What You Should Know: Causes of Hemorrhoids

What You Should Know: Causes of Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids involve the response of the blood vessels in the area of the rectum to pressure. This pressure can come from various sources and typically will cause pain and irritation. There are various reasons for hemorrhoids, and knowing them can help in making lifestyle changes and minimize the pain they cause.

What do You Know About Hemorrhoids?

What do You Know About Hemorrhoids?

Hemorrhoids are masses or clumps of tissue within the anal canal that are made up off blood vessels and supporting tissue, which is made up of muscle and elastic fibers.  The anal canal is the last four centimeters that stool passes from the rectum. Even though people assume that hemorrhoids are abnormal, everyone has them.

Sign and Symptoms of Hemorrhoids

Sign and Symptoms of Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids often sneak up on their victims unannounced with very little in the way of warning. Because hemorrhoid tissue already exists in the anal canal, inflammation is all it takes for the lumps to enlarge and, if further irritated, to bleed. Hemorrhoids may or may not cause pain, depending entirely upon where they appear and whether they occur under skin with nerves that sense pain or only pressure.

Natural Cures For Hemorrhoids

Natural Cures For Hemorrhoids

Don't feel badly if you have a hemorrhoids. It is common but not many speak about it to others due to the fact it seems so personal. Most people can treat it without surgery.

One way to avoid hemorhoids is to avoid straining your sphincter muscles and to take stool softeners if needed. If you work on a hard floor standing for hours that can also strain your body (as well as being overly sedentary) or if you are involved in heavy lifting you may strain yourself. Another recommendation is to not stay on the toilet for long periods of time reading. If you have a desk job try to get up once an hour for a few minutes to move and stretch.

Herbs for Hemorrhoids

Herbs for Hemorrhoids

There are a variety of herbs for hemorrhoids that work as well, and often better, than over the counter and prescription medications. Some herbs can be applied topically, others work when inserted into the anus and serve to clean the area and reduce symptoms at the same time.

Hemorrhoids: What Are They?

Hemorrhoids: What Are They?

If you have hemorrhoids, it is important to learn what they are and how to treat them. There are specific symptoms and signs to look for to alert you as to whether you need to seek treatment or not. Knowing what these are will help you to know what treatment to look for. It is also important to learn where to seek help and to understand that hemorrhoids are very common for men and women and affect nearly 50% of the population.

Hemorrhoids: Symptoms And Tips To Reduce Pain

Hemorrhoids: Symptoms And Tips To Reduce Pain

A hemorrhoid is an enlarged or twisted vein in the wall of the lower rectum and/or the anus. Hemorrhoids may occur for many reasons, the most common of these are the extra pressure placed on the anorectal area by frequent constipation or by pregnancy; aging, obesity and the frequent use of enemas or suppositories can also be significant factors. Hemorrhoids (or 'piles' as they are sometimes called) may be so insignificant that you will hardly notice that there is a problem or they may be so severe that the pain is excruciating and, in the more extreme cases, you may experience bleeding.



Hemorrhoids may be classified as internal or external but it is possible to have both at the same time; these categories are simply referring to the hemorrhoids you can see outside the anal opening and those that are not apparent outside of your body.

Hemorrhoids that are severe enough to require medical treatment are least common in men and women in their 20s or younger. It is estimated that after age 30, however, three-quarters of all Americans will have hemorrhoids that require medical treatment; most of those cases will involve men and pregnant women.

Symptoms

Minor hemorrhoids (internal or external) will not be painful and may go away without treatment of any kind.

A more serious hemorrhoid may bleed and you may notice blood in the toilet bowl, on the feces, on the toilet paper or on your undergarment.



If an internal hemorrhoid becomes large enough it will protrude through the anal opening. Often it can be pushed back inside if it does not go back inside by itself. These protruding internal hemorrhoids quickly become irritated and painful if they are allowed to remain outside. If it cannot be pushed back inside, a visit to the doctor quickly becomes a priority.

External hemorrhoids, if they are large, however, can be painful when attempting to clean the anal area after a bowel movement, they are also subject to blood clots. If a blood clot forms a painful lump may develop and the skin around the anal area will become red. This is not a life threatening situation but it does call for medical intervention.

To Reduce the Frequency and Pain of Hemorrhoids

Sometimes changing your lifestyle or, more importantly, your dietary habits will allow you to avoid a reoccurrence of hemorrhoids.

Adding items with a high fiber content to your diet may be enough to avoid constipation, other tactics may involve drinking six to eight eight-ounce glasses of water per day, losing excess weight and drinking a fiber supplement. Sitting on a toilet seat while reading a book is bad idea because it increases the pressure on the veins that are likely to become irritated and swell.

If you have an external hemorrhoid, perfumed soap or toilet paper may irritate it. Use a pre-moistened towelette or one of the hemorrhoid products on the market to reduce the pain and discomfort. Try sitting in a tub of warm water to reduce pain or using an ice pack to reduce swelling.

If these 'home remedies' do you no good, see your doctor. There is no need to live with the pain of hemorrhoids.