A sac that bulges through the weak spot may include a piece of intestine or lining of the colon. HerniaĪn abdominal hernia can happen when an organ or a piece of tissue protrudes through a weak spot in one of the muscle walls of the abdominal cavity.

Fecal impaction is common in older people who have bowel issues. The overuse of laxatives can cause fecal impaction. It is a condition that can be very serious if not addressed. This is a hard mass of stool that becomes so hard that you can’t push it out. Adhesions in the abdomen, inflamed intestines, infections, hernias, and colon cancer all have the potential to cause a bowel obstruction.Īlso read: Partial Bowel Obstruction: Causes, Symptoms, and Diet Fecal Impaction Bowel ObstructionĪny blockage that keeps food or liquid from passing through the small or large intestine is referred to as a bowel obstruction. A large stone released from the gallbladder can cause an obstruction in the bowel, which can lead to thin or narrow stools. There are also foreign objects developed within the body, such as gallstones. Usually, foreign objects are a problem for small children. This means any object in the stomach that is indigestible and not food. This is due to the fact that the growth is causing an obstruction.Īlso read: Colon polyps: Diet and natural home remedies Foreign Object The polyps are essentially growths that extend from the bowel wall and can create thin stool when they occur near the end of the colon. When colon cancer is found in the later stages, it’s often fatal. Most of these polyps are harmless however, some colon polyps can develop into colon cancer. This is a small clump of cells that can form on the lining of the colon. Not eating the way you normally do along with constant stool movement can lead to thinner stools.Īlso read: 14 essential oils for diarrhea and various ways to use them Colon Polyps

While we think of diarrhea as watery stools, it can also be defined by having more than three bowel movements in one day. There are illnesses that can cause diarrhea, such as food poisoning, infections, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and IBS. With diarrhea, the stools become thin and runny, and with constipation, the stools come out either lumpy or hard.Īlso read: IBS back pain: How irritable bowel syndrome causes back pain and what to do about it Diarrheal Illness Some IBS sufferers experience constant, severe diarrhea while others have constant constipation. This is a term for irritable bowel syndrome, a condition that can lead to smaller, larger, or narrower than usual stools. Thin stools can also occur with anal cancer, but it’s less common. Pencil thin stools are a persistent symptom of colon cancer and are accompanied by weight loss and rectal bleeding. One of the most common cancers in the developed nations is colorectal cancer. Fruits and vegetables can also increase your fiber intake.Īlso read: Essential oils for constipation: Benefits, usage, and warnings Cancer You can get more fiber by adding whole grain, such as bran and oats, to your diet. Many people find that if they don’t consume enough fiber, their stools become thin and stringy. Adding fiber to your diet adds bulk to the stool, increasing its size.

The following outlines what causes narrow stools: ConstipationĪ lack of liquids and a low-fiber diet can lead to constipation. More often than not, a change in bowel movements has something to do with diet, but there are cases where certain health conditions can play a role in the development of narrow or thin stool.

Picture of pencil thin stool