Doctors warn narrow stool could be a sign of COLON CANCER... here's what the ... trends now
Doctors are warning that certain stool shapes like narrow poop could be a sign of colon cancer.
Typically, a healthy number two is shaped like a sausage and is either thin or covered with cracks on its surface.
However, while the occasional narrow stool, could just be a sign of constipation, it could also indicate chronic digestive issues like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), diverticulitis, and even cancer.
And you see blood on your toilet paper or the bowl, this is a sign to call a doctor right away, as issues can include hemorrhoids, Crohn's disease, and cancer.
The warnings come as the US faces an epidemic of young people being diagnosed with colon cancer, and experts are working to unravel the cause.
Experts warn that narrow and bloody stools could be a sign of colon cancer, which is rapidly rising in the US
Narrow stools may look like a ribbon or a pencil.
Most commonly, these can be a sign of constipation, which means having a bowel movement fewer than three times a week or having difficulty passing stool.
Constipation is often caused by lifestyle factors like not getting enough fiber, not drinking an adequate amount of water, and failing to exercise regularly.
However, nonprofit Fight Colorectal Cancer warns that narrow stools could also indicate IBS, a chronic disorder that leads to abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, and constipation.
These can also indicate diverticular disease, which is when pouches develop in the walls of the intestine and become inflamed, causing the intestines to narrow.
Other signs of diverticular disease include pain in the lower left side of the abdomen, changes in bowel habits, symptoms that worsen after eating and improve after a bowel movement, and pain that gets worse when pressure is placed on the stomach.
Additionally, Fight Colorectal Cancer states that thin stools can be a sign of obstructions such as tumors.
Data from JAMA Surgery showed that colon cancer is expected to rise by 90 percent in people ages 20 to 34 by the year 2030. Doctors are not sure what is driving the mystery rise
Bowel cancer can cause you to have blood in your poop, a change in bowel habit, a lump inside your bowel which can cause an obstructions. Some people also suffer with weight loss a s a result of these symptoms
'For the most part, narrow stools that occur infrequently are not a cause for concern. But if you experience ribbon-like stools for more than a week, seek medical attention,' the charity states.
One alarming stool type is blood on toilet paper, on the stool, or in the toilet bowl. Fight Colorectal
