What are hemorrhoids? Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in your rectum or anus. If you have a hemorrhoid, you may feel a tender lump on the edge of your anus. You may also see blood on the toilet paper or in the toilet after a bowel movement. The type of hemorrhoid you have depends on where it occurs.

Internal hemorrhoids involve the veins inside your rectum. Internal hemorrhoids usually don’t hurt but they may bleed painlessly. Prolapsed hemorrhoids may stretch down until they bulge outside your anus. A prolapsed hemorrhoid may go back inside your rectum on its own, or you can gently push it back inside. External hemorrhoids involve the veins outside the anus. They can be itchy or painful and can sometimes crack and bleed.

Hemorrhoids are caused by increased pressure in the veins of your anus or rectum. One of the main causes is straining when you’re trying to have a bowel movement. This may happen if you’re constipated or if you have diarrhea. It may also happen if you sit on the toilet too long. Hemorrhoids can also be caused by obesity, heavy lifting or any other activity that caused you to strain.

Just about everyone has hemorrhoids at some time. But some things may make you more likely to get them. People whose parents had hemorrhoids may be more likely to get them. Pregnant women often get hemorrhoids because of the strain from carrying the baby and from giving birth. Being very overweight, or standing or lifting too much can make hemorrhoids worse.

Include more fiber in your diet. Fresh fruits, leafy vegetables, and whole-grain breads and cereals are good sources of fiber. Drink plenty of fluids. Eight glasses of water a day is ideal. Exercise regularly. Avoid laxatives, except bulk-forming laxatives. Other types of laxatives can lead to diarrhea, which can worsen hemorrhoids. When you feel the need to have a bowel movement, don’t wait too long to use the bathroom.

Take warm baths. Clean your anus after each bowel movement by patting gently with moist toilet paper or moistened pads such as baby wipes. Use ice packs to relieve swelling. Use acetaminophen, ibuprofen or aspirin to help relieve pain. Apply a cream that contains witch hazel to the area or use a numbing ointment. Creams that contain hydrocortisone can be used for itching or pain.

See your doctor if you notice bleeding to make sure the cause is hemorrhoids and not some other problem. Bleeding from your rectum or anus or bloody stools may be a sign of something more serious such as cancer. Most painful hemorrhoids stop hurting on their own in 1 to 2 weeks. If yours keep causing problems, talk with your doctor.

Rubber band ligation can be used to treat internal hemorrhoids. It involves placing a small rubber band around the base of the hemorrhoid. This stops the flow of blood to the area and the hemorrhoid withers away. Internal hemorrhoids can also be destroyed by injecting them with a chemical. A hemorrhoidectomy may be needed if internal hemorrhoids are prolapsed or very large.

Along with over-the-counter topical agents, there are several modalities at the disposal of physicians to treat piles. However, many of these modalities can be distressing for the patient. Conservative medical hemorrhoids treatment methods include changes in diet, lifestyle changes, and hydrotherapy which require a high degree of patient compliance to be effective.

When conservative hemorrhoid therapy is ineffective, many doctors turn to other methods for treatment of hemorrhoids. These include manual dilation of the anus, cryotherapy, bipolar diathermy, and other procedures. These non-surgical treatments demand specialized equipment and training. They carry risks: if such treatment fails, then expensive surgery will become a necessity.

Dietary supplementation is an attractive addition to the traditional treatment of hemorrhoids. Use of these supplements help prevent the onset of the disease, while also fighting recurrence of the disorder. Application of HemorrhoidBalm-Rx and oral supplementation with AntiHemorrhoidDrops are two methods able to prevent time-consuming, painful, and expensive medical treatment for hemorrhoids.

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