To help answer those questions we put together the following list of definitions for what each degree acronym stands for as well as explanations of the meanings behind all the different terminology. An associate degree is typically completed in two years of full-time study, but may take longer for part-time students.
Here's a guide to some of the most likely â and most lethal â conditions that can lead to changes in the shape, size, smell and shade of your stool. Shape. Insufficient fiber in the diet, diverticulosis, bowel spasm or excessive straining are common causes of a change in stool shape. Diverticulosis causes pothole-like craters in the lining of the colon, as well as a narrowing of the internal diameter of the colon due to wall thickening.
Quick Answer. Ribbon-like stools are caused by irritable bowel syndrome, colon cancer and benign issues, such as a change in diet, according to About.com and Dr. Mercola. About.com notes that isolated instances of ribbon-like stools normally don't signal a health problem, but chronic ribbon-like stools need evaluation.