How Are Hemorrhoids Diagnosed And Treated
Your doctor can typically diagnose hemorrhoids on sight, especially if you have external hemorrhoids, or through internal examination with a finger and anoscope. They can often be easily treated by avoiding straining, increasing dietary fiber , and topical over-the-counter medication or home remedies, including sitting in a warm bath to help reduce swelling and inflammation. Pain relievers can also help to reduce discomfort. Symptoms usually go away within a few weeks. If you have persistent symptoms, your doctor might recommend a colonoscopy to rule out any other problems in your GI tract, and then office-based procedures or surgery.
What you need to remember is that if pain and bleeding persist, or are associated with pelvic pain and a fever, its time to see your doctor to rule out any other issues such as gastrointestinal diseases, infections or anal cancer, which share similar symptoms.
Treatments For Hemorrhoids Vs Rectal Prolapse
Treatments for hemorrhoids
More severe cases of hemorrhoids may require surgery. Your doctor may recommend treating milder cases of hemorrhoids with the following at-home remedies, including:
- Sit in a bathtub full of plain, warm water several times per day.
- Place ice packs on the hemorrhoids to help with swelling.
- Apply hemorrhoid creams or inserting suppositories.
- Add more fiber to your diet.
- Take stool softeners.
Treatments for rectal prolapse
Treatments for rectal prolapse usually focus on preventing constipation and straining. Kegel exercises and stool softeners can also help. Rectal prolapse will sometimes go away on its own. However, severe cases of rectal prolapse may require surgery, such as:
- Repair can be made through the abdomen to attach the rectum to the backbone to keep it in place.
- Repair can be made through the rectum to remove the prolapsed section.
- Some repairs combine both techniques through the abdomen and rectum.
Talk to your doctor about whether you have hemorrhoids and rectal prolapse so you can get the right treatment and relieve your pain and discomfort.
Who Gets Hemorrhoids The Most
Well, hemorrhoids tend not to be race, gender or age-specific. Although they can happen in both men and women, they are more common in the adult of age 45 to 65.
Although women frequently develop hemorrhoids during pregnancy, there is actually no studies which determine women to get hemorrhoids more often than men. Men tend to seek treatment for this condition more often than woman though.
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Although the exact cause of hemorrhoids is not known, possible factors such as if a person has a family history of hemorrhoids, straining during a bowel movement,
complications from chronic constipation, and sitting for long periods of time can lead to a person being more prone to developing them.
Check out this youtube video…it show how to find out if you have hemorrhoids or not.
A persons diet and constipation is considered to be common causes of a persons developing hemorrhoids. Other risk factors could include obesity, pregnancy, childbirth, constant straining, standing too much with no break, constant anal sexual intercourse, diarrhea, and heavy lifting.
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Anal Fissures: Small Tears
Unusual bowel movements, including hard stools and diarrhea, can cause the tender lining of the anus to tear. These tears are called anal fissures. In addition to constipation and diarrhea, other risk factors for fissures include having inflammatory bowel disease, being overweight or being of an advanced age.
Anal fissures are painful. They especially hurt when passing stool, and the pain can last for hours afterward. It is often experienced as a throbbing sensation.
Fissures can also itch uncomfortably. Plus, you may notice blood when you wipe or spot blood in the toilet bowl.
To see a diagram of a fissure, watch the video “Anal Fissure–3D Medical Animation.”
How Are Haemorrhoids Treated
Mild symptoms may go away after a few days without any special treatment. In most cases your doctor will recommend measures to relieve constipation if you have it.
If your haemorrhoids are causing you pain or discomfort, ask your doctor or chemist about medicated creams or ointments that may ease your symptoms.
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Signs Of Anal Skin Tags
Skin tags are not hemorrhoids, but they can be left behind after an external hemorrhoid has healed. Skin tags appear after the skin is stretched, such as by an external hemorrhoid. Once the hemorrhoid has resolved itself, the skin may remain stretched, resulting in a skin tag.
Skin tags are benign, but it is advisable to get any lump checked by a doctor to get confirmation of that.
Skin tags have the following characteristics:
- Small bumps or raised areas
- Soft
- Scaly
Who Removes Hemorrhoids Treatment
Treating enlarged hemorrhoids is important, because they tend to get worse over time. Hemorrhoids are treated with a variety of measures including diet, over-the-counter medicine like
- anti-inflammatory pain killers,
and various treatment options are available, like
- sclerotherapy,
- surgery.
Who Removes Hemorrhoids?
Most hemorrhoid complaints begin with a trip to a family doctor. Your doctor will then refer you to a specialist: either a gastroenterologist or a proctologist . Proctologists specialize in surgical treatments, while gastroenterologists are experts in digestive diseases.
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Hemorrhoids Are Common So Dont Be Shy About Seeking Relief
Most people dont want to talk about hemorrhoids. But keeping silent could stand in the way getting relief for a condition thats very common. And your doctor certainly doesnt mind addressing the topic of hemorrhoids. In fact, they want to discuss your symptoms. Because what you think is a hemorrhoid could be something more serious. Its best to get your hemorrhoids checked out early, for your peace of mind and to protect your health.Doctors have seen and heard everything, so you dont have to feel embarrassed when talking about hemorrhoids especially since nearly half of all adults experience them by age 50, says Dr. Christopher Buzas, a colorectal surgeon at Geisinger. However, its essential to get a medical diagnosis to rule out other conditions, like colon cancer or irritable bowel syndrome, and not rely on your own opinion about whats causing the problem.
Bleeding During Bowel Movements
There are many underlying causes of rectal bleeding, including hemorrhoids. Blood associated with internal hemorrhoids is typically bright red, causes no pain, occurs with bowel movements, and may be mild to moderate in amount.
You cant assume, however, that your symptoms are due to hemorrhoids. If youve never been diagnosed with hemorrhoids or have noted a change in the characteristics of the bleeding youve associated with hemorrhoids, see a doctor for an accurate diagnosis.
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Do I Have Hemorrhoids Or Rectal Prolapse
Hemorrhoids and rectal prolapse can cause similar symptoms in your rectum. However, there are significant differences in how the two conditions manifest. Understanding the signs and symptoms of hemorrhoids versus rectal prolapse can be vital in making sure you receive the proper treatment.
Hemorrhoids Or Colon Cancer
Colon cancer and hemorrhoids are very different conditions, but they can produce blood in the stool. Seeing blood in the stool can be alarming, especially if you have never experienced it before. Most likely, you may have been straining when having a bowel movement and the bleeding is due to a hemorrhoid. In other cases, blood in the stool could be an indication of something more serious. Lets take a look at both hemorrhoids and colon cancer so you can be informed.
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What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of An Internal Or Prolapsed Hemorrhoid
Most often, internal hemorrhoids have no symptoms but are only found if there is bleeding with a bowel movement or if the hemorrhoid prolapses so that it can be felt outside of the anus. This may lead to itching and pain as well as the bleeding.
Prolapse of an internal hemorrhoid occurs when the internal hemorrhoids swell and extend from their location in the rectum through the anus. A prolapsed internal hemorrhoid:
- Can be felt as a lump outside the anus
- Can be gently pushed back through the anus, this may resolve the location of the hemorrhoid, but does not fix the hemorrhoid itself
- May enlarge and swell even more if it cannot be pushed back
- May become entrapped, which requires more urgent medical attention
Hemorrhoids may also cause anal itching , and a constant feeling of needing to have a bowel movement .
Internal hemorrhoid severity can be graded:
- Grade I: Prominent blood vessels with no prolapse
- Grade II: Prolapse with bearing down but with spontaneous reduction
- Grade III: Prolapse with bearing down but requiring manual reduction
- Grade IV: Prolapse with inability to manual reduction
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Do Colon Cancer Symptoms Come On Suddenly
Colon cancer can develop in any part of your colon, while rectal cancer affects your rectum, which connects the colon to the anus. Frequent diarrhea and constipation may be symptoms of cancer, particularly if these bowel changes come on suddenly. These problems also may occur with frequent gas and abdominal pain.
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Signs Of Thrombosed Hemorrhoids
A thrombosed hemorrhoid is a hemorrhoid that has developed a blood clot inside. This can happen to both external and internal hemorrhoids. Signs and symptoms of a thrombosed hemorrhoid include:]
- Sudden onset of pain
- Constant pain following sudden onset of pain
Thrombosed hemorrhoids have the following characteristics:
- Blue or purple in color
- A lump or bulge
A thrombosed hemorrhoid will often hurt, but are not generally dangerous.
Your Internal Hemorrhoid Problem
Visit your doctor to learn more about this issue and discuss the treatment approach that’s right for you. To find a local colorectal specialist, try our Find a Doctor database.
As with all medical issues, your physician is the ultimate source as to what procedure best fits your needs. Discuss all options and get a second opinion if you have any doubts. These articles are intended to be a source of general information only.
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Questions To Ask Your Doctor
- Why do I have hemorrhoids?
- Are there any lifestyle changes I can do that can relieve or prevent hemorrhoids?
- I saw blood on toilet paper. Is this serious?
- Are having hemorrhoids a sign of another health condition?
- Will I always have hemorrhoids?
- Is there medicine I can take for hemorrhoids? Are there side effects?
Can Hemorrhoids Be Prevented Or Avoided
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.
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Signs Your Hemorrhoids Require Medical Intervention
You may, understandably, not like to talk about it, but hemorrhoids are pretty common. They affect about 10 million adults in the United States annually. Its estimated, in fact, that as many as three in four adults will experience problems with hemorrhoids at some point in their lives.
Take a walk down the pharmacy aisle at your local grocery store and youll likely find plenty of treatments that promise to help. But what do you do when home remedies dont work? Is there a medical treatment that will help heal your hemorrhoids and resolve your pain?
Yes, says Dr. Betsy Clemens. And the good news? Effective hemorrhoid treatment doesnt always mean surgery. In fact, most of the time it does not.
Dr. Clemens leads our team here at Midwest Hemorrhoid Treatment Center in Creve Coeur, Missouri. Shes a specialist who is well known for her medical expertise as well as her passion for making her patients feel comfortable when addressing this sometimes embarrassing condition.
What Are The Symptoms Of Hemorrhoids
Internal hemorrhoids rarely cause pain unless they prolapse. Many people with internal hemorrhoids dont know they have them because they dont have symptoms.
If you have symptoms of internal hemorrhoids, you might see blood on toilet paper, in stool or the toilet bowl. These are signs of rectal bleeding.
Signs of external hemorrhoids include:
- Itchy anus.
- Hard lumps near the anus that feel sore or tender.
- Pain or ache in the anus, especially when you sit.
- Rectal bleeding.
Prolapsed hemorrhoids can be painful and uncomfortable. You may be able to feel them bulging outside the anus and gently push them back inside.
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What Causes Rectal Cancer
Rectal cancer usually develops over several years, first growing as a precancerous growth called a polyp. Some polyps have the ability to turn into cancer and begin to grow and penetrate the wall of the rectum. The actual cause of rectal cancer is unclear. However, the following are risk factors for developing rectal cancer:
- Increasing age
- Family history of colon or rectal cancer
- High-fat diet and/or a diet mostly from animal sources
- Personal or family history of polyps or colorectal cancer
- Inflammatory bowel disease
Family history is a factor in determining the risk of rectal cancer. If a family history of colorectal cancer is present in a first-degree relative , then endoscopy of the colon and rectum should begin 10 years before the age of the relatives diagnosis or at age 50 years, whichever comes first. An often forgotten risk factor, but perhaps the most important, is the lack of screening for rectal cancer. Routine cancer screening of the colon and rectum is the best way to prevent rectal cancer.
Signs Of External Hemorrhoids
External hemorrhoids are swellings that form under the anal skin and become prominent on or around the outside of the anus. Signs and symptoms that a person may have external hemorrhoids include:
- Lumps around the anus
- Itching around the anus, i.e. pruritus ani
- Discomfort due to sensations felt around the anus
- Bleeding from the anus during and after bowel movement
- A feeling of not having fully evacuated the bowels
- Difficulty fully cleaning the anus after bowel movement
- Discharge of mucus or feces
External hemorrhoids have the following characteristics:
- A small lump just outside the anus
- A rubbery texture
- Skin colored or reddish appearance
- There may be more than one
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A Physical Exam Is Usually Done To Make A Hemorrhoids Diagnosis
Hemorrhoids may feel embarrassing to address, which is why many people try to diagnose themselves and avoid seeing a healthcare provider. However, its important to see a healthcare provider to get a proper diagnosis and treatment. Hemorrhoids can have symptoms similar to other, more serious conditions, and those should be ruled out before assuming symptoms are from hemorrhoid. In most cases, hemorrhoids can be easily diagnosed with a history and a physical exam.
What Do Hemorrhoids Feel Like
Do hemorrhoids itch? Do hemorrhoids hurt?
These are some of the first questions that people will ask when they are trying to determine the cause of their discomfort. By far, the biggest complaint regarding hemorrhoids is the itching. The feeling of blood pulsing through a swollen and twisted vein in such a sensitive region of your body is going to cause you to feel itchy.
The worst part about itching hemorrhoids is that you cant simply itch them, which typically causes the sensation to grow more severe. Sitting for a prolonged period of time will typically worsen the itching.
To alleviate itching caused by hemorrhoids you can try using cold compresses, take a warm sitz bath, or try using an over the counter ointment.
These solutions will help to reduce itching, as well as lessen the severity of other symptoms that commonly develop with hemorrhoids. Whether they are internal or external, all hemorrhoids produce the same symptoms at different levels of severity.
Common symptoms of hemorrhoids include:
- Itching
- Light bleeding
- Pain during bowel movements
Bleeding causing by hemorrhoids is not typically severe. Bleeding occurs typically during a bowel movement, when the process of pushing causes the bulbous vein to tear or scratch. When this happens, the blood will show clearly on the tissue in a streak of bright red.
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How Long Do Hemorrhoids Take To Heal
For many people, hemorrhoids last and last. Ongoing pain is especially common for people over age 50. For many people, hemorrhoidal pain returns years after treatment, and for many others the condition comes and goes, becoming more common over time.
Do Hemorrhoids Ever Go Away on Their Own?
Sometimes they do. Smaller hemorrhoids are apt to go away in just a few days. Its a good idea during this time to avoid further irritating your rectal area by keeping the area as clean as you can.
How Can You Make Hemorrhoids Go Away?
Tougher cases of hemorrhoids may not go away on their own. After trying home remedies and over-the-counter options without success, you will need to talk to your doctor about other treatment options.
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What Are The Types Of Hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids can happen inside or outside the rectum. The type depends on where the swollen vein develops. Types include:
- External: Swollen veins form underneath the skin around the anus. Your anus is the canal where poop comes out. External hemorrhoids can be itchy and painful. Occasionally, they bleed. Sometimes they fill with blood that can clot. This is not dangerous, but can result in pain and swelling.
- Internal: Swollen veins form inside the rectum. Your rectum is the part of the digestive system that connects the colon to the anus. Internal hemorrhoids may bleed, but they usually arent painful.
- Prolapsed: Both internal and external hemorrhoids can prolapse, meaning they stretch and bulge outside of the anus. These hemorrhoids may bleed or cause pain.
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