What Are Hemorrhoids And What Causes Them

What Is Stapled Hemrroidectomy

The following are pictures of the stapled hemorrhoidectomy procedure.

• Picture of Hollow Tube Inserted into the Anal Canal and Pushing up the Hemorrhoids
• Picture of Internal Hemorrhoids in Anal Canal
• Picture of Suturing the Anal Canal through the Hollow Tube
• Picture of Bringing Expanded Hemorrhoidal Supporting Tissue into the Hollow Tube by pulling On Suture
• Picture of Hemorrhoids Pulled Back Above Anal Canal after Stapling and Removal of Hemorrhoidal Supporting Tissue

Tips For Managing Hemorrhoids

• Have a healthy diet
• Drink plenty of water

Getting more exercise, standing when possible, or otherwise avoiding prolonged sitting is ideal. Note, however, that not all exercise is beneficialextreme exercise with a lot of straining or Valsalva maneuvers and weightlifting can even worsen hemorrhoids.

Especially if overweight or obese, making changes to your diet and activity level to promote healthy weight loss also helps with the management of hemorrhoids. Be sure to drink plenty of water, too, as dehydration can cause constipation .

Stool softeners may be helpful for preventing constipation , but stimulate laxatives and enemas should not be overused, as they can lead to or even worsen hemorrhoids.

If chronic or frequent diarrhea is causing hemorrhoids, finding out the cause of the bowel changes and treating it will help treat the hemorrhoids as well.

For more severe cases of hemorrhoids, or those that continue to come back after treatment at home, surgical treatment may be necessary.

What Do Internal Hemorrhoids Look Like

Hemorrhoid tissue is a part of every individuals body makeup. Normal hemorrhoid tissue cannot be seen by the naked eye.

It is when hemorrhoid tissue becomes inflamed that we can visibly notice hemorrhoids.

No matter what type of hemorrhoid you have, they are characterized as swollen veins in the lower part of the rectum or anus.

Hemorrhoids that become more irritated cause the veins to bulge. This results in the vision of hemorrhoids that you may already have in your head.

Internal hemorrhoids are a little different. Because there are no pain-sensing nerves where internal hemorrhoids are located, you often will not realize you have them.

Internal hemorrhoids form in the same way external hemorrhoids do, but we cannot see them due to their location. This is why external hemorrhoid pictures are more difficult to get.

With internal hemorrhoids, the lining of the rectum becomes substantially enlarged.

When an internal hemorrhoid becomes prolapsed, this will be the only type of internal hemorrhoid that is visible.

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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.

What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of An External Or Thrombosed Hemorrhoid

Thrombosed external hemorrhoids are a painful condition. These occurs when a blood clot develops in a hemorrhoidal blood vessel causing swelling and inflammation.

• When a blood clot occurs in a hemorrhoid, the hemorrhoid will become even more swollen. This swelling leads to increased pain.
• The pain is usually worse with bowel movements and may increase with sitting.

A thrombosed external hemorrhoid may resolve on its own however, this condition often needs medical care. Bleeding with a bowel movement is never normal and should prompt a visit to a health-care professional. While hemorrhoids are the most common cause of bleeding with a bowel movement, there may be other reasons for bleeding including inflammatory bowel disease, infection, and tumors.

Hemorrhoids are not arteries or veins, but instead are normal blood vessels called sinusoids that are located in the walls that surround the rectum and anus. When the venous pressure within these blood vessels increases, the hemorrhoids swell and dilate, because it is more difficult for blood to empty from them. This leads to the most common symptoms of bleeding and swelling.

Common situations that increase pressure within the hemorrhoidal blood vessels and lead to abnormalities include the following.

• Straining to have a bowel movement. This may be due to constipation or diarrhea.
• Prolonged sitting, including on the toilet
• Lack of exercise

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Calmovil Vein & Colon Formula

Don’t Let Hemorrhoids Be A Part Of Your Life Forever

You have hemorrhoids. They last and last. They are painful, annoying, and embarrassing possibly causing itching, discomfort, and bleeding, swelling and difficulty with hygiene. But you are not alone. An estimated 75% of people experience hemorrhoids symptoms, a common problem, at some point, but only an estimated 4% of people go to the doctor for help.

No wonder its a problem so many people cant get rid of once and for all!

Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in your anus and lower rectum, similar to varicose veins. There are many causes, such as straining during bowel movements or increased pressure on veins during pregnancy. Hemorrhoids may be located inside the rectum , or they may develop under the skin around the anus .

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Symptoms Of Enlarged Hemorrhoids

Symptoms, Causes & Home remedies of Hemorrhoids

When you have enlarged hemorrhoids, the symptoms may involve1,3:

• Itching and irritation around the anus
• Burning sensation at the anus
• Mucus discharge
• Severe pain
• Bleeding without pain you may see some bright red blood spots on the toilet tissue or even on the toilet bowl
• Having a sensation that your bowel isnt like empty
• Swelling around the anus
• Have moist, pink pumps forming on edges of the anus or bulging out, these may also assume a purple or bluish look4.

Whom Do Hemorrhoids Affect

Although most people think hemorrhoids are abnormal, almost everyone has them. Hemorrhoids help control bowel movements. Hemorrhoids cause problems and can be considered abnormal or a disease only when the hemorrhoidal clumps of vessels enlarge.

Hemorrhoids occur in almost everyone, and an estimated 75% of people will experience enlarged hemorrhoids at some point. However only about 4% will go to a doctor because of hemorrhoid problems. Hemorrhoids that cause problems are found equally in men and women, and their prevalence peaks between 45 and 65 years of age.

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Clearing Up The Hemorrhoid Misconceptions

Hemorrhoids arent a problem in and of themselves. In fact, theyre a natural part of the body theyre the blood vessels in and around your anus and rectum. In other words, everybody has hemorrhoids all the time. The problem is when a hemorrhoid becomes swollen or irritated. When that happens, you get itching, pain, aches, and bleeding, which can range from mild to heavy.

Hemorrhoids affect men with the same frequency as they do women, yet for some reason we seem to associate them more with men.

You cant get cancer from hemorrhoids. However, if left untreated, hemorrhoids can lead to certain ongoing health issues that are no bueno.

Contrary to popular belief, topical treatments like Preparation H and witch hazel wont make your hemorrhoid go away.

What Is A Hemorrhoid

Hemorrhoids happen when the small blood vessels around your anus become swollen and inflamed.

Internal hemorrhoids are a swelling of blood vessels inside your rectum. External hemorrhoids bulge out on the skin around your anus.

The blood vessels can become swollen for different reasons, but usually because youre straining when youre trying to go to the bathroom. Though it can happen even if you dont strain.

Hemorrhoids are very common. Typically, internal hemorrhoids bleed and external hemorrhoids are painful. They usually go away, and you can treat any symptoms with over-the-counter medications.

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Permanent Hemorrhoid Treatment Options

Do you really need to treat your hemorrhoids? If your symptoms have persisted or come back over a period of time, the answer is usually yes.

Home remedies for hemorrhoids may provide hemorrhoid relief for a period of time, but if symptoms come back or never completely go away, you may require help from a medical professional to get rid of your hemorrhoids for good.

Hemorrhoidectomy

Hemorrhoidectomy is a form of surgery usually performed by a general surgeon or colorectal surgeon. Surgical hemorrhoidectomy is the most effective treatment for hemorrhoids. However, because it also has the highest complication rate and results in significant pain and downtime, it is often a last resort for those suffering from hemorrhoids.

Physicians typically reserve hemorrhoid surgery for more advanced cases and will recommend less invasive therapies and/or lifestyle changes, like adding a fibre supplement to your diet, before resorting to hemorrhoid surgery.

Non-Invasive Permanent Treatment

While there are several forms of non-invasive treatment that can provide temporary hemorrhoid relief, very few are permanent. After hemorrhoid surgery, the rubber band ligation technique has the lowest recurrence rate, meaning hemorrhoids are the least likely to return.

Heal Your Hemorrhoids

What Medications And Other Products Treat Hemorrhoids

Medications are used to control symptoms by softening the stool, decreasing the inflammation of the hemorrhoids, and treating the pain. Stool softeners work by increasing the water and fat content within the stool allowing it to be passed more easily. Docusate sodium is the most often recommended drug in this class .

Inflammation can be controlled with over-the-counter creams or suppositories. Some brand ingredients include low dose topical anesthetics to help with symptoms. Others contain astringents that help shrink the swollen tissues. Both may contain low dose steroids to decrease inflammation. People with diabetes should check with their pharmacist or health care professional before using OTC hemorrhoid treatments. If the medication contains a vasoconstrictor it may elevate blood sugar levels if absorbed in large amounts. Prescription-strength lidocaine or hydrocortisone may be offered by the health care professional.

Grade 2 and 3 hemorrhoids are initially treated the same way, using techniques to destroy hemorrhoids. These include injecting the hemorrhoid vein to make it sclerose or harden, using rubber bands to choke off the blood supply and make the hemorrhoidal tissue shrivel, or other procedures that cause the mucosa to shrivel and die.

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What Natural Home Remedies Soothe Or Cure Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoid symptoms of pain and itching can be treated at home by doing the following.

Warm Sitz Baths

• Sitting in a few inches of warm water three times a day for 15 to 20 minutes may help decrease the inflammation of the hemorrhoids.
• It is important to dry off the anal area completely after each Sitz bath to minimize irritation of the skin surrounding the anus.

Dietary Changes

• Increased fluid intake and dietary fiber will decrease the potential for constipation and lessen the pressure on the rectum and anus during a bowel movement, minimizing further swelling, discomfort, and bleeding. Dietary fiber supplements also may help bulk up the stools

Stool Softeners

• Stool softeners may help. A health-care professional or a pharmacist are good resources to discuss their use.

Exercise

• Individuals with hemorrhoids should not sit for long periods of time and may benefit from sitting on an air or rubber donut available at most local pharmacies.
• Exercise is helpful in relieving constipation and in decreasing pressure on the hemorrhoidal veins. Individuals should be encouraged to have a bowel movement as soon as possible after the urge arises and not sit on the toilet for long periods of time. Once that urge passes, stools can become constipated and straining with a bowel movement may occur.

Dietary Changes And Self Care

If constipation is thought to be the cause of your haemorrhoids, you need to keep your stools soft and regular, so that you don’t strain when passing stools.

You can do this by increasing the amount of fibre in your diet. Good sources of fibre include wholegrain bread, cereal, fruit and vegetables.

You should also drink plenty of water and avoid caffeine .

When going to the toilet, you should:

• avoid straining to pass stools, because it may make your haemorrhoids worse
• use moist toilet paper, rather than dry toilet paper, or baby wipes to clean your bottom after passing a stool
• pat the area around your bottom, rather than rubbing it

Read more about preventing constipation.

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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.

Conditions With Similar Symptoms

Several conditions can cause symptoms similar to hemorrhoids, such as discomfort, bleeding, and anorectal lumps, and may need to be ruled out. Some of these conditions are benign, but others may be quite serious.

Other conditions a healthcare provider may want to rule out when diagnosing hemorrhoids include warts, skin tags, proctitis, anal fissure, abscesses, rectal prolapse, and enlarged, dilated veins of the rectum and anus due to a condition such as increased portal vein blood pressure.

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Eat Too Many Refined Grains

Refined grains are grains that have been milled, a process that is performed to remove the bran. Foods that aggravate hemorrhoids are doughnuts, pies, candy, puff pastry, muffins, cakes, biscuits, and other processed foods.

Some kinds of white bread are also included. These foods can promote constipation. Constipation is one of the main causes that lead to strain as well as hemorrhoids flare-ups.

So, if you like to consume one of those foods, you may need to stop while you are on the treatment to cure it. If not, then it will be getting worse. Just ensure you will avoid those foods.

How Do Foods Influence Hemorrhoids Diet

Diet is believed to have a big impact in causingand preventinghemorrhoids. People who consistently eat a high-fiber diet are less likely to get hemorrhoids, while those people who prefer a diet high in processed foods face a higher hemorrhoid risk.

A low-fiber diet can leave you constipated, which can contribute to hemorrhoids in two way. For one, it promotes straining on the toilet. It also aggravates the hemorrhoids by producing hard stools that further irritate the swollen veins.

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Procedures For Hemorrhoids Treatment

Some hemorrhoids can’t be managed with conservative treatments alone, either because symptoms persist or because an internal hemorrhoid has prolapsed. Fortunately, a number of minimally invasive hemorrhoid treatments are available that are less painful than traditional hemorrhoid removal and allow a quicker recovery. These procedures are generally performed in a surgeon’s office or as outpatient surgery in a hospital.

Band it. The most commonly used hemorrhoid treatment in the United States is rubber band ligation, in which a small elastic band is placed around the base of a hemorrhoid . The band causes the hemorrhoid to shrink and the surrounding tissue to scar as it heals, holding the hemorrhoid in place. It takes two to four procedures, done six to eight weeks apart, to completely eliminate the hemorrhoid. Complications, which are rare, include mild pain or tightness , bleeding, and infection. Other office procedures include laser or infrared coagulation, sclerotherapy, and cryosurgery. They all work on the same principle as rubber band ligation but are not quite as effective in preventing recurrence. Side effects and recurrence vary with the procedure, so consult your physician about what’s best for your situation.

Here Are Some Common Symptoms Of Hemorrhoids

Although hemorrhoids can be very painful and uncomfortable, they are not dangerous. They may disappear without treatment.

• Extreme itching at the anus and lower parts of the rectum
• Pain and irritation around the anus or lower rectum
• A painful, itchy lump or swelling around the anus or lower rectum
• Potential fecal leakage
• Bowel movements can be uncomfortable and painful.
• After a bowel movement, bleeding anus can occur.

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