Coping with Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids are inflamed varicose veins of the anus and inside the rectum. Hemorrhoids are also referred to as piles, and are often caused by straining to have a bowel movement. Women tend to have hemorrhoids during pregnancy as the pressure on the veins in the rectal area increases. Some of the most common causes of hemorrhoids are pregnancy and giving birth, constipation and straining to have a bowel movement, obesity, and standing or sitting for long periods of time.

Hemorrhoids manifest as internal and external. Internal hemorrhoids are within the rectum. No pain is usually associated with internal hemorrhoids because the lining of the rectum has no pain sensitive nerves. If an internal hemorrhoid should prolapse through the anus it may then become painful. There may be some bleeding noticed as stool passes over the hemorrhoids, causing injury to the fragile membranes there. External hemorrhoids are normally painful. As blood collects in these vericosed veins, clots can form causing swelling of the membranes, severe pain, itching and bleeding.

Many people with hemorrhoids improve with lifestyle changes and self-care; however, if they continue to be bothersome, they should see their doctor as soon as possible. Rectal bleeding is very common with internal hemorrhoids, but bleeding can be caused by other disease processes, so it is very important to be examined by a physician. If you see black tarry stools, report this immediately to your doctor because they may indicate bleeding higher up in the GI tract. And if you should experience profuse rectal bleeding, feel dizzy or faint-get to an emergency room-you could be hemorrhaging.

Your doctor will be able to diagnose your hemorrhoids as internal or external by examining you. External hemorrhoids are visible. Internal hemorrhoids are felt within the rectum by a rectal exam. Your doctor may want to visualize the inside of your rectum with a colonoscope, because all internal hemorrhoids are not felt during a digital exam.

If your symptoms are mile, OTC creams, ointments and pads can be used in combination with soaking in a warm bath. This may be all the treatment you need; however if you are having severe symptoms, you may need to have your hemorrhoids removed. There are many different ways to remove hemorrhoids; your doctor may choose any one of these methods, depending on the severity.

A rubber band ligation is a procedure in which the doctor places a tiny rubber band around the hemorrhoid. Circulation to the hemorrhoid is cut off; therefore the hemorrhoid falls off in a few days. Another technique is to inject the area with a solution of chemicals. This method is called sclerotherapy. As a result of the injection, the swollen blood vessels shrink, causing the hemorrhoid to shrink. If your hemorrhoids are serious enough for a hemorrhoidectomy, your doctor can do it under local anesthesia as an outpatient, or you can have the surgery under general anesthesia and spend one night in the hospital.

To help prevent recurrences of hemorrhoids, eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, grains, and drink plenty of water. Take fiber supplements, if your doctor recommends them, because they will help to keep stools soft. When you feel the urge to go, be sure to go right then. Don't wait. If you allow the urge to go away, the stool inside the colon has time to get hard and constipation may result. When you are moving your bowels, try not to hold your breath, doing this causes pressure on the vessels of the rectum. When cleaning yourself afterward, use a moist towelette, and not dry toilet tissue, to reduce friction against the fragile tissue there.

Be sure to take whatever medicines your doctor has prescribed or suggested for pain. Apply ice packs to reduce swelling as ordered by your physician. Keep area clean and dry as possible. Use OTC creams and ointment as suggested by your doctor. These methods will not make the hemorrhoids go away, but they will be helpful to relieve the symptoms of swelling, pain and discomfort.

Source: Mayo Clinic information page