Hemroids Symptoms

Although many people have hemroids, not all experience symptoms. Hemroid symptoms vary somewhat but the most common complaints are pain, burning and itching.

What are the symptoms of hemorroids?

Many anorectal problems, including fissures, fistulae, abscesses, or irritation and itching (pruritus ani) have similar symptoms and are incorrectly diagnosed as a hemroid symptom. Hemorroides usually are not dangerous or life threatening. In most cases, hemorroidal symptoms will go away within a few days.

If you experience any of the following symptoms, you could have hemroids: Bleeding during bowel movements, Rectal bleeding after movement of bowels, Bright red blood found in stool, mild burning during bowel movement, protrusion in the course of bowel movements, itching in the anal area, pain during bowel movements, sensitive or painful lump(s) on the anus.

Hemroid symptoms also include palpable fleshy lumps around or protruding from the anus, as well as not being able to complete a bowel movement (but not painful bowel movements – that usually indicates something else).

External Hemroids Symptoms

Small external hemorroids usually do not produce symptoms of hemroids. Larger ones, however, can be painful and interfere with cleaning the anal area after a bowel movement. When, as sometimes happens, a blood clot forms in external hemorroides (creating what is called thrombosed hemorroides), the skin around the anus becomes inflamed and a very painful lump develops. On rare occasions the clot will begin to bleed after a few days and leave blood on the underwear.

Prognosis

Hemorroids do not cause cancer and are rarely dangerous or life threatening. Most clear up after a few days without professional medical treatment. However, because colorectal cancer and other digestive system diseases can cause anal bleeding and other hemorroid-like symptoms, people should always consult a doctor when those symptoms occur.

Prevention and Healing Therapy

Preventing the recurrence of hemorroids will require relieving the pressure and straining of constipation. Doctors will often recommend increasing fiber and fluids in the diet. Eating the right amount of fiber and drinking six to eight glasses of fluid (not alcohol) result in softer, bulkier stools. A softer stool makes emptying the bowels easier and lessens the pressure on hemorroids caused by straining. Eliminating straining also helps prevent hemorroides from protruding.

Good sources of fiber are fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. In addition, doctors may suggest a bulk stool softener or a fiber supplement such as psyllium (Metamucil) or methylcellulose (Citrucel).

Also: symtoms

Hemroid Treatments