How To Tell You Have Hemorrhoids

How Can I Treat Hemorrhoids At Home

Hemorrhoids often go away on their own without treatment. Symptoms like pain and bleeding may last one week or slightly longer. In the meantime, you can take these steps to ease symptoms:

• Apply over-the-counter medications containing lidocaine, witch hazel or hydrocortisone to the affected area.
• Drink more water.
• Increase fiber intake through diet and supplements. Try to obtain at least 20-35 grams of daily fiber intake
• Soak in a warm bath for 10 to 20 minutes a day.
• Soften stool by taking laxatives.
• Take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for pain and inflammation.
• Use toilet paper with lotion or flushable wet wipes to gently pat and clean your bottom after pooping. You can also use a tissue or washcloth moistened with water.

Worsening Of Your Itching And Irritation

External hemorrhoids develop under the highly sensitive skin near your anus. With this type of hemorrhoid, you may experience itching, burning, and general irritation. By comparison, internal hemorrhoids, which develop inside your rectum underneath the sensitive tissue, dont cause physical discomfort but may cause you to have blood in your stool.

If your external hemorrhoid develops a blood clot and becomes thrombosed, you may notice a worsening of your symptoms. On a scale of 1-10, your discomfort level may jump from a 3 to a 10.

Thrombosed hemorrhoids develop quickly, and discomfort tends to worsen during the first 48 hours and then improve slightly.

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If Youre Not Certain Your Discomfort Is Caused By Hemorrhoids

When you have bleeding, discomfort, or pain in the anal region, it could be a sign of an inflamed hemorrhoid. Or, it could indicate that something else is wrong. This is especially true if you dont have a history of hemorrhoids. Thats why its always better to play it safe and see a doctor, as they can accurately diagnose the cause of your symptoms. Its much better to have an expert confirm that you dont have something more serious like cancer than to avoid a hemorrhoid treatment just because youre uncomfortable seeking care.

We all have #Hemorrhoids, but if yours become painfully inflamed, a doctor can help. On the #LiveWellHealthy blog, colorectal surgeon Dr. Nicole Chaumont shares 5 signs that indicate you should seek care for hemorrhoids: https://bit.ly/2OQFntt.

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Do You Have Hemorrhoids

If you have any of the symptoms that have been described, then you may have hemorrhoids. If so dont ignore these symptoms, especially if you are experiencing occasional or frequent rectal bleeding.

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Talk with a physician and have them diagnosed or rule out other serious conditions which these symptoms could potentially be indicative of. Your health is very important, be wise and take care of yourself.

How Long Do Hemorrhoid Symptoms Last

If your hemorrhoids are small, your symptoms may clear up in a few days without treatment. You may also need to make simple diet and lifestyle changes.

Some internal hemorrhoids become so enlarged that they stick out of the anus. These are called prolapsed hemorrhoids. Prolapsed hemorrhoids can take longer to heal and may require treatment from a doctor.

Some women will develop hemorrhoids during pregnancy. This is because the increased pressure in your abdomen, especially in the third trimester, may make the veins in your rectum and anus larger.

Pregnancy hormones may also make it more likely for your veins to swell. If you develop hemorrhoids during pregnancy, your symptoms may last until you give birth.

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When Do I Need To See A Health Care Provider For Hemorrhoids

You should see your health care provider if you

• Still have symptoms after 1 week of at-home treatment
• Have bleeding from your rectum. Hemorrhoids are a common cause of bleeding, but other conditions can also cause bleeding. They include Crohns disease, ulcerative colitis, colorectal cancer, and anal cancer. So its important to see your provider to find the cause of the bleeding.

When To Call A Doctor

Common symptoms of hemorrhoids may be a sign of other serious health problems. Colon or rectal cancer and other conditions have many of the same symptoms as hemorrhoids. Call your doctor if you have symptoms like these:

• Stools are black or tarry or change size and shape.
• A lump or bulge that isn’t tender and that doesn’t go away forms at the anal opening.
• Rectal bleeding becomes heavy or changes color .

If you have hemorrhoids, call your doctor if:

• Moderate rectal pain lasts longer than 1 week after home treatment.
• Pain or swelling is severe.
• Tissue from inside the body bulges from the anus and does not return to normal after 3 to 7 days of home treatment.
• A lump inside the anus gets bigger or more painful.

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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 . Although hemorrhoids are rarely dangerous, they can be a recurrent and painful intrusion. Fortunately, theres a lot we can do about hemorrhoids.

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Internal hemorrhoids cannot be seen or felt. They are rated in varying degrees or grades, indicating if the internal hemorrhoid has fallen out of the rectum, and if so, what stage of prolapse is it in.

External hemorrhoids are visible bulges around the anus. They hurt and ache, and can also itch and become irritated easily, especially when moving, or remain in a particular position for long periods of time.

If any of the two types of hemorrhoids is confused with a hernia, it is an external hemorrhoid.

The coloring of these protruding sacs may be similar in appearance. External hemorrhoids and hernias located in the groin area are equally common.

Like hernias, hemorrhoids can form because the veins in the lower rectum are overworked or have faced excessive pressure.

Typically, this is due to a few common factors of age, diet, if the person is pregnant or postpartum, or if he or she lifts heavy objects frequently.

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How Are Haemorrhoids Treated During Pregnancy

Because constipation worsens haemorrhoids, treatment options centre around preventing or managing constipation, or reducing pain associated with haemorrhoids.

Treatment options include the following:

• Lifestyle changes having a diet high in fibre and drinking lots of water will help ensure you dont need to strain on the toilet. External haemorrhoids can be treated by placing an icepack on the affected area to reduce swelling. Taking a warm bath may also help to reduce the pain.
• Laxatives these help ease any straining associated with constipation. They help you pass bowel movements more easily.
• Pain relief medicine paracetamol can help address pain associated with sore, swollen veins, and can be taken during pregnancy. Be sure to follow the directions for use.
• Haemorrhoid creams help address itchiness, pain or inflammation, and contain active ingredients such as corticosteroids or local anaesthetics.

Speak with a health professional such as pharmacist before using medicines or creams while pregnant.

Avoiding constipation is the best way you can reduce your chance of haemorrhoids. A healthy gut helps stop you from straining during a bowel movement. Eat a diet high in fruit, vegetables and wholegrains, and drink plenty of water.

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What Are The Treatment Options

Small hemorrhoids often clear up without treatment or with home treatment and lifestyle changes. If youve continued problems or complications, such as bleeding, you should see your doctor.

Your doctor can rule out other causes of bleeding during bowel movements, such as colon or anal cancer. If your symptoms become severe, your doctor may recommend medical procedures to remove or shrink the hemorrhoids.

Your doctor may recommend a minimally invasive outpatient treatment. Outpatient treatments are treatments that your doctor performs in their office. Some treatments include the following:

• Rubber band ligation is the most common nonsurgical treatment, and it involves your doctor tying a tight band around the base of the hemorrhoid to cut off the blood supply. Eighty percent of people who receive treatment for hemorrhoids have this type of treatment.
• During coagulation, your doctor uses infrared light, heat, or extreme cold to shrink the hemorrhoid.
• During sclerotherapy, your doctor injects a chemical to shrink the hemorrhoid.

If you have severe hemorrhoids or hemorrhoids that dont respond to in-office medical treatments, you may need a doctor to surgically extract them. This has been shown to provide symptom relief and reduce future outbreaks.

The risk factors for hemorrhoids are mostly related to increased pressure on the anal and rectal veins. A family history of hemorrhoids may increase your risk. The risk factors include:

• age

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What To Expect Emotionally

Emotionally, you may be feeling:

• Baby blues. Many new moms have irritability, sadness, crying, or anxiety, beginning within the first several days after delivery. These baby blues are very common and may be related to physical changes and the emotional transition as you adjust to changing roles and your new baby. Baby blues usually go away within 1 to 2 weeks.
• Postpartum depression. More serious and longer lasting than the baby blues, this condition may cause mood swings, anxiety, guilt, and persistent sadness. PPD can be diagnosed up to a year after giving birth, and its more common in women with a history of depression, multiple life stressors, and a family history of depression.

Also, when it comes to intimacy, you and your partner may be on completely different pages. Your partner may be ready to pick up where you left off before babys arrival, whereas you may not feel comfortable enough physically or emotionally and might crave nothing more than a good nights sleep. Doctors often ask women to wait a few weeks before having sex to allow them to heal.

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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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How To Give Birth With Hemorrhoids

During pregnancy almost all women face some problems. For example, this age spots and striae on the skin, exacerbation of chronic diseases and more. Often pregnant women experience discomfort from the increase of hemorrhoids. Often this occurs before the emergence of the child into the world. So you need to understand how does the hemorrhoids and childbirth taking place in a natural way.

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What Happens If External Hemorrhoids Are Left Untreated

A few initial symptoms that indicate you may have external hemorrhoids include an itchy, nagging feeling around the anal area, along with swelling and pain. If left untreated, the condition could worsen and turn into a thrombosed hemorrhoid, which is a large and extremely painful bulge containing clotted blood.

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Keep Your Bowels Moving

The most important thing is to make sure youre not constipated and having to bear down when you go to the bathroom, Ramas says. Constipation can both lead to hemorrhoid flare-ups and make them last longer.

Drink plenty of fluids, preferably water not alcohol and caffeine. These tend to dehydrate, which is the opposite of what you want.

I found out that dairy was a huge culprit for me, Adams says, so I cut it out a little bit, and I had good results.

Add fiber to your diet with fresh fruit, leafy green vegetables, whole grains, and bran. Its about fueling your body appropriately and giving yourself the nutrients that your body needs to function effectively, Ramas says. Your doctor might also want you to take psyllium husk supplements.

Exercise can help keep you regular, too.

And when you feel the need to go, dont wait. You want to have a bowel movement as quickly and efficiently as possible, she says.

Adams used a foot stool that wraps around the toilet to put her in a squatting position. Its like an ergonomic way to poop, Ramas says. If that helps some people, thats definitely OK.

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Bleeding From The Anus

A common sign of hemorrhoids is bleeding from the anus. Blood from hemorrhoids is likely to be a brighter red because it comes directly from arteries or veins. The blood can be found:

• On toilet paper after wiping
• In the toilet bowl

Anal bleeding is a symptom of several other conditions, including:

Anal fissure, anal abscess and anal fistula

Bright red blood can also be a sign of an anal fissure, anal abscess and/or anal fistula.

• An anal fissure is a small tear or sore in the skin of the anal canal
• An anal abscess is a pocket near the anus filled with pus
• An anal fistula is a tunnel that runs from the end of the bowel to the skin around the anus

Symptoms of these conditions that are not shared with hemorrhoids include:

• Anal fissure can cause sharp pain during and after passing a stool, while hemorrhoid pain is normally less severe
• An anal abscess can cause a firm, warm, tender, non-thrombosed lump around the anus. Abscesses may sometimes cause fever
• Anal fistula commonly forms after a previous abscess

Colorectal polyps

Polyps are another type of growth that can be found in similar parts of the body to hemorrhoids. A polyp in the colon or rectum can also cause bleeding. In the case of colorectal polyps, blood can sometimes be seen in the feces. If a person has polyps they may also experience:

• Abdominal pain
• Mucus from the anus
• A change in bowel habits

Colon cancer and rectal cancer

Anal cancer

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Things That Increase Your Risk

• Constipation or diarrhea that does not go away. These conditions may lead to straining with bowel movements.
• Being overweight
• A family history of hemorrhoids. You may inherit the tendency to get them.
• Being age 50 or older. Half of people who are older than 50 seek treatment for hemorrhoids.
• Pregnancy and labour and delivery. As the fetus grows during the last 6 months of pregnancy, blood volume and pressure on pelvic blood vessels increase. The strain of labour also can cause hemorrhoids to start or get worse.
• Liver disease, heart disease, or both. These conditions may cause blood to back up in the pelvis and abdomen.

How Serious Are My Hemorrhoids

Treatment will depend on your symptoms, but typically,doctors will recommend conservativeoptions first.

Mild or occasional rectal bleeding may respond to changes in dietary habits, like upping your dietary fiber and drinking more water, Dr. Zutshi says. For periodic anal irritation caused by inflamed hemorrhoids, over-the-counter skin protective creams and warm sitz baths may help.

There are also some simple, in-office treatments for mild, on-and-off bleeding from internal hemorrhoids. Rubber band ligation is a commonly used procedure that involves placing little rubber bands above a hemorrhoid to cut off the blood supply. The hemorrhoid then shrinks and falls off.

This procedure is usually only used on smaller hemorrhoids,Dr. Zutshi explains. But larger internal hemorrhoids can still be easilytreated with minimally invasive surgery.

If the issue is large internal and external hemorrhoids, a more invasive surgery might be necessary. However, if its only skin tags, which are residual hemorrhoid tags, these are usually not treated, Dr. Zutshi says, as trimming them off is very painful, and residual bulges may still persist.

Occasionally, external hemorrhoids become very painful whenthey develop a clot in them, she explains. This is called a thrombosed hemorrhoid.If you see your doctor within a few days of onset, the clots can be removed,Dr. Zutshi says. Otherwise it takes a few weeks for the swelling and pain tosettle down.

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Types Of Hemorrhoids: Internal And External

Hemorrhoids are either internal or external.

Internal Hemorrhoids These hemorrhoids develop inside the rectum and are not usually visible to the naked eye. Internal hemorrhoids generally don’t hurt, but they often bleed painlessly.

In some cases, internal hemorrhoids may protrude through the anus and can be seen, which is known as becoming prolapsed. When this happens, they will usually shrink back inside the rectum on their own or can be pushed back in.

External Hemorrhoids These hemorrhoids develop under the skin around the outside of the anus. These are the most uncomfortable hemorrhoids and can be itchy or painful, and may feel lumpy. When a blood clot forms within an external hemorrhoid, this is known as a thrombosed hemorrhoid, which can result in severe, ongoing pain. Sometimes clots dissolve on their own, but if they dont, your doctor can remove the clot, a procedure thats most effective if done within 72 hours of the clot forming.

How To Tell The Difference Between Hemorrhoids And Colon Cancer

There are three types of hemorrhoids, internal, external, and thrombosed. Colon cancer is more common in older adults, forming from.

Can I Use Vaseline For Hemorrhoids Bleeding Hemorrhoids Cure For Hemorrhoids Hemorrhoids Treatment

• Colon cancer and hemorrhoids are very different conditions, but they can produce blood in the stool.colon cancer is the growth of abnormal cells in the colon .colon cancer patients have bleeding, a change in the consistency of their stools and a.

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