Although passing out stools is an everyday activity for all people, it is not a pleasant thing to discuss. Nonetheless, it is an important health topic that should not be ignored. Taking the time to look closely at your stool everyday may not be an enjoyable routine, but it is definitely a necessity. Your stool can say a lot about the condition of your gut and your overall health.
A change in your diet can cause changes in your stool. It can also suggest a change in the condition of your gut. After a difficult constipation or diarrhea, you may experience a burning pain in your anal region or notice blood on the stool surface or toilet tissue. If you suspect that you have a cut in your anal tissues and lining, you may be consciously looking for signs of the same in your feces. Thin stools and feces coloration may also be present and you may wonder if they are an indication of the anal fissure condition that you think you have.
It is important to note and understand that not all symptoms lead to the same disease or condition. Several illnesses manifest the same symptoms. The same is true in the presence of thin stools.
- •The wall of the intestine thickens with age and causes the intestinal space to narrow. As people grow older, stools may come out thinner than usual.
- •Inflamed pockets that are formed in the intestines (diverticulitis) may cause a narrowed space in the large intestine and this in turn causes thinner stools to pass all the way to the rectum and anus.
- •An enlarged prostate can cause the rectum or anus to become narrow. The pressure of the prostate may push the rectal wall or anal muscle causing the stool to pass through thinly.
- •A frequent pencil-thin stool is also suggestive of a more serious condition that needs immediate medical attention, such as an obstruction in the intestine or cancer of the colon. As the tumor or cancer size increases, the space in the intestine is reduced. The size of the feces is also reduced as it goes through the intestines.
While thin stools are not commonly noticed in anal fissure, it can also occur when complications arise. When the tear extends to the muscles surrounding the anus, it may become severely inflamed, thus limiting the size of canal opening, then causing thinner stools to come out. When these muscle tissues remain unhealed for an extended period, severe infection may arise as well.
Feces coloration should also be noted. The usual color of stools is brownish-yellow. However, fecal color depends on what was consumed earlier in the day. An unusual bowel color may be caused by a certain food you ate or a supplement you took. These color changes are usually harmless. Stool color becomes significant when it becomes persistent and/or other symptoms are present.
The presence of a small amount of blood on the surface of the stool may suggest something else that is related to an anal injury. A rip on the anal muscle causes the passing stool to be smeared with blood present on the anal lining. Rectal bleeding is fairly common when a tear occurs in the anal tissues.
In order to confirm anal fissure, it is best to consult a doctor who will do a physical examination and rule out other possible illnesses.
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