed by Grant Tinsley, PhD. Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph. Medically reviewed by Stacy Sampson, D. Medically reviewed by Saurabh Sethi, M. Jejunum Overview. What's Possible from Microbiome Testing at Home? Since pencil-thin stool is also a sign of colon cancer, being able to recognize the change in shape may, in turn, help your healthcare provider make an early diagnosis.

Steatorrhea is defined as an increase in the amount of fat in stool. Steatorrhea can cause stool to float and appear pale or light-colored. Its causes can include diseases affecting the small intestine, a bile acid deficiency, or celiac disease.

Visible mucus in stool can indicate the presence of an underlying health condition. Causes for it can include ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome IBS , Crohn's disease, cystic fibrosis, constipation, dehydration, or a bacterial infection. Dark stool can be temporarily caused by certain foods, supplements, or medications. Examples include Pepto-Bismol, iron supplements, or eating dark foods like blueberries, blackberries, and Oreo cookies. Dark stool usually isn't cause for concern unless it stays dark for an extended amount of time or becomes black and tar-like, which could indicate bleeding in the digestive tract.

Black stool can be a sign of bleeding in the upper digestive tract, including the stomach and small intestine. It can be caused by inflammation of the intestinal lining, abnormal blood vessels, stomach ulcers, and other issues.

If you notice this change in your stool, contact your healthcare provider right away. Occasionally checking the consistency and color of your poop can help you monitor your health. The poop's color can simply be a sign of what you recently ate, or it could be an indication of a health issue. If your stool shows an unusual color or shape that persists over an extended amount of time, contact your healthcare provider so they can check it out.

Gas pain? Stool issues? Sign up for the best tips to take care of your stomach. Canadian Society of Intestinal Research. The scoop on poop.

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Last Updated July 25, Michael M. Phillips, MD. Black or tarry stools. MedlinePlus medical encyclopedia. Reviewed April 7, Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellHealth. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page. These choices will be signaled globally to our partners and will not affect browsing data. We and our partners process data to: Actively scan device characteristics for identification.

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