Sometimes the stool takes the shape of a pencil. What are the reasons for this? To answer this question, the Institute for Quality and Economic Efficiency in the Health Sector in Germany said that the thickness of healthy stool ranges from 2.5 to about 7 cm, indicating that The thin diameter of the stool is similar to a pencil It is due to several reasons, some of which are simple and some of which are serious.

Simple reasons

The institute explained that simple causes of pencil-shaped stool are following a poor diet or food intolerance, and travel, especially when there is a time difference, negatively affects the digestive system and makes the stool thin like a pencil.

Other minor causes of tarry stools include pregnancy or taking medications such as iron supplements.

Serious reasons

The pencil shape of the stool may indicate serious causes such as chronic intestinal infections Crohn's disease or Ulcerative colitis or Irritable bowel syndrome.

Loose stool may also be due to a stricture, as is the case with enlarged hemorrhoids or the appearance of protrusions in the intestinal mucosa as a result of For diverticulitis. Benign or malignant tumors (such as colon cancer) can also lead to narrowing of the intestine.

Therefore, a doctor should be consulted if the pencil shape of the stool persists over a long period, accompanied by other symptoms such as abdominal pain and cramps, nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, and a feeling of fullness and bloating.

Methods of Treatment

The institute indicated that treatment depends on the underlying cause of the pencil-shaped stool. Chronic intestinal infections are treated with medications and diet modification, while enlarged hemorrhoids or benign tumors that cause intestinal narrowing are surgically removed. This procedure is especially important for benign tumors, in order to prevent them from developing into malignant tumors.

If the diagnosis is cancer, surgery is usually the solution. It is also possible to resort to radiation or chemotherapy, depending on the type and size of the tumor.

Healthy diet

In order for the stool to be normal, a healthy, balanced diet rich in dietary fiber must be followed. You should eat 30 grams of dietary fiber daily, according to the recommendations of the German Nutrition Society. Sources of dietary fiber are whole grain products, vegetables and fruits. Drinking a sufficient amount of water is also a prerequisite for regular and healthy bowel movements.

In addition to a healthy diet, exercise also plays a major role in a healthy digestive system, as it stimulates bowel movement.