Let’s encounter the hard fact: nobody desires to discuss hemorrhoids.
Although discussing hemorrhoids could be unpleasant often, with the right treatment, anyone could beat this excruciatingly unpleasant ailment.
You could treat or lower your chance of developing hemorrhoids by making a few effortless adjustments, such as quitting a bad habit.
So, what are you waiting for? To know more about hemorrhoid’s cause, types and treatment read ahead.
What Are Hemorrhoids?
Hemorrhoids are referred to as swollen veins at the anus or in the lower rectum. Almost half of the adults are affected by hemorrhoids by the time they catch up with the age of fifty.
They might[1] have encountered some of the classic symptoms which comprised bleeding, rectal pain, or possibly prolapse.
Hemorrhoids could be annoying and could sometimes become an uncomfortable intrusion, although they are rarely hazardous.
Although, we are fortunate enough to realize that we could do a lot too, to treat hemorrhoids to the point of their exclusion.
Hemorrhoids: Causes
Hemorrhoids have historically been linked to persistent constipation, struggling bowel movements, and extended use of the toilet.
These conditions could impair blood flow to and from the area, which causes it to pool and expand the vessels.
It has been indicated that hemorrhoid patients typically have higher resting anal canal tone, or tighter anal canal smooth muscle, than the general population even when not straining.
Although it has been difficult for doctors to assess the actual causes behind the appearance of hemorrhoids, still few causes could be attributed to their occurrence.
Below are some of the causes of hemorrhoids:
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Pregnancy
Hemorrhoids are caused frequently during pregnancy since the uterus’s growing size puts pressure on the veins and their rectal tissues could[2] also weaken.
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Age
Adults over the age of fifty are most likely to get hemorrhoids. However, in some cases, children and teens could[3] also contract them.
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Diarrhea
Persistent diarrhea could develop into some occasional episodes of hemorrhoids.
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Constipation
Hemorrhoids may[4] occur in those suffering from constipation, as their stool passes by putting extra strain on their blood vessel walls.
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Sitting
If you spend a long time in the seated posture in the restroom, then you could[5] develop hemorrhoids.
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Diet
Consuming fiber-deficient foods could result in hemorrhoids or some instances could aggravate them to a greater extent.
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Anal Sex
Anal sex could result in new hemorrhoids or it could aggravate old ones.
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Overweight
There has been a latent connection between an increased risk of hemorrhoids for those who are being[6] overweight due to the result of elevated abdominal pressure.
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Inheritance
Hemorrhoids are a condition that certain people have a genetic predisposition to.
Types Of Hemorrhoids
The four distinct types of hemorrhoids include:
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Internal Hemorrhoids
Internal hemorrhoids aren’t always visible, because they are located too deep in the anus. They come in the form of outgrowths from the rectum or anal canal wall.
Internal hemorrhoids could[7] display as lumps or lengthy protrusions depending on their severity.
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External Hemorrhoids
External hemorrhoids appear on or around the anus, thus it appears as one or several pimples.
These are the hemorrhoids that[8] are visible on the outside, so a medical professional could easily notice them.
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Thrombosed
These hemorrhoids could be painful in external hemorrhoids. These are internal or external hemorrhoids, in which the blood that had been pooling inside, somehow had clotted.
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Prolapsed
When hemorrhoids are inside you, enlarge and lengthen to the point that it protrudes from your anus.
Serious prolapsed hemorrhoids continue protruding from the anus, but less severe prolapsed hemorrhoids emerge from the anus during straining and then they spontaneously retract when you relax.
Hemorrhoids Symptoms
Particularly, the signs and symptoms of hemorrhoids appear based on the type of hemorrhoids that have occurred.
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Hemorrhoids Located Outside (External)
These are situated close to your anus, just below the skin. Some warning signs or symptoms include:
- Inflammation or itching in the anal area
- Any discomfort or pain
- Swollen Anus
- Bleeding
-
Hemorrhoids With Thrombosis
External hemorrhoids that have amassed blood and developed a clot (thrombus) may[9] cause:
- Extreme pain
- Swelling
- Inflammation
- A tough bulge next to your anus
-
Hemorrhoids located Inside (Internal)
Internal hemorrhoids are located inside the rectum. They rarely cause discomfort and are typically impossible to see or feel.
But straining or soreness during urinating could result in bleeding which is painless during bowel motions.
Small portions of bright red blood may be seen on your toilet tissue or bowl.
Potential Side Effects Of Hemorrhoids
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Strangulation
The blood supply to hemorrhoids may get cut off if the arteries providing it with new blood supply become obstructed, and unbearable pain would result from this.
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Anemia
Due to blood loss, excessive bleeding from hemorrhoids could result in fatigue, breathlessness, migraines, and disorientation.
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Blood Clots
An external hemorrhoid is more prone to cause thrombosis as a side effect. Blood clots may result in extreme pain and irritation.
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Infection
Serious issues like tissue loss, abscesses, and fever could occasionally result from infections that are stemmed hemorrhoids. Bleeding hemorrhoids allow the bacteria to enter and infect the tissue.
How To Get Rid Of Hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids could be treated at home or at your doctor’s clinic.
The following are some of the treatment options which are immensely effective at treating hemorrhoids:
-
Pain Reduction
You need to spend at least 10 minutes each day in a warm tub of water to reduce the pain. One could also sit on a warm water bottle to ease the discomfort of external hemorrhoids.
Next, a warm compress could be made at home for that one need to learn how to do it.
Moreover, the utilization of OTC or over-the-counter medication suppository, ointment, or cream to ease the burning and itching if the pain is intolerable.
Hemorrhoid suppositories are available both online and offline.
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Home Remedy
It may be beneficial to clean your anus for 15 minutes each day with a sitz bath because this would reduce the discomfort from hemorrhoids.
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Fiber-Rich Foods
Medical professionals could[10] advise you to increase your intake of fiber-rich foods. Those means which could be high in fiber help with hemorrhoids.
They treat hemorrhoids by softening and making stools easier to pass.
Also, at the same time, water and other processes produce a clear search to improve how well your body absorbs the fiber in your diet.
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Health Care Procedures
Your doctor might[11] recommend you plan a rubber band ligation if the self-care measures are successful in treating your hemorrhoids.
During the time of the operation, the doctor wears a rubber band around the hemorrhoids to stop the blood flow to them.
As a particular result, hemorrhoids reduce blood circulation. An expert medical profession should be the only one to carry out this type of surgery.
It is not recommended to attempt this kind of surgery alone or by someone who is not yet medically approved.
Injection treatment also known as sclerotherapy could be used by your doctor if the former treatment is not a possibility for you.
Your doctor directly injects a drug into the blood vessel during this treatment. The hemorrhoids become smaller as a result.
Conclusion
Sometimes, hemorrhoids could become devious because they could act silently. In that case, you won’t be having any symptoms at all, and the consequences could be pretty uncommon.
Hemorrhoids, whether internal or external, are more likely to get cured without any adverse consequences if they don’t prolapse or thrombose.
Hemorrhoids that have prolapsed or thrombosed are considerably more likely to bother you or increase the risk.
If you experience pain or discomfort from hemorrhoids, or if you see any indications like bleeding or prolapse, then asking for professional assistance would be a better decision.
Rapid treatment of hemorrhoids increases the likelihood that they may cure without posing any new complications.
References/Sources
- Hemorrhoids Available from:https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/hemorrhoids
- Arthur Staroselsky,Alejandro A. Nava-Ocampo,Sabina Vohra,et al. Hemorrhoids in pregnancy Can Fam Physician. 2008 Feb; 54(2): 189–190.
- Stefan Riss,Friedrich Anton Weiser, Katrin Schwameis,et al. The prevalence of hemorrhoids in adults Int J Colorectal Dis. 2012 Feb;27(2):215-20. doi: 10.1007/s00384-011-1316-3. Epub 2011 Sep 20. Available from:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21932016/
- Enlarged hemorrhoids: How can you relieve the symptoms yourself? Last Update: November 2, 2017 Available from:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279466/
- Self-help steps to get through hemorrhoid flare-ups August 2, 2019 Available from:https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/self-help-steps-to-get-through-hemorrhoid-flare-ups
- Yun Soo Hong,Kyung Uk Jung,Sanjay Rampal,et al. Risk factors for hemorrhoidal disease among healthy young and middle-aged Korean adults Sci Rep. 2022; 12: 129.Published online 2022 Jan 7. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-03838-z
- Rodrigue F. Fontem; Daniel Eyvazzadeh Internal Hemorrhoid Last Update: August 9, 2021. Available from:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537182/
- Aaron Lawrence; Emily R. McLaren. External Hemorrhoid Last Update: August 11, 2021. Available from:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK500009/
- Symptoms & Causes of Hemorrhoids Last Reviewed October 2016 Available from:https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/hemorrhoids/symptoms-causes
- Eating, Diet, & Nutrition for Hemorrhoids Last Reviewed October 2016 Available from:https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/hemorrhoids/eating-diet-nutrition
- Varut Lohsiriwat Hemorrhoids: From basic pathophysiology to clinical management World J Gastroenterol. 2012 May 7; 18(17): 2009–2017.Published online 2012 May 7. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v18.i17.2009
- About the Author
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Otella has an experience of around eight years of writing about health and nutrition-related topics. She is a full-time mother and a housewife, and the time she has left after doing her mother and household duties is spent writing for Working for Health as a full-time writer. Her life goal is to raise both her boys into a gentleman, and at the same time, she wants to educate people on how to keep themselves fit by tweaking their daily diet.