What Are Hemroids?

Hemroids (also called piles) can be divided into two kinds: internal and external. Internal hemroids lie inside the anus or lower rectum, beneath the anal or rectal lining. External hemroids are outside the anal opening. However, internal hemroids may protrude outside the body, becoming irritated and painful. This is also known as a protruding hemroid. Both kinds can be present at the same time.

Bleeding Hemroids

There are worse things, to be sure – but a bleeding hemeroid rank right up there. Mind you, most rectal bleeding is not caused by hemeroids, and therefore it’s extremely important to have it checked as soon as possible. Note that any bleeding from the rectum can indicate serious illness and should be examined by a physician ASAP. But if it does turn out to be bleeding hemeroids, then you have an internal hemroid – external hemeroids don’t bleed. (External bleeding is more likely to come from an anal fissure).

Because hemeroids are swollen veins, scraping and stretching by hard stools will cause bleeding. The blood from a bleeding hemroid can appear as red or reddish streaks in the stools as opposed to dark-red blood which indicates a deeper more serious internal problem.

Hemorrhoids are enlarged veins in the anus or lower rectum. They often go unnoticed and usually clear up after a few days, but can cause long-lasting discomfort, bleeding and be excruciatingly painful. Effective medical hemroids treatments are available, however.

When rectal bleeding is present, it is important to rule out more serious conditions. Hemorrhoids do not become cancer, but some forms of cancer can cause symptoms similar to those of a hemmoroid. A doctor may use an anoscope to evaluate hemorrhoids.

Internal Hemroids

Internal hemroids occur inside the anal canal (rectum) and are usually caused by too much straining (pregnancy, lifting heavy weight, bearing down to pass stools, etc.). Basically the veins lining the walls of the rectum become engorged with too much blood – (varicose veins) and bulge out. An internal hemroid can sometimes bleed, but rectal bleeding of any kind should be examined right away.

A hemorrhoid may protrude through the anus outside the body, becoming irritated and painful. This is known as a protruding hemorrhoid.

Internal Hemroids Symptoms

The most common symptom of internal hemmoroids is bright red blood. If a hemmoroid is bleeding it's likely an internal hemmoroid. It may be in the stool after a bowel movement.

If you have rectal pain or bleeding, check with your doctor for treatment. The odds are overwhelming that you have a fissure or a crack in your rectum that can be cured with treatments like antibiotics and a topical nitroglycerin cream.

If your doctor does not find fissures, you must have a tube inserted into your colon to check for other causes of bleeding such as cancers as one in four cases of rectal bleeding are not caused by fissures but by serious illness.

Bleeding Internal Hemroids

Many anorectal problems, including fissures, fistulae, abscesses, or irritation and itching, have similar symptoms. A thorough evaluation and proper diagnosis by the doctor is important any time bleeding from the rectum or blood in the stool occurs. This is not a sign to be ignored or self-diagnosed as bleeding also may be signs of other digestive diseases, including colorectal cancer, which is curable if diagnosed early.

Cure and Treatment for Internal Hemroids

If you have a fissure or large veins called hemmoroids, you can often be cured by taking a long-acting erythromycin (azithromycin 250 mg once a day for 9 days) and applying a special ointment made by mixing one part of the commercially available (by prescription) 2% nitroglycerin ointment with 20 parts of Vaseline.

For internal hemmoroids, the surgical procedures are injection sclerotherapy, laser coagulation, infrared photocoagulation, rubber band ligation, and the hemorrhoidectomy. Remedy is best achieved with lots of fiber and water in a diet.

Medical Treatments Over the counter products used to treat hemmoroids include the use of rectal suppositories (Anusol®), stool softeners (Colace®, Surfak®), topical preparations (Anusol®, Preparation H®), and medicated wipes (Tucks®). Prescription medications are available as creams, ointments, and suppositories. The hydrocortisone (Anusol-HC®, Proctocort®) contained in these products reduces inflammation, itching, and swelling.

External Hemroids

The anus (where solid wastes are expelled from the body) is surrounded by blood vessels. When these blood vessels become enlarged and uncomfortable, they are called hemorrhoids. Hemmroids can occur inside the anal canal (internal) or outside the anal canal (external). Sometimes when an internal hemmroid enlarges, it can extend to the outside and appear to be an external hemmroid.

When hemmroids remain inside the anus they are almost never painful, but they can prolapse (protrude outside the anus) and become irritated and sore. Sometimes, prolapsed hemorrhoids move back into the anal canal on their own or can be pushed back in, but at other times they remain permanently outside the anus until treated by a doctor.

Hemorrhoids (also called piles) can be divided into two kinds, internal hemoroid and external hemoroid. Internal hemorrhoids lie inside the anus or lower rectum, beneath the anal or rectal lining. External hemorrhoids lie outside the anal opening. Both kinds can be present at the same time.

External hemroids are usually visible as fleshy lumps around the anus. Prolapsed hemroids are often mistaken for external hemroids. Otherwise, any swelling or protruding mass at or near the anus are considered to be external hemroids. External hemroids occur when the veins of the anal opening swell from too much strain.

Symptoms of external hemorrhoids may include painful swelling or a hard lump around the anus that results when a blood clot forms. This condition is known as a thrombosed external hemorrhoid. In addition, excessive straining, rubbing, or cleaning around the anus may cause irritation with bleeding and/or itching, which may produce a vicious cycle of symptoms. Draining mucus may also cause itching.

Hemroids Causes

The precise physiological development of hemroids is unknown. Researchers have identified a number of reasons to explain swelling, including the simple fact that upright posture pressures the anal area and rectal veins can cause hemroids. Aging, obesity, pregnancy, chronic constipation or diarrhea, excessive use of enemas or laxatives, straining during bowel movements are considered contributing factors and/or irritants to hemroids. In addition, excessive rubbing or cleaning may cause irritation with bleeding and/or itching, which may produce a vicious cycle of hemroids symptoms.

Heredity may also play a part in some cases. There is no reason to believe that hemroids are caused by jobs requiring standing, for instance, heavy lifting or long hours of being seated, although activities of that kind may make existing hemroids worse.

A Google search for hemroids cause suggest that many people wonder what causes hemroids. (Over one million web pages contain these two words.)

The most frequent cause of hemroids is constipation because straining to pass hard stools puts added pressure on the rectum. That makes the veins swell (like varicose veins) and hemroids to appear. Related factors are sitting on the toilet for prolonged periods of time, diarrhea, frequent use of laxatives or enemas, and excessive rubbing or cleaning of the rectum.

Hemroids are a type of varicose vein that can occur with age. Basically any increase in pressure in the anus can cause hemroids. The upright posture of humans alone naturally places a great deal of strain on the rectal veins and that sometimes causes them to bulge.

Pregnant women are prone to hemroids because of the added weight and pressure of the baby and uterus on the rectum. If hemroids don't develop during pregnancy they can occur during or because of child birth and prolonged labor.

Weight lifters and people working in jobs which require heavy lifting often develop hemroids because of the added repetitive strain.

Aging, obesity, pregnancy, chronic constipation or diarrhea, excessive use of enemas or laxatives, straining during bowel movements, and spending too much time on the toilet are considered contributing factors. Heredity may also play a part in some cases. There is reason to believe that hemorrhoids are caused by jobs requiring heavy lifting or long hours of sitting.

Other contributing factors include:

• Certain medical conditions including infections
• Diet low in fiber or fluids
• Severe coughing
• Family history of hemorrhoids (heredity)
• Sitting for prolonged periods of time

It is very important to discover and remove the cause of hemroids, if possible. The goal is to shrink the hemroid and make them go away. Just treating symptoms (like relieving itch) won't make them go away. There are several home treatments for hemroids.

Hemroid Symptoms

Although many people have hemroids, not all experience symptoms. The most common symptom of internal hemroids is bright red blood covering the stool. Symptoms of bleeding hemroids may include painful swelling or a hard lump that results when a blood clot forms. This condition is a thrombosed external hemroid. Draining mucus may also cause rectal itching.

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.

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

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).

Hemroids Relief

So what's a cure besides hemroids surgery? Not Preparation H! Treating hemroids with PrepH is to a hemorroid as calamine lotion is to treating poison ivy. Get serious about hemroid treatment! Hemmoroids might hang around for a while if the cause is not treated.

What are the best treatments for thrombosed hemorids? Treatments don't have to be expensive. Get some hemmorids anti-itch cream to calm the hemroids down and have a good natural treatment formulated to relieve symptoms.

Ointments

Hemroid ointments are kind of like band-aids – they make things feel a little better, and can speed along the healing process, but they’re no cure. Preparation H, the most ‘famous’ of hemroid ointments, no longer contains the ‘magic’ ingredient that could actually help shrink hemroids (the FDA banned its use – you have to sneak to Canada to get that formula). Hemroid ointments soothe pain, itching and burning – to be sure. But they only treat the symptoms, not the hemroids themselves.

Topical Nitrate Therapy

One clinical problem with topical nitrate therapy is a substantial incidence of headache, particularly at higher drug concentrations. Fortunately, these headaches are often minor and transient. A second potential difficulty is the development of drug tolerance, a problem well documented with nitrate therapy for cardiovascular disease and now also reported during treatment for hemroids.

Topical applications may relieve itching and burning, as well as promote healing. Apply one of the following two to four times a day. • Witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) is an astringent that may reduce swelling (commercially available as Tuck's pads). • A salve containing comfrey (Symphytum officinale) and/or marigold (Calendula officinalis) soothes and promotes healing. • A poultice made from grated potato is astringent and soothing.

Hemmorrhoid Treatments

Like mainstream practitioners, alternative practitioners stress the importance of a high-fiber diet. To prevent hemorrhoids by strengthening the veins of the anus, rectum, and colon, they recommend blackberries, blueberries, cherries, vitamin C, butcher's broom (Ruscus aculeatus), and flavonoids (plant pigments found in fruit and fruit products, tea, and soy). Herbal teas, hemoroid ointments, and suppositories, and other kinds of herbal preparations, are suggested for reducing discomfort and eliminating hemorrhoids. In particular, pilewort (Ranunculusficaria), applied in an ointment or taken as a tea, can reduce the pain of external hemorrhoids. Acupuncture, acupressure, aromatherapy, and homeopathy are also used to treat hemorrhoids.

Bleeding hemorrhoids will stop if you take two teaspoonfuls of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water at every meal.

Calomel lard - Mix a half ounce of heated lard with a dram (teaspoonful) of Calomel and apply as a salve on a piece of cotton. This has cured obstinate cases.

Diet is a very important factor. It is beneficial to always have a high- fiber diet, but it is even more important when hemroids are present. High fiber-diet sources are whole grains, vegetables and fruits. Drinking plenty of non alcoholic liquids is essential.

Cleanse the entire rectal area with warm water after each bowel movement, and use a bulk fiber laxative to soften stools. This helps eliminate straining with bowel movements.

Sitting on a donut-shaped cushion to relieve pressure. Again, this offers temporary relief only.

Bulk fiber supplements such as psyllium or methylcellulose can be taken to prevent recurrences of hemroids.

An stool softener or laxative can promote healing without straining, and stopping further aggravation.

The herb Horse Chestnut has been used to provide relief of hemroids. The alcoholate of the nut has anesthetic and anti-inflammatory properties providing relief.

By following all these suggestions, the pain, discomfort and swelling of most symptomatic hemroids should decrease in two to seven days and the firm lump should recede within four to six weeks. If there is no noticeable changes using these techniques, then invasive procedures by a medical professional may be necessary.

Sulfur Mix one teaspoonful of Flowers of Sulfur with one tablespoonful of Vaseline. Apply two or three times a day. Thermotherapy This rectal heat therapy, given once a week for 2-4 weeks, has been very successful. The hemorrhoids shrink and stop bleeding. Witch hazel Put extract of witch hazel on a wad of cotton and secure to the hemorrhoids at night. Use until cured. Works like magic. Witch hazel has been used by Native Americans for its anti-inflammatory properties.

Remedies - Folk - Alum To relieve itching hemorrhoids, make a solution of a teaspoon of powdered Alum in a glass of water. Apply frequently.

Physical Medicine -Fill one basin with hot water, one with cold water. Sit in hot water for three minutes, then in cold water for one minute. Repeat this three times to complete one set. Do one to two sets per day three to four days per week. - cure hemroids

To stop itching and burning, soak a cotton ball in vinegar and dab on the affected areas as often as needed. Its astringent qualities will help shrink swollen blood vessels, too.

Topically applied astringent herbs have been used traditionally as a treatment for hemorrhoids. A leading astringent herb for topical use is witch hazel,13 which is typically applied to hemorrhoids three or four times per day in an ointment base. Horse chestnut extracts have been reported from a double-blind trial to reduce symptoms of hemorrhoids.14 Some doctors recommend taking horse chestnut seed extracts standardized for aescin (also known as escin) content (16–21%), or an isolated aescin preparation, providing 90 to 150 mg of aescin per day.

Traditional Treatment - Standard conventional medical treatment consists of lubricating the surface of the veins with medication to kill the pain and shrink the hemorrhoid, Sitz baths, and hot and cold packs put on the vein to soothe the irritated area. In conventional allopathic treatment, the hemorrhoids may sometimes be hardened by injection, tied off (the preferred method), or removed by surgery.

Hemorrhoids can often be effectively dealt with by dietary and lifestyle changes. Softening the feces and avoiding constipation by adding fiber to one's diet is important, because hard feces lead to straining during defecation. Fruit, leafy vegetables, and whole-grain breads and cereals are good sources of fiber, as are bulk laxatives and fiber supplements such as Metamucil or Citrucel. Exercising, losing excess weight, and drinking six to eight glasses a day of water or another liquid (not alcohol) also helps. Soap or toilet paper that is perfumed may irritate the anal area and should be avoided, as should excessive cleaning, rubbing, or wiping of that area. Reading in the bathroom is also considered a bad idea, because it adds to the time one spends on the toilet and may increase the strain placed on the anal and rectal veins.

Treatment is aimed at easing symptoms, which typically include pain, burning, and itching. Measures to reduce symptoms include: Warm tub or Sitz baths several times a day in warm water for about 15 minutes; ice packs to help reduce swelling; and application of a hemorrhoidal cream or suppository to the affected area. In addition, your doctor may suggest a bulk stool softener or a fiber supplement, such as psyllium (Metamucil) or methylcellulose (Citrucel).

Complementary and Alternative Hemoroid Therapies

Nutrition • Eat in a relaxed atmosphere, breathing and chewing food thoroughly. • Eat smaller, more frequent meals and avoid overeating at one sitting. • Eliminate refined foods, sugars, caffeine, alcohol, and dairy products. • Decrease saturated fats (animal products) and increase polyunsaturated fats (cold-water fish, nuts, and seeds). • Increase fresh vegetables and whole grains, as well as water intake. • Stewed or soaked prunes, one to three/day have a slightly laxative effect and may help soften stools. • Flaxmeal, 1 heaping tsp. in 8 oz. of apple juice, provides fiber and essential fatty acids to help relieve constipation. Follow with an additional 8 oz. of water. • Vitamin C (1,000 mg two to three times per day) supports the integrity of connective tissue. • Vitamin E (400 to 800 IU per day) promotes healing.

After each bowel movement, wiping with a moistened tissue or pad sold for that purpose helps lessen irritation. Hemorrhoid pain is often eased by sitting in a tub of warm water for about 10 or 15 minutes two to four times a day (Sitz bath). Many people find that over-the-counter hemorrhoid creams and foams bring relief, but these medications do not make hemorrhoids disappear.

Calomel/lard - Mix a half ounce of heated lard with a dram (teaspoonful) of Calomel and apply as a salve on a piece of cotton. This has cured obstinate cases.

Take 1/2 to 1teaspoon of cayenne in a glass of H2O to stop bleeding hemroids. Take this for several days until the hemeroids are gone, then once or twice a week for a good maintenance dose. This will clear up hemoriods and keep them from recurring.

A diet consisting of a lot of cranberries may be beneficial.

Relief of hemroid symtoms may be as easy as a herbal remedy containing horse chestnut and other ingredients known to reduce hemiroid inflammation like butcher's broom (Ruscus aculeatus) and flavonoids (plant pigments found in fruits, tea, and soy).

Hemorrohoid Therapies

Alternative hemroid treatments - Like practitioners, alternative practitioners stress the importance of a high-fiber hemmriods diet. To prevent hemorrhids by strengthening the veins of the rectum, and colon, advisors recommend blackberries, blueberries, cherries and vitamin C.

Herbal teas, ointments, and hemrhoids suppositories, and herbal preparations, are suggested for reducing hemorid discomfort and eliminating a hemerhoid. In particular, pilewort (Ranunculusficaria), applied in an hemroids ointment or taken as a tea, can reduce the pain of bleeding hemroids.

Acupuncture, acupressure, aromatherapy, and homeopathy are also used to treat a hemroid.

Complementary and Alternative Therapies - Nutrition • Eat in a relaxed atmosphere, breathing and chewing food thoroughly. • Eat smaller, more frequent meals and avoid over eating at one sitting. • Eliminate refined foods, sugars, caffeine, alcohol, and dairy. • Decrease saturated fats and increase polyunsaturated fats (fish, nuts, and seeds). • Increase fresh vegetables and whole, as well as liquid intake. • Stewed or soaked prunes, one to three daily have a slightly laxative effect and may help soften stools and irritate hemmhroids less. • Ascorbic Acid (1,000 mg two to three times daily) supports the integrity of connective tissue. • Vitamin E (400 to 800 IU per day) promotes healing.

Hemroid Remedies - How to Treat Hemroids at Home

Hemmoroides pain is often eased in a warm tub for about 10 or 15 minutes two to four times a day (Sitz Bath).

Treatment begins with wiping the hammeroid clean with a moistened towelet or pad to lessen irritation.

A cool hemmoriod compress or ice pack to reduce inflammation. (The ice pack should be wrapped in a towel to prevent contact with the hemorriod.)

Many people find that over-the-counter creams and foams bring hemmorides relief, but these hemmeriods medications do not make hemroids disappear.

Bleeding hemroids may slow if you have two teaspoonfuls of apple cider vinegar in water at every meal.

Hemroids and Constipation

Avoid constipation by eating a high-fibrous diet, consisting mainly of fruits and whole-grains. Choose to defecate when you are not rushed, and do not ignore the urge to defecate.

Anal Sex and Hemroids

Are himroids caused by anal sex? Well, ya! Hemroids are caused by undue pressure on the venous walls of the anus, whether it's from heavy lifting, pregnancy or sticking foreign objects in the rectum. Often anal sex causes tearing which results in bleeding. That's a fissure which is not a hemmeriod. Fissures should heal shortly if not aggravated.

Hemroids Surgery

Hemorroids surgery is the last line of defense against hemorroids. Most hemroids can be treated and cured with more conservative treatments, but others must be dealt with surgically. Hemorroids surgery comes in about a half dozen varieties: the hemroidectomy, hemroid banding, laser coagulation, infrared photocoagulation, injection sclerotherapy and hemroid stapling.

Surgical treatment may be recommended for hemorroids that become very enlarged, protrude from the anus (prolapse), bleed frequently, or contain blood clots (thrombosis). Common procedures include freezing the affected tissue (cryotherapy), injecting chemicals into the hemorroid to shrink it (sclerosing solutions), surgically removing the hemorroid (hemorrhoidectomy), or placing rubber bands around the hemorroid for removal (ligation).

Hemoroid Surgery Information

To rule out other causes of gastrointestinal bleeding, the doctor may examine the rectum and lower colon (sigmoid) with sigmoidoscopy or the entire colon with colonoscopy. Sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy are diagnostic procedures that also involve the use of lighted, flexible tubes inserted through the rectum.

Diagnosis begins with a visual examination of the anus, followed by an internal examination during which the doctor carefully inserts a gloved and lubricated finger into the anus. The doctor may also use an anoscope, a small tube that allows him or her to see into the anal canal. Under some circumstances the doctor may wish to check for other problems by using a sigmoidoscope or colonoscope, a flexible instrument that allows inspection of the lower colon (in the case of the sigmoidoscope) or the entire colon (in the case of the colonoscope).

Operative therapy decreases sphincter pressure either by forceful dilation or by lateral internal sphincterotomy. Although this technique is an effective outpatient surgical procedure performed under local anesthesia, its fundamental drawback is its potential to cause minor alterations in the control of gas, mucus, and occasionally stool. This problem has motivated research for pharmacologic ways to create a reversible"sphincterotomy," one that would lower sphincter pressures until the hemorroids have healed.

What to Expect at Your Provider's Office

Your provider will do an examination. If you have had significant bleeding or other symptoms, your provider may perform a procedure called sigmoidoscopy, or colonoscopy. In this procedure a small instrument is inserted into the rectum for inspection of tissues to check for other diseases.

Nonsurgical Hemorroids Treatments

Treatment of hemorroids depends on when a patient sees a doctor. The clot can be removed with an almost painless office procedure if the patient sees a doctor within a day or two of first feeling the discomfort. The procedure speeds the recovery time. If the patient waits three or more days, medical treatment will resolve the discomfort, but relief may take up to a week.

With rubber-band ligation a tight rubber band is placed around the base of the hemorroid inside the rectum. The band cuts off circulation and the hemorroid withers away within days. Sclerotherapy. A chemical solution is injected around the blood vessel to shrink the hemorroid.

Rubber band ligation is probably the most widely used of the many treatments for internal hemorroids (and the least costly for the patient). This procedure is performed in the office of a family doctor or specialist, or in a hospital on an outpatient basis. An applicator is used to place one or two small rubber bands around the base of the hemorroid, cutting off its blood supply. After 3 to 10 days the bands, the hemorroid falls off, leaving a sore that heals in a week or two. Because internal hemorroids are located in a part of the anus that does not sense pain, anesthetic is unnecessary and the procedure is painless in most cases. Although there can be minor discomfort and bleeding for a few days after the bands are applied, complications are rare and most people are soon able to return to work and other activities. If more than one hemorroid exists or if banding is not entirely effective the first time (as occasionally happens), the procedure may need to be repeated a few weeks later. After five years, 15–20% of patients experience a recurrence of internal hemorroids, but in most cases all that is needed is another banding.

Banding - A rubber band is placed around the base of the hemoroides inside the rectum. The band cuts off circulation and the hemmoroid withers away within a few days.

Hemrrhoids Sclerotherapy - A chemical solution is injected in the hemorrhiods blood vessel to shrink the hemoriod.

Infrared Hemroids Coagulation - A special hemorrhiod device is used to burn hemorrhoidal tissue. Hemorrhoidectomy - Occasionally, extensive or severe internal or external hermeroids may require hemerhoids removal by surgery known as hemorrhoidectomy.