Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids (HEM-uh-roids), also called piles, are swollen veins in your anus and lower rectum, similar to varicose veins. Hemorrhoids can develop inside the rectum (internal hemorrhoids) or under the skin around the anus (external hemorrhoids). Nearly three out of four adults will have hemorrhoids from time to time. Hemorrhoids have a number of causes, but often the cause is unknown. • Davis BR, et al. The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons clinical practice guidelines for the management of hemorrhoids. Diseases of the Colon and Rectum. 2018;61:284. • Definition & facts of hemorrhoids. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/hemorrhoids/symptoms-causes. Accessed May 25, 2019. • What are hemorrhoids? The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons. https://www.fascrs.org/patients/disease-condition/hemorrhoids-expanded-version. Accessed May 25, 2019. • Kellerman RD, et al. Hemorrhoids, anal fissure, and anorectal abscess and fistula. In: Conn's Current Therapy 2019. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier; 2019. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed May 25, 2019. • Bleday R, et al. Home and office treatment of symptomatic hemorrhoids. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed May 25, 2019. • Brown AY. AllScripts EPSi. Rochester, Minn. April 16, 2019.

An anal fissure and a hemorrhoid are different conditions. An anal fissure is when there is a tear or a crack in the anus. A hemorrhoid is when a vein in the anus becomes swollen. Both conditions can cause pain and bleeding. However, because they’re treated differently, it’s important to be able to tell them apart. First, a healthcare provider will take a medical history. They will ask about pain, bleeding, itching, or burning, as well as other signs and symptoms such as constipation or diarrhea. It may help to keep a record of these symptoms in the days or weeks leading up to an appointment with a healthcare provider. For fissures that become long-term and aren’t getting better with lifestyle changes, home remedies, or even medications, surgery might be the next step. A lateral internal sphincterotomy is the most common surgery done. It reduces tension on the inner anal sphincter muscle, allowing more blood flow and better healing. Taking good care of the anal area is also important. For example, wiping gently or using a bidet after bowel movements, avoiding sitting for too long on hard surfaces, and going to the bathroom on a regular schedule may be helpful. Prevention Prevention methods for a fissure or a hemorrhoid are similar in many ways, but there are a few differences. Fissure Preventing a fissure includes ensuring that stools are neither too hard (constipation) nor too soft or loose (diarrhea) and are easily passed. In addition, getting enough fiber in the diet an...

What causes internal and external hemorrhoids and simple ways to treat them Hemorrhoids are usually caused by increased pressure due to pregnancy, being overweight, or straining during bowel movements. By midlife, hemorrhoids often become an ongoing complaint. By age 50, about half the population has experienced one or more of the classic symptoms, which include rectal pain, itching, bleeding, and possibly prolapse (hemorrhoids that protrude through the anal canal). Although hemorrhoids are rarely dangerous, they can be a recurrent and painful intrusion. Fortunately, there's a lot we can do about hemorrhoids. What are hemorrhoids? In one sense, everyone has hemorrhoids (or piles), the pillow-like clusters of veins that lie just beneath the mucous membranes lining the lowest part of the rectum and the anus. The condition most of us call hemorrhoids (or piles) develops when those veins become swollen and distended, like varicose veins in the legs. Because the blood vessels involved must continually battle gravity to get blood back up to the heart, some people believe hemorrhoids are part of the price we pay for being upright creatures. There are two kinds of hemorrhoids: internal hemorrhoids, which occur in the lower rectum, and external hemorrhoids, which develop under the skin around the anus. External hemorrhoids are the most uncomfortable, because the overlying skin becomes irritated and erodes. If a blood clot forms inside an external hemorrhoid, the pain can be sudden ...

Overview Hemorrhoids (HEM-uh-roids), also called piles, are swollen veins in your anus and lower rectum, similar to varicose veins. Hemorrhoids can develop inside the rectum (internal hemorrhoids) or under the skin around the anus (external hemorrhoids). Nearly three out of four adults will have hemorrhoids from time to time. Hemorrhoids have a number of causes, but often the cause is unknown. Fortunately, effective options are available to treat hemorrhoids. Many people get relief with home treatments and lifestyle changes. Symptoms Signs and symptoms of hemorrhoids usually depend on the type of hemorrhoid. External hemorrhoids These are under the skin around your anus. Signs and symptoms might include: • Itching or irritation in your anal region • Pain or discomfort • Swelling around your anus • Bleeding Internal hemorrhoids Internal hemorrhoids lie inside the rectum. You usually can't see or feel them, and they rarely cause discomfort. But straining or irritation when passing stool can cause: • Painless bleeding during bowel movements. You might notice small amounts of bright red blood on your toilet tissue or in the toilet. • A hemorrhoid to push through the anal opening (prolapsed or protruding hemorrhoid), resulting in pain and irritation. Thrombosed hemorrhoids If blood pools in an external hemorrhoid and forms a clot (thrombus), it can result in: • Severe pain • Swelling • Inflammation • A hard lump near your anus When to see a doctor If you have bleeding during bo...

Share on Pinterest Menshalena/Getty Images Hemorrhoids, also called piles, happen when clusters of veins in your rectum or anus get swollen (or dilated). When these veins swell, blood pools inside and causes the veins to expand outward into the membranes around your rectal and anal tissue. This can become uncomfortable or painful. There are four types of hemorrhoids: • internal • • • Most hemorrhoids aren’t a serious medical condition. In fact, you may not even notice them. Less than Hemorrhoids are common. About Still, you should see a healthcare professional right away if your hemorrhoids are causing you pain or disrupting your normal activities and bowel movements. You should also talk with your doctor if they haven’t gone away after a week of treatment at home, or if you’re experiencing bleeding from your rectum. Here are descriptions of the appearance of the four main types of hemorrhoids: • Internal. These can’t always be seen because they’re too deep in your anus to be visible. They are protrusions of the wall of your anal canal or rectum. Less-serious internal hemorrhoids are bumps inside, and more serious ones can form a long protrusion. • Prolapsed. When an internal hemorrhoid swells and elongates to the point where it protrudes out of your anus. Less serious prolapsed hemorrhoids come out of the anus during straining but spontaneously retract when you relax, whereas more serious prolapsed hemorrhoids remain protruding from the anus. • External. Appear as one or ...