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hemorrhoids
what are hemorrhoids?
Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in the anal canal. This common problem can be painful, but it’s usually not serious.
Veins can swell inside the anal canal to form internal hemorrhoids. Or they can swell near the opening of the anus to form external hemorrhoids. You can have both types at the same time. The symptoms and treatment depend on which type you have.
what causes hemorrhoids?
Too much pressure on the
veins in the pelvic and rectal area causes hemorrhoids.
Normally, tissue inside the anus fills with blood to help control bowel movements. If you strain to move stool, the increased pressure causes the veins in this tissue to swell and stretch. This can cause hemorrhoids. Diarrhea or constipation also may lead to straining and can increase pressure on veins in the anal canal.
Pregnant women can get hemorrhoids during the last 6 months of pregnancy. This is because of increased pressure on the blood vessels in the pelvic area. Straining to push the baby out during labor can make hemorrhoids worse. Being overweight can also lead to hemorrhoids.
what are the symptoms?
The most common symptoms of
both internal and external hemorrhoids include:
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Bleeding during bowel movements. You might see streaks of bright red blood on toilet paper after you strain to have a bowel movement.
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Itching.
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Rectal pain. It may be painful to clean the anal area.
how are hemorrhoids diagnosed?
Your doctor can
tell if you have hemorrhoids by asking about your past health and doing a
physical exam.
You may not need many tests at first, especially if you are younger than 50 and your doctor thinks that your rectal bleeding is caused by hemorrhoids. Your doctor may just examine your rectum with a gloved finger. Or your doctor may use a short, lighted scope to look inside the rectum.
Rectal bleeding can be a sign of a more serious problem, such as colon, rectal, or anal cancer. So if the first exam does not show a clear cause of your problems, your doctor may use a lighted scope (sigmoidoscope) to look at the lower third of your colon. Or your doctor may use another kind of scope (colonoscope) to look at the entire colon to check for other causes of bleeding.
how are hemorrhoids treated?
For most external
hemorrhoids, home treatment is all you need. This includes slowly adding
fiber to your meals, drinking more water, and using
over-the-counter ointments for a limited time to stop itching. You also may use
stool softeners. The same home treatment can be used for most internal
hemorrhoids.
If your internal hemorrhoids are severe, you may need other treatment. The doctor may tie off the hemorrhoids with rubber bands or scar the tissue around the hemorrhoids. These treatments reduce the blood supply to the hemorrhoids so that they shrink or go away.
Surgery to remove hemorrhoids may be done if other treatments don't work.
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