Hemorrhoids are enlarged veins found in the rectum and anus. 
A typical symptom of hemorrhoids is bleeding after a bowel movement. There are two locations for hemorrhoids and this describes the two types of hemorrhoids: internal and external. Internal hemorrhoids are found at a deeper location, the rectum, whereas external hemorrhoids are found in what technically is the anal canal. Many people afflicted with hemorrhoids can experience regression or improvement in their hemorroids with some simple lifestyle changes.
Internal hemorrhoids are usually painless and often may not cause any symptoms at all. Internal hemorrhoids will most commonly cause bleeding, such as a few drops of red blood into the toilet bowl or found on the toilet paper shortly after passing a stool. Another feature of internal hemorrhoids is that they can prolapse or fall out of the rectum and stick out through the anus. External hemorrhoids do not prolapse, but cause bleeding and are extremely painful. Often both internal and external hemorrhoids itch.
Hemorrhoids are caused by factors that increase the pressure in the abdomen or belly. These are conditions such as obesity, pregnancy, diseases of the liver, chronic coughing, and straining. Straining is the effort one puts into expelling stool; it is like forcing or “pushing”; the same effort is used to push out a baby during childbirth. When you need to strain strongly to pass a bowel movement it is often due to constipation.
Thus, addressing constipation is one of the first treatments for the majority of cases of hemorrhoids. A typical American consumes about 8–15g of fiber a day, whereas a high fiber diet requires the consumption of more than 25g of fiber per day. Adding fiber in its natural form, ie. as fruits, vegetables, nuts, and whole grains is recommended over fiber supplementation. However fiber supplements, such as Metamucil, will be effective. As well as increasing the consumption of fiber, one must increase fluid intake, preferably with water. Regular exercise may also help with constipation.
Another important factor in the development of hemorrhoids is toilet behavior. North Americans spend a much longer time on the toilet than people in developing countries, mostly due to the fact that toilets in these locations may be improvised and are rarely luxurious. Taking reading material into the bathroom and spending more than a few minutes straining and increasing intra-abdominal pressure is one of the reasons that hemorroids are more common in first world countries such as the US, than in Africa.
Avoid scratching hemorrhoids, as this will damage the walls of the enlarged veins even further. A sitz bath, a bath in warm water—sometimes with Epsom salts added— where one sits with one’s knees pointing up to the ceiling, may relieve the pain and swelling of hemorrhoids, the latter by increasing blood flow to the area.
A final lifestyle change is weight loss, the results of which will be beneficial in a number of other areas, such as cardiovascular health, the mechanical health of bones and joints, and in decreasing the risk of developing diseases such as type II diabetes.
Have you had previous problems with hemorrhoids and gotten rid of them?
Did you do it yourself? How did you do it?
If you needed medical treatments what was done?
Tell others so they can better understand their health concerns.
More Search Options
Less Search Options
.jpg)
Have an opinion on a health topic?
.jpg)
