Hemorrhoids - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Hemorrhoids, often called piles, are swollen and inflamed veins in your anus and rectum.It have plagued humankind since time immemorial, yet many misunderstandings regarding hemorrhoidal complaints and disease still exist. Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in your rectum or anus. Internal hemorrhoids involve the veins inside your rectum. Internal hemorrhoids usually don't hurt but they may bleed painlessly. Hemorrhoids are dilated (enlarged) veins which occur in and around the anus and rectum. Hemorrhoids can be a problem during pregnancy when the enlarging uterus may press on blood vessels in the abdomen and cause some reduction of normal blood flow back to to heart from veins in the rectal area, which then become distended. Hemorrhoids that appear during pregnancy, fortunately, usually disappear after delivery.

Hemorrhoids also may remain inside the rectum and so cannot be felt or seen. These are called internal hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids develop from 2 different places. Hemorrhoids or varicose veins of the anus and rectum are enlarged bulging blood vessels located inside or outside the anus. External hemorrhoids develop near the anus, they are covered by a thin layer of skin. Hemorrhoids, or piles, are expanded veins, varicose-type, under the mucous membrane lining of the anal and rectal area. When they occur jn the wall of the rectum above the sphincter muscle, they are classified as internal; those below, in the anal canal, are called external. Often both internal and external hemorrhoids may be present.

External hemorrhoids may be soft and painless, although they may cause a sense or fullness at the anus. Sometimes, under acute local stress-such as straining at stool to overcome constipation or, alternatively, following diarrhea-the veins may suddenly enlarge, become filled with blood clots and inflamed, and may break down and bleed. The condition is extremely painful, more so during bowel movements, usually lasts for about five days until the clots beginto be absorbed and the mass disappears. After such an attack, there may be no symptoms or there may be severo itching.

Internal hemorrhoids may bleed as the result of minor injuries, and bleeding is usually the main symptom. But if the hemorrhoids are large, there may be a feeling of incomplete evacuation of the rectum.

Causes of Hemorrhoids

Some causes of Hemorrhoids:

• One of the main causes is straining when you're trying to have a bowel movement.
• Liver disease can also cause increased pressure in the veins and also cause hemorrhoids.
• A common cause of hemorrhoids is simply the standing position, in which all the blood above the rectum exerts pressure on the rectal and anal areas.
• Hemorrhoids are associated with constipation and straining at bowel movements as well as pregnancy .
• The causes of hemorrhoids include genetic predisposition (weak rectal vein walls and/or valves), straining during bowel movements, and too much pressure on the rectal veins due to poor muscle tone or poor posture.
• Other conditions which contribute to hemorrhoids are: poor bowel habits, constipation, diarrhea, pregnancy, obesity, and especially frequent straining when having a bowel movement.
• Constipation and the accompanying extra straining
• Diarrhea and the continuous expulsion of loose stools
• Sitting or standing for a long time

Symptoms of Hemorrhoids

Some common symptoms of Hemorrhoids:

• The symptoms of hemorrhoids are fairly straightforward. The most common complaint from internal hemorrhoids is painless bleeding.
• If your hemorrhoids become entrapped, then you will need to see a doctor.
• If the hemorrhoids cannot be pushed back, then they may swell even more and become trapped outside of the anus.
• When a blood clot occurs in a hemorrhoid, the hemorrhoid will become even more swollen. This swelling leads to increased pain.
• If the vein ruptures and a blood clot develops, the hemorrhoid becomes a thrombosed hemorrhoid .
• Bleeding during bowel movements, itching, and rectal pain are the most common hemorrhoid symptoms.

Treatment of Hemorrhoids

Treatment of Hemorrhoids includes:

• If your hemorrhoids are producing only mild discomfort, your doctor may suggest over-the-counter creams, ointments or pads containing witch hazel or a topical anti-inflammatory agent containing hydrocortisone.
• Sclerotherapy: A chemical solution is injected around the blood vessel to shrink the hemorrhoid.
• Infrared light.:A 1- or 2-second burst of infrared light can cut off circulation to small, bleeding, internal hemorrhoids.
• Antidiarrheal agents are sometimes required in patients with symptoms and loose stools. Toilet retraining involves reminding patients that the lavatory is not the library. Patients should sit on the toilet only long enough to evacuate the lower intestines.
• There is no medicine that will cure hemorrhoids, but local treatments such as warm sitz baths, using a bidet , extendable showerhead, cold compress, or topical analgesic (such as Nupercainal ), can provide temporary relief.